Lirey facts for kids

Lirey is a small village located in the north-central part of France. It's part of the Aube département, which is like a county or region in France. Lirey is a quiet place, but it has a fascinating history connected to a very famous and mysterious object.

Where is Lirey?

Lirey is situated in the Grand Est region of France. It's a rural area, meaning it has lots of countryside, farms, and open spaces. The village itself is quite small, with only a few hundred people living there. Like many villages in France, it has a church and traditional houses.

The Shroud of Turin: What is it?

The Shroud of Turin is one of the most famous and debated objects in the world. It is a long piece of linen cloth that many people believe was the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. The cloth shows the faint image of a man, front and back, who appears to have suffered injuries similar to those described in the Bible during the crucifixion.

Scientists and historians have studied the Shroud for centuries. Some believe it is truly ancient and authentic, while others think it was created much later, perhaps in the Middle Ages. The mystery of how the image was formed on the cloth remains unsolved, making it a subject of great interest and research.

Lirey's Connection to the Shroud

Lirey plays a very important role in the known history of the Shroud of Turin. This is because the Shroud first appeared publicly in Lirey in the mid-14th century.

The Shroud was owned by a French knight named Geoffroi de Charny. He was a brave and respected knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. In the 1350s, Geoffroi de Charny displayed the Shroud in a church he had built in Lirey. This was the first time the Shroud was shown to the public. People came from all over to see this mysterious cloth.

After Geoffroi de Charny's death, his son, also named Geoffroi, continued to display the Shroud. Eventually, the Shroud passed to Geoffroi's granddaughter, Margaret de Charny. She later gave the Shroud to the House of Savoy, a powerful royal family in Europe. The House of Savoy eventually moved the Shroud to Turin, Italy, where it has been kept ever since. This is why it is now known as the "Shroud of Turin."

Lirey Today

Today, Lirey remains a peaceful French village. While the Shroud of Turin is no longer there, the village's historical connection to such a significant artifact is a unique part of its identity. Visitors interested in history or the mystery of the Shroud might find Lirey a fascinating place to visit, imagining the crowds that gathered there centuries ago to witness the first public display of the famous cloth.

See also

• In Spanish: Lirey para niños