True Cross - Wikipedia

The True Cross is the cross upon which Jesus was said to have been crucified, particularly as an object of religious veneration. There are no early accounts ... TrueCross FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch CrossuponwhichJesuswascrucified ChristCrucifiedbyGiotto,c.1310 TheTrueCrossisthecrossuponwhichJesuswassaidtohavebeencrucified,particularlyasanobjectofreligiousveneration.TherearenoearlyaccountsthattheapostlesorearlyChristianspreservedthephysicalcrossthemselves,althoughprotectiveuseofthesignofthecrosswascommonbyatleastthe2ndcentury.Post-NicenehistorianssuchasSocratesofConstantinoplerelatethatHelena,themotheroftheRomanemperorConstantine I,travelledtotheHolyLandintheyears326–328,foundingchurchesandestablishingreliefagenciesforthepoor.Thelate4th-centuryhistoriansGelasiusofCaesareaandTyranniusRufinusclaimedthatwhilethereshediscoveredthehidingplaceofthreecrossesthatwerebelievedtohavebeenusedatthecrucifixionofJesusandthetwothieves,St.DismasandGestas,executedwithhim.ToonecrosswasaffixedthetitulusbearingJesus'sname,butaccordingtoRufinusHelenawasnotsureuntilamiraclerevealedthatthiswastheTrueCross.[a] ManychurchespossessfragmentaryremainsthatarebytraditionallegedtobethoseofthisTrueCross.TheacceptanceoftheserelicsisgenerallyrestrictedtotheCatholicChurch,EasternOrthodoxChurch,OrientalOrthodoxChurch,andtheChurchoftheEast,whileProtestantsandotherChristiansdisputetheirauthenticity.[2]ThemedievallegendsthatdevelopedconcerningtheprovenanceoftheTrueCrossdifferbetweenCatholicandOrthodoxtradition,asdotheexactdatesofthereligiousfestivalscelebratingitsrediscovery.AsupposedfragmentofTrueCrossheldbyWaterfordCathedralwastestedbyOxfordUniversityradiocarbonexpertsin2016andfoundtodatefromthe11thcentury.[3]Forgingofrelicsforsaleortopromotereligioustourism(pilgrimage)wascommonduringthemedievalperiod[3]butsowasthecreationofthird-classrelicsbytouchingmundaneitemstothosebelievedtobeholy,inthebeliefsomeofitsspiritualpowerwouldbetransferredbytheprocess.Overtime,manysuchthird-classrelicscametobetakenastheoriginalarticlestheyhadoncetouched. Contents 1Provenance 1.1TheGoldenLegend 1.2EasternChristianity 1.3TraditionofLot'stripletree 2EmpressHelenaandtheCross 2.1Eusebius 2.2SocratesScholasticus 2.3Sozomen 2.4Theodoret 2.5Syriactradition 2.6Catholiccommemoration 3TheTrueCrossinJerusalem 3.1Lateantiquity 3.2ThePerso-ByzantineWars 3.3IslamicruleandtheCrusades 3.4Currentrelic 4Dispersalofrelics 5Veneration 6Imagegallery 7Seealso 8Notes 9References 9.1Citations 9.2Bibliography 10Furtherreading 11Externallinks Provenance[edit] TheQueenofShebaveneratesthewoodfromwhichtheCrosswillbemade(frescobyPierodellaFrancescainSanFrancesco,Arezzo). TheGoldenLegend[edit] IntheLatin-speakingtraditionsofWesternEurope,thestoryofthepre-ChristianoriginsoftheTrueCrosswaswellestablishedbythe13thcenturywhen,in1260,itwasrecordedbyJacobusdeVoragine,BishopofGenoa,intheGoldenLegend.[b] TheGoldenLegendcontainsseveralversionsoftheoriginoftheTrueCross.InTheLifeofAdam,VoraginewritesthattheTrueCrosscamefromthreetreeswhichgrewfromthreeseedsfromthe"TreeofMercy"whichSethcollectedandplantedinthemouthofAdam'scorpse.[4] Inanotheraccountcontainedin"OftheInventionoftheHolyCross",VoraginewritesthattheTrueCrosscamefromatreethatgrewfrompartoftheTreeofKnowledgeofGoodandEvil,"thetreethatAdamateof",thatSethplantedonAdam'sgravewhereit"enduredthereuntothetimeofSolomon".[5][6]Alternatively,itreachedSolomonviaMoses,whoseroditwas,andDavid,whoplanteditatJerusalem.ItwasfelledbySolomontobeabeaminhistemplebutnotfoundsuitableintheend.