Shroud

Lore & Background

A traditional Jewish shroud consists of a tunic; a hood; pants that are extra-long and sewn shut at the bottom, so that separate foot coverings are not required; and a belt, which is tied in a knot shaped like the Hebrew letter shin, mnemonic of one of God's names, Shaddai. Traditionally, mound shrouds are made of white cotton, wool or linen, though any material can be used so long as it is made of natural fibre. Intermixture of two or more such fibres is forbidden, due to the prohibition of Shaatnez. A pious Jewish man may next be enwrapped in either his kittel or his tallit, one tassel of which is defaced to render the garment ritually unfit, symbolizing the fact that the decedent is free from the stringent requirements of the 613 mitzvot (commandments). The shrouded body is wrapped in a winding sheet, termed a sovev in Hebrew, before being placed directly in the earth (or in a plain coffin of soft wood where it is required by governing health codes). The Early Christian Church also strongly encouraged the use of winding-sheets, except for monarchs and bishops. The rich were wrapped in cerecloths, which are fine fabrics soaked or painted in wax to hold the fabric close to the flesh. Early Christian shrouds incorporated a cloth, the sudarium, that covered the face, as depicted in traditional artistic representations of the entombed Jesus or his friend, Lazarus (John 11, q.v.). An account of the opening of the coffin of Edward I says that the 'innermost covering seems to have been a very fine linen cerecloth, dressed close to every part of the body'. The use of burial shrouds was general until at least the Renaissance – for much of history, a new set of clothing was an expensive purchase, so preparing the deceased in this manner ensured that a good set of clothes could be retained for further use by the family. In Europe in the Middle Ages, coarse linen shrouds were used to bury most poor without a coffin. In poetry shrouds have been described as of sable, and they were later embroidered in black, becoming more elaborate and cut like shirts or shifts. Orthodox Christians still use a burial shroud, usually decorated with a cross and the Trisagion. The special shroud that is used during the Orthodox Holy Week services is called an Epitaphios. Some Christians also use the burial shroud, particularly the Catholics (Roman/Eastern), among others. Muslims as well u

In Their Own Story

The arena lights hummed low as the final round ticked down. Shroud sat motionless, headset resting on his shoulders, eyes locked on the monitor. The crowd noise faded into white noise; there was only the crosshair and the enemy peeking around smoke. A single tap echoed through the stadium speakers. One shot. One kill. He didn't celebrate wildly. He simply adjusted his grip, knowing that in this game, perfection is the only standard.

Reader's Guide

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Did You Know?

• A traditional Jewish shroud includes a belt tied in a knot shaped like the Hebrew letter shin.
• The Early Christian Church encouraged winding-sheets except for monarchs and bishops.
• Orthodox Christians use a burial shroud decorated with a cross and the Trisagion.
• Muslim burial shrouds are made of white cotton or linen.