I thought the girdle was related to the Assumption, not the Visitation.
A different story, that one.
In the accounts, one of the apostles, often identified as St Thomas, was not present at Mary’s death and arrives late, either demanding proof of the Assumption or attesting to it. His arrival precipitates a reopening of Mary’s tomb, which is found to be empty except for her grave clothes. In either case, Mary was said to have dropped her girdle down to the apostle from heaven as testament to the event.
Then the most blessed Thomas was suddenly brought to the Mount of Olivet, and saw the most blessed body going up to heaven, and began to cry out and say: “
O holy mother, blessed mother, spotless mother, if I have now found grace because I see thee, make thy servant joyful through thy compassion, because thou art going to heaven.” Then the girdle with which the apostles had encircled the most holy body was thrown down from heaven to the blessed Thomas. And taking it, and kissing it, and giving thanks to God, he came again into the Valley of Jehoshaphat. He found all the apostles and another great crowd there beating their breasts on account of the brightness which they had seen. And seeing and kissing each other, the blessed Peter said to him: “
Truly thou hast always been obdurate and unbelieving, because for thine unbelief it was not pleasing to God that thou shouldst be along with us at the burial of the mother of the Saviour.” And he, beating his breast, said: “
I know and firmly believe that I have always been a bad and an unbelieving man; therefore I ask pardon of all of you for my obduracy and unbelief.” And they all prayed for him.
Then the blessed Thomas said: “
Where have you laid her body?” And they pointed out the sepulchre with their finger. And he said: “
The body which is called most holy is not there.” Then the blessed Peter said to him: “
Already on another occasion thou wouldst not believe the resurrection of our Master and Lord at our word, unless thou went to touch Him with thy fingers, and see Him; how wilt thou believe us that the holy body is here?” Still he persists saying: “
It is not here.” Then, as it were in a rage, they went to the sepulchre, which was a new one hollowed out in the rock, and took up the stone; but they did not find the body, not knowing what to say, because they had been convicted by the words of Thomas. Then the blessed Thomas told them how he was singing mass in India—he still had on his sacerdotal robes. He, not knowing the word of God, had been brought to the Mount of Olivet, and saw the most holy body of the blessed Mary going up into heaven, and prayed her to give him a blessing. She heard his prayer, and threw him her girdle which she had about her. And the apostles seeing the belt which they had put about her, glorifying God, all asked pardon of the blessed Thomas, on account of the benediction which the blessed Mary had given him, and because he had seen the most holy body going up into heaven. And the blessed Thomas gave them his benediction, and said: “
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
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The Passing of Mary, first Latin form
As for St. Mary in Blachernae, in 450, the Empress Aelia Pulcheria started to build a church near a fountain of holy water (Greek:
Hagiasma) situated outside the walls of Theodosius II at the foot of the sixth hill of Constantinople. After her death in 453, the shrine was completed by her husband, the Emperor Marcian. Emperor Leo I erected near the church two other buildings: a
Parekklesion, named
Hagia Soros (“holy reliquary”), since it hosted the holy mantle and robe of the Virgin brought from Palestine in 473, and the
Hagion Lousma (“sacred bath”) edifice, which enclosed the fountain. The importance assumed by the whole complex encouraged the Emperors to lodge in the surroundings and to build there the nucleus of what would in later centuries become the imperial palace of Blachernae. During the first quarter of the 6th century, the Emperors Justin I and Justinian I restored and enlarged the church.