[6] Aftermanycenturies,thetreewascutdownandthewoodusedtobuildabridgeoverwhichtheQueenofShebapassedonherjourneytomeetSolomon.Sostruckwasshebytheportentcontainedinthetimberofthebridgethatshefellonherkneesandreveredit.OnhervisittoSolomon,shetoldhimthatapieceofwoodfromthebridgewouldbringaboutthereplacementofGod'scovenantwiththeJewishpeoplebyaneworder.Solomon,fearingtheeventualdestructionofhispeople,hadthetimberburied.[5][6] Afterfourteengenerations,thewoodtakenfromthebridgewasfashionedintotheCrossusedtocrucifyJesusChrist.[5][6]VoraginethengoesontodescribeitsrediscoverybyHelena,motheroftheEmperorConstantine.[5] IntheLateMiddleAgesandEarlyRenaissance,therewaswidegeneralacceptanceoftheaccountofthecross'shistoryaspresentedbyVoragine.Thisgeneralacceptanceisdisplayedinnumerousartworksonthesubject,culminatinginoneofthemostfamousfrescocyclesoftheRenaissance,theLegendoftheTrueCrossbyPierodellaFrancesca,whichhepaintedonthewallsofthechanceloftheChurchofSanFrancescoinArezzobetween1452and1466,faithfullyreproducingtheepisodesofTheGoldenLegend. EasternChristianity[edit] AccordingtothesacredtraditionoftheEasternOrthodoxChurchtheTrueCrosswasmadefromthreedifferenttypesofwood:cedar,pineandcypress.[7]ThisisanallusiontoIsaiah60:13:"ThegloryofLebanonshallcomeuntothee,thefirtree,thepinetree,andthebox[cypress]togethertobeautifytheplaceofmysanctuary,andIwillmaketheplaceofmyfeetglorious."Thelinkbetweenthisverseandthecrucifixionliesinthewords"theplaceofmyfeet",whichisinterpretedasreferringtothefootrest(Latin:suppedāneum)onwhichJesus'feetwerenailedandwhichappearsontheOrthodoxcross.[citationneeded](ComparewiththeJewishconceptsoftheArkoftheCovenantortheJerusalemTempleasbeingGod'sfootstool,[8]andtheprescribedThreePilgrimageFestivals,inHebrewaliyala-regel,lit.ascendingtothefoot).[9] TraditionofLot'stripletree[edit] AfurthertraditionholdsthatthesethreetreesfromwhichtheTrueCrosswasconstructedgrewtogetherinonespot.AtraditionalOrthodoxicondepictsLot,thenephewofAbraham,wateringthetrees.[7]Accordingtotradition,thesetreeswereusedtoconstructtheTempleinJerusalem("tobeautifytheplaceofmysanctuary").Later,duringHerod'sreconstructionoftheTemple,thewoodfromthesetreeswasremovedfromtheTempleanddiscarded,eventuallybeingusedtoconstructthecrossonwhichJesuswascrucified("andIwillmaketheplaceofmyfeetglorious").[citationneeded] EmpressHelenaandtheCross[edit] TheFindingoftheTrueCross,AgnoloGaddi,Florence,1380 Eusebius[edit] TheLifeofConstantinebyEusebiusofCaesarea(died339)istheearliestandmainhistoricalsourceontherediscoveryoftheTombofJesusandtheconstructionofthefirstchurchatthesite,butdoesnotmentionanythingconcerningtheTrueCross.[10]EusebiusdescribeshowthesiteoftheHolySepulchre,onceasiteofvenerationfortheearlyChristianChurchinJerusalem,hadbeencoveredoverwithearthandatempleofVenushadbeenbuiltontop.AlthoughEusebiusdoesnotsayasmuch,thiswouldprobablyhavebeendoneaspartofHadrian'sreconstructionofJerusalemasanewpagancity,AeliaCapitolina,after130,followingthedestructionoftheformerlyJewishcityattheendoftheJewishRevoltintheyear70,andinconnectionwithBarKokhba'srevoltof132–135.FollowinghisconversiontoChristianity,EmperorConstantineorderedinabout325–326thatthesitebeuncoveredandinstructedMacarius,BishopofJerusalem,tobuildachurchonthesite.Eusebius'workcontainsdetailsaboutthedemolitionofthepagantempleandtheerectionofthechurch,butdoesn'tmentionanywherethefindingoftheTrueCross.[10] SocratesScholasticus[edit] Thethreecrossesarediscovered.AninjuredyoungmanishealedbytheTrueCross.Fifteenth-centuryfrescoesattheChurchofSanFrancesco,ArezzobyPierodellaFrancesca. InhisEcclesiasticalHistory,SocratesScholasticus(bornc. 380)givesafulldescriptionofthediscoverylaterrepeatedbySozomenandTheodoret.InithedescribeshowHelenaAugusta,Constantine'sagedmother,hadthepagantempledestroyedandtheSepulchreuncovered,whereuponthreecrosses,thetitulus,andthenailsfromJesus'scrucifixionwereuncoveredaswell.InSocrates'sversionofthestory,Macariushadthethreecrossesplacedinturnonadeathlyillwoman.Thiswomanrecoveredatthetouchofthethirdcross,whichwastakenasasignthatthiswasthecrossofChrist,thenewChristiansymbol.Socratesalsoreportsthat,havingalsofoundthecross'snails,HelenasentthesetoConstantinople,wheretheywereincorporatedintotheemperor'shelmetandthebridleofhishorse.