The Seamless Robe of Jesus (also known as the Holy Robe), is the robe said to have been worn by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. Competing traditions claim that the robe of our Lord has been preserved even to this very day. One tradition places it in Germany housed within the Cathedral of Trier, another places it in France, where it resides at the Basilique Saint-Denys. In addition to these Roman Catholic claims, the Eastern Orthodox Church has also preserved a tradition regarding the robe of Jesus Christ. For according to the tradition of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the robe was acquired by a Jewish Rabbi from Georgia named Elioz (Elias), who was present in Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion. The focus of this work will be centered around the Georgian claim which states that the robe of Christ rests in their country. That being said, let us now take a deeper look into the traditions of the Georgian Orthodox Church’s history, by presenting a certain historical document which describes how the robe of Christ ended up in the country of Georgia.
The following is the account of the Jewish priest Abiathar concerning the Tunic of our Lord Jesus Christ:
“At the time when Herod ruled in Jerusalem, there was a rumor that the Persians had captured Jerusalem. Because of this, there was sorrow and mourning among the Georgian Jews living in Mtskheta, the priests of Bodbe, the scribes at Kodi Spring and the interpreters of the law in Khoba. All of them wanted to go to the aid of the Holy City. But a few days later another messenger arrived with the cheering news that the Persians had not come to capture Jerusalem. Instead of weapons they were carrying royal gold, myrrh which quickly heals wounds, and fragrant incense. They were looking for a certain infant of the seed of David, born of a virgin. Then it transpired that they had found this child born of a virgin, who had been delivered unexpectedly, in a place unsuitable, as sometimes happens to people on a journey far from home. They came to the infant and worshiped him, and offered him their gifts and went away in peace. The Georgian Jews were delighted to hear this news.”
“Thirty years had passed by after this when Annas the high-priest wrote from Jerusalem as follows: to my ancestor Elioz – He to whom the kings of Persia came to bring gifts has grown up to manhood. He calls Himself the son of God. Come here to be present at His execution, which will fulfill the law of God and Moses.”
“So Elioz of Mtskheta went with Longinos of Karsani to be present at Christ’s Crucifixion. And when they were nailing our Lord on the Cross at Jerusalem, and the executioner was driving in the nails with an iron hammer, Elioz’s mother heard the blows and suddenly cried out – Farewell, kingdom of the Jews, for you have killed your Savior and Liberator. Henceforth you will be deemed the enemies and murderers of your Creator. Woe is me, because I am not already buried before His death. – When she had spoken these words, she expired.”
“Our Lord’s Tunic fell by lot to the Jews of Mtskheta, and Elioz took it to that city. His sister greeted him with tears an threw her arms round his neck. She took the garment of Jesus and pressed it to her bosom, and immediately departed this life. The cause of her death was threefold: Bitter sorrow at the killing of Christ, grief for her mother’s death, and regret that her brother had been an associate of those who denied our Savior.”
“This event caused a great sensaton in Mtskheta and reached the ears of King Aderc himself. Everyone, including the princes and King Aderc, tried to take possession of the garment. But the monarch was overcome with fright and alarm when he found that he could not draw it from her arms. So firmly did she fold the garment to her breast that her brother Elioz buried it with her.”
“Many years later the great-nephew of King Aderc, King Armazael, looked for the Tunic among the Jews, but failed to discover it or to learn anything about it, except that it was said to be buried near a cedar of Lebanon. But the Family of Elioz knew that it was to the east of the city, by the bridge of the Magi.”
In conclusion, though there are other traditions out there that differ from the Georgian account as to what happened to the robe of Christ, the purpose of the preceding presentation was intended to highlight a part of Church history which is not as well known to most, and even quite obscure to many. For this particular tradition concerning the robe of Jesus Christ is just one of the many of the Georgian Legends.
References:
Lang, D.M. Lives and Legends of the Georgian Saints. (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1976).