Holy Girdle

Holy Girdle
Holy Belt of Mary
MaterialKnotted textile cord
Size
  • Length 74 cm (29 in)
  • Breadth 5 cm (2.0 in)
  • Thickness 3 cm (1.2 in)
Discovered1852, rediscovered April 1953
Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt, Homs, Syria
Discovered byPatriarch Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum
Present locationChurches in Syria, India, Middle East
Icon depiction the Theotokos giving her girdle to Thomas the Apostle. Below is a styllized representation of Mary's Tomb, with flowers lying on the sarcophagus.

The Holy Girdle, also known as the Girdle of Thomas, Holy Girdle of Mary, Holy Zoonoro, (or) Zunoro, and Holy Belt of Saint Mary the mother of Jesus, is a relic of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is one of the important relics of Syriac Orthodox Church and venerated by Oriental Orthodox communion. The word Zunoro is also translated as "belt", "sash" or "girdle". It is the Oriental Orthodox equivalent of the Girdle of Thomas in the Catholic Church, and the Cincture of the Theotokos in the Eastern Orthodox Church, now located at Mount Athos.