[11] Sozomen[edit] InhisEcclesiasticalHistory,Sozomen(diedc. 450)givesessentiallythesameversionasSocrates.Withoutfurtherattribution,healsoaddsthatitwassaidthatthelocationoftheSepulchrewas"disclosedbyaHebrewwhodweltintheEastandwhoderivedhisinformationfromsomedocumentswhichhadcometohimbypaternalinheritance"—althoughSozomenhimselfdisputesthisaccount—andthatadeadpersonwasalsorevivedbythetouchoftheCross.[12]LaterpopularversionsofthisstorystatethattheJewwhoassistedHelenawasnamedJudeorJudasbutlaterconvertedtoChristianityandtookthenameKyriakos. Theodoret[edit] TheprovingoftheTrueCross,JeanColombeintheTrèsRichesHeures Theodoret(diedc.457)inhisEcclesiasticalHistoryChapterxviigiveswhatwouldbecomethestandardversionofthefindingoftheTrueCross: WhentheempressbeheldtheplacewheretheSavioursuffered,sheimmediatelyorderedtheidolatroustemple,whichhadbeenthereerected,tobedestroyed,andtheveryearthonwhichitstoodtoberemoved.Whenthetomb,whichhadbeensolongconcealed,wasdiscovered,threecrosseswereseenburiedneartheLord'ssepulchre.AllhelditascertainthatoneofthesecrosseswasthatofourLordJesusChrist,andthattheothertwowerethoseofthethieveswhowerecrucifiedwithHim.YettheycouldnotdiscerntowhichofthethreetheBodyoftheLordhadbeenbroughtnigh,andwhichhadreceivedtheoutpouringofHispreciousBlood.ButthewiseandholyMacarius,thepresidentofthecity,resolvedthisquestioninthefollowingmanner.Hecausedaladyofrank,whohadbeenlongsufferingfromdisease,tobetouchedbyeachofthecrosses,withearnestprayer,andthusdiscernedthevirtueresidinginthatoftheSaviour.Fortheinstantthiscrosswasbroughtnearthelady,itexpelledthesoredisease,andmadeherwhole. WiththeCrosswerealsofoundtheHolyNails,whichHelenatookwithherbacktoConstantinople.AccordingtoTheodoret,"ShehadpartofthecrossofourSaviourconveyedtothepalace.Therestwasenclosedinacoveringofsilver,andcommittedtothecareofthebishopofthecity,whomsheexhortedtopreserveitcarefully,inorderthatitmightbetransmitteduninjuredtoposterity." Syriactradition[edit] AnotherpopularancientversionfromtheSyriactraditionreplacedHelenawithafictitiousfirst-centuryempressnamedProtonike,whoissaidtobethewifeofemperorClaudius.[13]Thisstory,whichoriginatedinEdessainthe430s,[14]wastransmittedintheso-calledDoctrinaAddai,whichwasbelievedtobewrittenbyThaddeusofEdessa(AddaiinSyriactexts),oneoftheseventydisciples.[15]ThenarrativeretrojectedtheHelenaversiontothefirstcentury.Inthestory,ProtoniketraveledtoJerusalemaftershemetSimonPeterinRome.[13]ShewasshownaroundthecitybyJames,brotherofJesus,untilshediscoveredthecrossafterithealedherdaughterofsomeillness.[13]ShethenconvertedtoChristianityandhadachurchbuiltonGolgotha.[13]AsidefromtheSyriactradition,theProtonikeversionwasalsocitedbyArmeniansources.[16] Catholiccommemoration[edit] Accordingtothe1955RomanCatholicMarianMissal,HelenawenttoJerusalemtosearchfortheTrueCrossandfoundit14September320.Inthe8thcentury,theFeastoftheFindingwastransferredto3Mayand14Septemberbecamethecelebrationofthe"ExaltationoftheCross",thecommemorationofavictoryoverthePersiansbytheByzantineemperorHeraclius,asaresultofwhichtherelicwasrecoveredandreturnedtoJerusalem.