The Sancta Camisia of Chartres Cathedral
by Dr. Deborah Vess

The Sancta Camisia is believed by Christians to be the cloak of the Virgin Mary. Medieval sources vary on its exact relationship to Mary; some sources maintain that it was worn by Mary when Gabriel announced the coming birth of Christ (annunciation, while other sources maintain that it was worn by Mary when she gave birth to Christ.

The Byzantine Empress Irene gave the holy cloak to Charles the Bald, King of the Franks, in 876 C.E. It was given to Chartres, not to Notre Dame in Paris, as Notre Dame was not yet built. According to legends, the cloak survived many fires at Chartres, and was carried out three days after a catyclismic fire by the Bishop of Chartes completely unharmed. This was taken as a sign that a new and beautiful cathedral should be built for the virgin.

The Holy Cloak drew many pilgrims to Chartres, including the English King Henry V. After his decisive victory at Agincourt in 1415, Henry had negotiated the Treaty of Troyes with France in 1420, which made his heirs the successors to the French throne.

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