Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary

The Holy Belt of the Mother of God (Theotokos)

The Holy Belt of the Mother of God is the only relic preserved from her earthly life, and a portion of it is kept at the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos.

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary herself made the Belt from camel hair. After her Dormition and Assumption into Heaven, and the handing over of the Belt to the Apostle Thomas, two poor and devout women from Jerusalem undertook its safekeeping. This responsibility was passed down from generation to generation to devout virgins belonging to the same family.

The Byzantine Emperor Arcadius transferred the Holy Belt to Constantinople and placed it in a reliquary, which he named the "Holy Casket" (Agia Soros).

Later, Arcadius' daughter, Pulcheria, upon becoming Empress, embroidered the Belt with gold thread and built the Church of Chalkoprateia, where she placed the sacred reliquary.

Around 1150, the Holy Belt was divided into several pieces, which were distributed among various churches.

During the reign of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, the Feast of the Holy Belt was officially established on August 31, commemorating the date on which Emperor Arcadius had placed the Belt in the Holy Casket.

During the Fourth Crusade in 1204, portions of the Holy Belt were stolen by the Crusaders. However, some devout Christians managed to hide and preserve one piece.

Following the recapture of Constantinople in 1261 by Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, this portion of the Holy Belt was placed in the Church of the Virgin Mary of Blachernae.

This sacred relic was later donated to the Monastery of Vatopedi by Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos (1341–1354). The Emperor subsequently abdicated the throne, became a monk under the name Joasaph, and embraced monastic life at the Monastery of Vatopedi.

The Holy Belt of the Mother of God continues to preserve the grace of the Virgin Mary, sanctifying the faithful and delivering them from sorrows, suffering, and illnesses.