[citationneeded] TheTrueCrossinJerusalem[edit] Lateantiquity[edit] ThesilverreliquarythatwasleftattheBasilicaoftheHolySepulchreincareofthebishopofJerusalemwasexhibitedperiodicallytothefaithful.Inthe380sanunnamedEgeriawhowastravellingonpilgrimagedescribedthevenerationoftheTrueCrossatJerusaleminalongletterknownasherItinerary(Latin:ItinerariumEgeriae),whichshesentbacktoherconvent: ThenachairisplacedforthebishopinGolgothabehindthe[liturgical]Cross,whichisnowstanding;thebishopdulytakeshisseatinthechair,andatablecoveredwithalinenclothisplacedbeforehim;thedeaconsstandroundthetable,andasilver-giltcasketisbroughtinwhichistheholywoodoftheCross.Thecasketisopenedand[thewood]istakenout,andboththewoodoftheCrossandthetitleareplaceduponthetable.Now,whenithasbeenputuponthetable,thebishop,ashesits,holdstheextremitiesofthesacredwoodfirmlyinhishands,whilethedeaconswhostandaroundguardit.Itisguardedthusbecausethecustomisthatthepeople,bothfaithfulandcatechumens,comeonebyoneand,bowingdownatthetable,kissthesacredwoodandpassthrough.Andbecause,Iknownotwhen,someoneissaidtohavebittenoffandstolenaportionofthesacredwood,itisthusguardedbythedeaconswhostandaround,lestanyoneapproachingshouldventuretodosoagain.Andasallthepeoplepassbyonebyone,allbowingthemselves,theytouchtheCrossandthetitle,firstwiththeirforeheadsandthenwiththeireyes;thentheykisstheCrossandpassthrough,butnonelayshishanduponittotouchit.WhentheyhavekissedtheCrossandhavepassedthrough,adeaconstandsholdingtheringofSolomonandthehornfromwhichthekingswereanointed;theykissthehornalsoandgazeatthering...[17] Beforelong,butperhapsnotuntilafterthevisitofEgeria,itwaspossiblealsotoveneratethecrownofthorns,thepillaratwhichChristwasscourged,andthelancethatpiercedhisside. ThePerso-ByzantineWars[edit] TheSassanidEmperorKhosrauII("Chosroes")removedthepartofthecrossheldinJerusalemasatrophyafterhecapturedthecityin614.Thirteenyearslaterin628,theByzantineemperorHeracliusdefeatedKhosrauandregainedtherelicfromShahrbaraz.HeplacedthecrossinConstantinopleatfirst,beforerestoringittoJerusalemon21March630.[18]Somescholarsdisagreewiththisnarrative,withProf.ConstantinZuckermangoingasfarastosuggestthattheTrueCrosswasactuallylostbythePersiansandthatthewoodcontainedintheallegedlystillsealedreliquarybroughttoJerusalembyHeracliusin629wasafake.Inhisanalysis,thehoaxwasdesignedtoservethepoliticalpurposesofbothHeracliusandhisformerfoe,recentlyturnedallyandfather-in-law,thePersiangeneralandsoon-kingShahrbaraz.[19] IslamicruleandtheCrusades[edit] ReliquaryoftheTrueCrossattheChurchoftheHolySepulchre,Jerusalem WhenJerusalemfelltotheMuslimsin638,HeracliusretrievedtheTrueCrossbutdidnotattempttoretakethecity.[20] Around1009,theyearinwhichFatimidcaliphAl-Hakimbi-AmrAllahorderedthedestructionoftheChurchoftheHolySepulchre,ChristiansinJerusalemhidpartofthecrossanditremainedhiddenuntilthecitywastakenbytheEuropeansoldiersoftheFirstCrusade.ArnulfMalecorne,thefirstLatinpatriarchofJerusalem,hadtheGreekOrthodoxpriestswhoweresupposedlyinpossessionoftheCrosstorturedinordertorevealitslocation.[21]TherelicthatArnulfrecoveredwasasmallfragmentofwoodembeddedinagoldencross,anditbecamethemostsacredrelicoftheKingdomofJerusalem,withnoneofthecontroversythathadfollowedtheirdiscoveryoftheHolyLanceinAntioch.Displayedinajewel-encrustedhousingofgoldandsilver,itwashousedinanorthernchapelattheChurchoftheHolySepulchre,overseenbyitscanonsandprotectedbyitsknights.AsecondchapelbesideitwasoverseenbytheSyrianOrthodoxanddisplayedanotherreliquaryholdingtheirfragmentofthecross.[22]TheLatinfragmentofthecrosswasrepeatedlycarriedintobattleagainsttheMuslims.[22] Overthecourseofeachliturgicalcalendar,theLatinpatriarchwouldoverseemassatthevariouschurchesaroundJerusalemcorrespondingtothepartofJesus'slifebeingcelebrated.ThecelebrationsofHolyWeekcloselyinvolvedtheHolySepulchreanditsfragmentoftheTrueCross.DuringlaudsoneachGoodFriday,theLatinrelicwascarriedacrossthechurchtothechapelofCalvaryonitssouthside,thesupposedsiteofJesus'scrucifixion,andthenveneratedbythebarefootpatriarch,thesepulchre'scanons,andtheassembledpilgrimsuntilsext.