Placing of the Precious Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos — August 31 / September 13 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 31 according to the Julian Calendar (September 13 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Placing of the Precious Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos. The placing of the precious sash of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos took place in Constantinople, in the Church of Blachernae, during the reign of Emperor Arcadius (395–408). According to tradition, this great holy relic was entrusted by the Theotokos herself to the Apostle Thomas, and thereafter it was handed down as an inheritance among pious Christians. Many years later, in the reign of Leo the Wise (886–912), the sash of the Theotokos miraculously healed the emperor’s wife Zoe, who was possessed by an evil spirit.

It was revealed to the empress in a vision that she would be healed of her affliction by touching the sash of the Theotokos. The emperor asked the patriarch for help. The hierarch opened the sealed reliquary in which the holy relic was kept, touched it to the ailing empress, and she was healed at once. In thanksgiving a moleben to the Most Holy Theotokos was prayed, and afterwards the holy relic was placed back in the reliquary.

In commemoration of the miracle that had taken place, the feast of the Placing of the Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos was established.