Detail of a Holy Shroud from Georgia

Illustration

James Blake Wiener
by
published on 18 December 2017
Detail of a Holy Shroud from Georgia Download Full Size Image

Made of silk fabric, gold and silver thread, gold and silk twine, as well as colored silks, this holy shroud or "epitaphios" comes from the Sachkhere, which is located in western Georgia, and dates from the 14th century CE. A donor-renovator's inscription is found on this shroud referring to King Bagrat III of Imereti (r. 1510-1565 CE). This shroud was used during Good Friday and Holy Saturday lithurgies in the Orthodox Christian Church. It symbolizes the cloth in which Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus Christ with after taking him down from the cross. It always carries the image of the scene of the Byzantine "Lamentation of Christ." (Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi)

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About the Author

James Blake Wiener
James is a writer and former Professor of History. He holds an MA in World History with a particular interest in cross-cultural exchange and world history. He is a co-founder of World History Encyclopedia and formerly was its Communications Director.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Wiener, J. B. (2017, December 18). Detail of a Holy Shroud from Georgia. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7770/detail-of-a-holy-shroud-from-georgia/

Chicago Style

Wiener, James Blake. "Detail of a Holy Shroud from Georgia." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified December 18, 2017. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7770/detail-of-a-holy-shroud-from-georgia/.

MLA Style

Wiener, James Blake. "Detail of a Holy Shroud from Georgia." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 18 Dec 2017. Web. 24 Apr 2024.

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