[23]PriortotheliturgyonHolySaturday,fourpilgrimsselectedbythepatriarch—precededbyathuriferand2acolytes—carriedtheLatinrelicfromitschapeltotheediculeoftheHolySepulchrewhilethecongregationwaitedwithunlitcandles.ANewFirewould"spontaneously"lightwithinthesepulchre.Thecrossbearerthenwouldlighthisowncandlefromit,transittheentirechurch,andlightthecandleofthewaitingpatriarch.Thecandlesofthecanonsandthenthecongregationwerethenlitfromonetoanother,graduallyfillingthechurchwithlight.[23] AfterKingBaldwin IofJerusalempresentedKingSigurd IofNorwaywithasplinteroftheTrueCrossfollowingtheNorwegianCrusadein1110,theCrosswascapturedbySaladinduringtheBattleofHattinin1187.WhilesomeChristianrulerslikeRichardtheLionheartofEngland,[24]theByzantineemperorIsaac II,andQueenTamarofGeorgiasoughttoransomitfromSaladin,[25]thecrosswasnotreturned.In1219theTrueCrosswasofferedtotheKnightsTemplarbyAl-KamilinexchangeforliftingthesiegeofDamietta.ThecrosswasneverdeliveredasAl-Kamildidnot,infact,haveit.Subsequentlythecrossdisappearedfromhistoricalrecords.TheTrueCrosswaslastseeninthecityofDamascus.[26] Currentrelic[edit] CurrentlytheGreekOrthodoxchurchpresentsasmallTrueCrossrelicshownintheGreekTreasurywithintheChurchoftheHolySepulchreatthefootofGolgotha.[27]TheSyriacOrthodoxChurchalsoclaimsasmallrelicoftheTrueCross(heldintheMonasteryofSaintMarkinJerusalem),[citationneeded]asdoestheArmenianApostolicChurch(inArmenia).[28]Accordingtothe15th-centuryBookofṬeffGrains,theemperorDawit IreceivedfourfragmentsoftheTrueCrossaroundtheyear1400fromCopticChristiansasthanksforhisprotection.[29]TheEthiopianOrthodoxTewahedoChurchclaimstheserelicsarestillheldateitherEgziabherAborTekleMaryam,twomonasteriesneartheformerimperialcemeteryonAmbaGeshen. Dispersalofrelics[edit] Aninscriptionof359,foundatTixter,intheneighbourhoodofSétifinMauretania(intodayAlgeria),wassaidtomention,inanenumerationofrelics,afragmentoftheTrueCross,accordingtoanentryinRomanMiscellanies,X,441. FragmentsoftheCrosswerebrokenup,andthepieceswerewidelydistributed;in348,inoneofhisCatecheses,CyrilofJerusalemremarkedthatthe"wholeearthisfulloftherelicsoftheCrossofChrist"and,inanother,"TheholywoodoftheCrossbearswitness,seenamongustothisday,andfromthisplacenowalmostfillingthewholeworld,bymeansofthosewhoinfaithtakeportionsfromit."[30]Egeria'saccounttestifiestohowhighlytheserelicsofthecrucifixionwereprized.SaintJohnChrysostomrelatesthatfragmentsoftheTrueCrosswerekeptingoldenreliquaries,"whichmenreverentlywearupontheirpersons."EventwoLatininscriptionsaround350fromtoday'sAlgeriatestifytothekeepingandadmirationofsmallparticlesofthecross.[31]Aroundtheyear455,JuvenalPatriarchofJerusalemsenttoPopeLeoIafragmentofthe"preciouswood",accordingtotheLettersofPopeLeo.AportionofthecrosswastakentoRomeintheseventhcenturybyPopeSergiusI,whowasofByzantineorigin."Inthesmallpartispowerofthewholecross",saysaninscriptionintheFelixBasilicaofNola,builtbybishopPaulinusatthebeginningof5thcentury.Thecrossparticlewasinsertedinthealtar.[32] TheOldEnglishpoemDreamoftheRoodmentionsthefindingofthecrossandthebeginningofthetraditionofthevenerationofitsrelics.TheAnglo-SaxonChroniclealsotalksofKingAlfredreceivingafragmentofthecrossfromPopeMarinus(see:AnnalAlfredtheGreat,year883).[33]Althoughitispossible,thepoemneednotbereferringtothisspecificrelicorhavethisincidentasthereasonforitscomposition.However,thereisalatersourcethatspeaksofabequestmadetothe'HolyCross'atShaftesburyAbbeyinDorset;ShaftesburyabbeywasfoundedbyKingAlfred,supportedwithalargeportionofstatefundsandgiventothechargeofhisowndaughterwhenhewasalive—itisconceivablethatifAlfredreallyreceivedthisrelic,thathemayhavegivenittothecareofthenunsatShaftesbury.