True Cross

 

About the True Cross

The True Cross is the sacred wooden cross on which Jesus Christ, our Savior, was crucified, a holy relic revered as the place where He shed His blood for our salvation. The Bible’s Gospels—Matthew (27:32-56), Mark (15:21-41), Luke (23:26-49), and John (19:17-37)—tell of Jesus carrying this cross to Golgotha, dying upon it to forgive our sins, and rising again. Discovered by Saint Helena in 325 AD, it became a powerful symbol of His love and triumph over death. Over centuries, it was broken into fragments, now kept in churches like Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome, Notre-Dame in Paris, and many others worldwide. Christians honor these pieces as a gift from Jesus, drawing near to His sacrifice with awe and gratitude. (Pic : Reliquary of the True Cross at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem)

Its Appearance

The True Cross, when whole, was a rough-hewn wooden structure, likely pine, cypress, or cedar, standing about 10-15 feet tall (3-4.5 meters) with a crossbeam around 6-8 feet wide (1.8-2.4 meters), typical of Roman execution crosses. Nails once held Jesus to it, leaving marks of His suffering. After its discovery, it was divided into countless fragments—some mere splinters, others larger chunks—preserved in reliquaries of gold, silver, or carved wood, often adorned with jewels. The wood is dark, weathered, and brittle, its texture a silent witness to Jesus’ pain. Relics like the Titulus Crucis (the title sign) complement it, but the fragments themselves, humble and aged, shine with His holy presence.

Its Journey

(Pic: The Finding of the True Cross, Agnolo Gaddi, Florence, 1380)
The True Cross begins around 33 AD in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified on Golgotha. After His burial, it was hidden—some say buried with Him, others cast aside—until 325, when Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, unearthed it during her pilgrimage. Digging near the Holy Sepulchre, she found three crosses; a miracle, often a healing of a sick woman touched by one, revealed Jesus’. Helena sent parts to Rome for the Church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, built around 325 in her palace, and left some in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, completed in 335. By 383, pilgrim Egeria saw it in Jerusalem, displayed with the Titulus in a silver-gilt casket. In 614, Persian King Khosrau II looted it from Jerusalem during his invasion, taking it to Ctesiphon. Emperor Heraclius reclaimed it in 629 after defeating the Persians, triumphantly returning it to the Holy Sepulchre on March 21, 630, an event still celebrated as the “Exaltation of the Cross.” By the 7th century, fragments spread—some to Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia, others to European churches. In 1009, Caliph Al-Hakim damaged Jerusalem’s relics, but pieces survived. In 1187, Saladin captured a fragment after the Battle of Hattin, paraded in Damascus, though Crusaders may have hidden others. In 1204, the Fourth Crusade scattered more from Constantinople. Today, fragments rest in Rome, Paris (saved from Notre-Dame’s 2019 fire), Brussels, and countless reliquaries, cherished through time.

Its Meaning

These fragments of the True Cross, small yet mighty, have been loved for nearly 2,000 years. They remind us of Jesus’ great love—how He bore our sins on that rugged wood, dying to give us life, and rising to show His power. Found by Helena, rescued by Heraclius, and carried through wars, they tell a story of faith unbroken. Kept in golden reliquaries or simple boxes, they bring peace and strength, a holy sign of His victory over darkness. Scattered across the world, they unite believers, lifting our hearts to Jesus’ mercy that never fades, a treasure forever blessed by His touch.

Timeline of the True Cross

• Around 33 AD: Jesus crucified on the cross in Jerusalem.
• 325: Saint Helena discovers the True Cross near Golgotha.
• 325: Parts sent to Rome’s Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.
• 335: Church of the Holy Sepulchre built in Jerusalem, housing relics.
• 383: Egeria sees it displayed in Jerusalem with Titulus.
• 614: Persians under Khosrau II steal it to Ctesiphon.
• March 21, 630: Heraclius returns it to Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre.
• 7th Century: Fragments spread to Constantinople and Europe.
• 1009: Caliph Al-Hakim damages Jerusalem’s relics; some survive.
• 1187: Saladin captures a fragment after Battle of Hattin.
• 1204: Fourth Crusade scatters pieces from Constantinople.
• April 15, 2019: Notre-Dame fire threatens Paris fragment; saved.
• Present Day: Fragments kept in Rome, Paris, and worldwide.

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