[34] MostoftheverysmallrelicsoftheTrueCrossinEuropecamefromConstantinople.ThecitywascapturedandsackedbytheFourthCrusadein1204.TheChronicaRegiaColoniensisrelatesthat"AftertheconquestofthecityConstantinopleinestimablewealthwasfound:incomparablypreciousjewelsandalsoapartofthecrossoftheLord,whichHelenatransferredfromJerusalemand[which]wasdecoratedwithgoldandpreciousjewels.Thereitattained[the]highestadmiration.Itwascarvedupbythepresentbishopsandwasdividedwithotherverypreciousrelicsamongtheknights;later,aftertheirreturntothehomeland,itwasdonatedtochurchesandmonasteries."[c][d]TheFrenchknightRobertdeClariwrotethat"withinthischapelwerefoundmanypreciousrelics;forthereinwerefoundtwopiecesoftheTrueCross,asthickasaman'slegandafathominlength."[36] BytheendoftheMiddleAgessomanychurchesclaimedtopossessapieceoftheTrueCross,thatJohnCalvinisfamouslysaidtohaveremarkedthattherewasenoughwoodinthemtofillaship: Thereisnoabbeysopoorasnottohaveaspecimen.Insomeplacestherearelargefragments,asattheHolyChapelinParis,atPoitiers,andatRome,whereagood-sizedcrucifixissaidtohavebeenmadeofit.Inbrief,ifallthepiecesthatcouldbefoundwerecollectedtogether,theywouldmakeabigship-load.YettheGospeltestifiesthatasinglemanwasabletocarryit.— Calvin,TraitéDesReliques ConflictingwiththisisthefindingofCharlesRohaultdeFleury,who,inhisMémoiresurlesinstrumentsdelaPassionof1870madeastudyoftherelicsinreferencetothecriticismsofCalvinandErasmus.HedrewupacatalogueofallknownrelicsoftheTrueCrossshowingthat,inspiteofwhatvariousauthorshaveclaimed,thefragmentsoftheCrossbroughttogetheragainwouldnotreachone-thirdthatofacrosswhichhasbeensupposedtohavebeenthreeorfourmetres(9.8or13.1feet)inheight,withtransversebranchoftwometres(6.6feet)wide,proportionsnotatallabnormal.Hecalculated:supposingtheCrosstohavebeenofpine-wood(basedonhismicroscopicanalysisofthefragments)andgivingitaweightofaboutseventy-fivekilogrammes,wefindtheoriginalvolumeofthecrosstobe0.178cubicmetres(6.286cubicfeet).ThetotalknownvolumeofknownrelicsoftheTrueCross,accordingtohiscatalogue,amountstoapproximately0.004cubicmetres(0.141cubicfeet)(morespecifically3,942,000cubicmillimetres),leavingavolumeof0.174 m3(6.145 cu ft),almost98%,lost,destroyed,orfromwhichisotherwiseunaccounted.[37]Fourcrossparticles–oftenparticleswithsurvivingdocumentaryprovenancesbyByzantineemperors–fromEuropeanchurches,i.e.SantaCroceinRome,CaravacadelaCruz,NotreDame,Paris,PisaCathedralandFlorenceCathedral,weremicroscopicallyexamined."Thepiecescamealltogetherfromolive."[38]ItispossiblethatmanyallegedpiecesoftheTrueCrossareforgeries,createdbytravellingmerchantsintheMiddleAges,duringwhichperiodathrivingtradeinmanufacturedrelicsexisted.[citationneeded] Smyrnakisnotesthatthelargestsurvivingportion,of870,760cubicmillimetres,ispreservedintheMonasteryofKoutloumousiouonMountAthos,andalsomentionsthepreservedrelicsinRome(consistingof537,587cubicmillimetres),inBrussels(516,090cubicmillimetres),inVenice(445,582cubicmillimetres),inGhent(436,450cubicmillimetres)andinParis(237,731cubicmillimetres).[39](Forcomparison,thecollectivevolumeofthelargestofthesesetsoffragmentswouldbeequivalenttoacubeofalittlelessthan4inches(10 cm)perside,whilethesmallestofthesewouldhaveanequivalentcubicdimensionofabout2.5inches(6.4 cm)perside.ThevolumefiguresgivenbySmyrnakisfortheseobjects—sixsignificantfiguresandtothecubicmillimeter—areundoubtedlytheresultofmultiplyingslightlyapproximatenumbersandshouldnotbeseenasimplyingscientificaccuracyofthehighestorderinabookwrittenoveracenturyago.) SantoToribiodeLiébanainSpainisalsosaidtoholdthelargestofthesepiecesandisoneofthemostvisitedRomanCatholicpilgrimagesites.InAsia,theonlyplacewheretheotherpartoftheTrueCrossislocatedisintheMonasteriodeTarlacatSanJose,Tarlac,Philippines.[40] TheEthiopianOrthodoxTewahedoChurchalsoclaimstohavetherightwingofthetruecrossburiedinthemonasteryofGishenMariam.TheEthiopianOrthodoxTewahedoChurchhasanannualreligiousholidaycalledMeskel(Geezfor"Cross")thatcommemoratestherediscoveryoftheTrueCrossbyQueenHelena.Meskel,alsoknownasDemara,occurson17MeskeremintheEthiopiancalendar,equivalenttoSeptember27inmostyearsorSeptember28duringleapyears. ThefestivalisknownastheFeastoftheExaltationoftheHolycrossinotherOrthodox,Catholic,orProtestantchurches.ChurchesthatfollowtheGregoriancalendarcelebratethefeastonSeptember14. InFebruary2020,theSevastopoldistrictarchpriestSergiyKhalyutasaidthatapieceoftheTrueCrosswasboughtbyadonor,andwillbeplacedonboardtheRussianmissilecruiserMoskva,whichhasachapelonboard.[41]TheshipsankinApril2022duringtheRussianinvasionofUkraine.[42] AnenamelledsilverreliquaryoftheTrueCrossfromConstantinople,c.800 OneofthelargestpurportedfragmentsoftheTrueCrossisatSantoToribiodeLiébanainSpain(photobyF.J.DíezMartín) A"Kreuzpartikel"orfragmentofTrueCrossintheSchatzkammer(Vienna) FragmentsofTrueCrossintheSerbianOrthodoxMonasteryofVisokiDečaniinKosovo Veneration[edit] ArelicoftheTrueCrossbeingcarriedinprocessionthroughthePiazzaSanMarco,Venice.GentileBellini15thcentury. SaintJohnChrysostomwrotehomiliesonthethreecrosses: Kingsremovingtheirdiademstakeupthecross,thesymboloftheirSaviour'sdeath;onthepurple,thecross;intheirprayers,thecross;ontheirarmour,thecross;ontheholytable,thecross;throughouttheuniverse,thecross.Thecrossshinesbrighterthanthesun. TheCatholicChurch,theEasternOrthodoxChurch,OrientalOrthodoxChurch,theAnglicanCommunion,andanumberofProtestantdenominations,celebratetheFeastoftheExaltationoftheCrossonSeptember14,theanniversaryofthededicationoftheChurchoftheHolySepulchre.Inlatercenturies,thesecelebrationsalsoincludedcommemorationoftherescueoftheTrueCrossfromthePersiansin628.IntheGalicianusage,beginningabouttheseventhcentury,theFeastoftheCrosswascelebratedonMay3.AccordingtotheCatholicEncyclopedia,whentheGalicianandRomanpracticeswerecombined,theSeptemberdate,forwhichtheVaticanadoptedtheofficialname"TriumphoftheCross"in1963,wasusedtocommemoratetherescuefromthePersiansandtheMaydatewaskeptasthe"InventionoftheTrueCross"tocommemoratethefinding.[e]TheSeptemberdateisoftenreferredtointheWestasHolyCrossDay;theMaydate(SeealsoRoodmas.)wasdroppedfromtheliturgicalcalendaroftheCatholicChurchin1960whentheRomanBreviarywasreformedbyPopeJohnXXIII.[43]TheOrthodoxstillcommemoratebotheventsonSeptember14,[44]oneoftheTwelveGreatFeastsoftheliturgicalyear,andtheProcessionoftheVenerableWoodoftheCrosson1August,thedayonwhichtherelicsoftheTrueCrosswouldbecarriedthroughthestreetsofConstantinopletoblessthecity.[45] Inadditiontocelebrationsonfixeddays,therearecertaindaysofthevariablecyclewhentheCrossiscelebrated.TheCatholicChurchhasaformalAdorationoftheCrossduringtheservicesforGoodFriday.InEasternOrthodoxchurcheseverywhere,areplicaofthecrossisbroughtoutinprocessionduringMatinsofGreatandHolyFridayforthepeopletovenerate.TheOrthodoxalsocelebrateanadditionalVenerationoftheCrossonthethirdSundayofGreatLent. Imagegallery[edit] ReliquaryoftheTrueCrossatNotreDameinParis BaseofthereliquarywithoneoftheHolyNails AsecondreliquarywithanothernailatNotreDame AreliquaryoftheTrueCrossfromtheformerPremonstratensianAbbeyinRüti,Switzerland Seealso[edit] HolyGrail,motiffromtheArthurianliterature Holyrood(cross) ÎledelaCité SantaCroceinGerusalemme StavelotTriptych TreeofJesse RelicsassociatedwithJesus ArmaChristi HolyChalice,chaliceusedattheLastSupper HolyLanceandHolySponge ShroudofTurin TitulusCrucis Notes[edit] ^AnearlyaccountofthelegendofSt HelenaandtherediscoveryoftheTrueCrosswaspresentedbytheOldEnglishpoetCynewulf.[1]AdetailedaccountofknownsourcesforthelegendsispresentedinDrijvers(1992).[2] ^Thissenseoftheword"legend"isthelesscommonone—borroweddirectlyfromitsLatinetymon"legenda"—ofanythingwhichshouldberead,ratherthanahistoricallybasedmyth.CompareitsuseforhistoricaccountsofearlyleadersoftheChurchsuchasGregory,Jerome,andAugustineaswellasthehagiographieswhichproduceditsmoreusualmodernsense. ^Latin:Captaigitururbe,divitiaerepperiunturinestimabiles,lapidespreciosissimeetincomparabiles,parsetiamlignidominici,quodperHelenamdeIherosolimistranslatum,auroetgemmispreciosesinsignituminmaximaillicvenerationehabebatur,abepiscopisquipresentesaderantincisum,abaliispreciosissimisreliquispernobilisquosquepartitur,etposteaeisrevertentibusadnatalesolum,perecclesiasetcenobiadistrbuitur.German:NachderEroberungderStadtwurdenunschätzbareReichtümergefunden,unvergleichlichkostbareEdelsteineundaucheinTeildesKreuzesdesHerrn,das,vonHelenaausJerusalemüberführtundmitGoldundkostbarenEdelsteinengeschmückt,dorthöchsteVerehrungerfuhr.EswurdevondenanwesendenBischöfenzerstückeltundmitanderensehrkostbarenReliquienunterdieRitteraufgeteilt;später,nachderenRückkehrindieHeimat,wurdeesKirchenundKlösterngestiftet.[35] ^SeealsothediscussionoftherelicsoftheTrueCrossontheGermanWikipediaatde:Diskussion:Kreuzerhöhung. ^Thissenseoftheword"invention"isthelesscommonone—borroweddirectlyfromitsLatinetymon"inventiō"—ofanythingwhichhasbeenfoundorcomeacross,ratherthansomethingcreatedentirelynew. References[edit] Citations[edit] ^Holt(1904).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFHolt1904(help) ^abDrijvers(1992). ^abO'Shea,James(2016-07-25)."TruthRevealedaboutIrishRelicofCrossonwhichJesuswasCrucified".IrishCentral.Retrieved2019-07-04. ^Ellis&al.,Vol.I(1900).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFEllis_&_al.,_Vol._I1900(help) ^abcdEllis&al.,Vol.III(1900).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFEllis_&_al.,_Vol._III1900(help) ^abcdHerzog(1969),p. 68. ^abRoman,Alexander."FeastoftheExaltationoftheCross".UkrainianOrthodoxy.Archivedfromtheoriginalon2016-03-03.Retrieved2012-10-27. ^Kittel&al.(1969),p. 627.sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFKittel_&_al.1969(help) ^"Enormous'foot-shaped'enclosurediscoveredinJordanValley".Science2.0.6April2009.Archivedfromtheoriginalon19November2018.Retrieved19November2018. ^abRichardson(1890).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFRichardson1890(help) ^Zenos(1890),Ch.xvii.sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFZenos1890(help) ^Hartranft(1890).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFHartranft1890(help) ^abcdSaint-Laurent(2015),p. 42. ^Wiles&al.(2001),p. 57.sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFWiles_&_al.2001(help) ^Meerson&al.(2014),p. 121.sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFMeerson_&_al.2014(help) ^Pogossian(2019),p. 167. ^McClure&al.(1919).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFMcClure_&_al.1919(help) ^Treadgold(1997),p. 299. ^Zuckerman(2013),pp. 197–218. ^Norwich(1988),p. 308. ^Runciman(1951),p. 294. ^abHamilton&al.(2020),p. 37harvperror:notarget:CITEREFHamilton_&_al.2020(help). ^abHamilton&al.(2020),p. 38harvperror:notarget:CITEREFHamilton_&_al.2020(help). ^Malouf(1983). ^Ciggaar&al.(1996),p. 38.sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFCiggaar_&_al.1996(help) ^Madden(2005),p. 76. ^"ChurchoftheHolySepulchreChapels".SeetheHolyLand.2010-03-15.Archivedfromtheoriginalon2016-01-10.Retrieved2016-01-08. ^"RelicoftheTrueCrosstobeonViewatSt.VartanCathedral".TheArmenianChurch:EasternDioceseofAmerica.6September2018. ^መጽሐፈጤፉት[MäṣḥafäṬefut,BookofṬeffGrains](PDF).(Ge'ez) ^Gifford(1894).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFGifford1894(help) ^Duval(1982),pp. 331-337&351–353. ^Ziehr(1997),p. 62. ^White&al.(1915).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFWhite_&_al.1915(help) ^StudiesintheEarlyHistoryofShaftesburyAbbey.DorsetCountyCouncil,1999 ^Waitz(1880),p. 203.sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFWaitz1880(help) ^Stone(1939),Ch.82:OftheMarvelsofConstantinople.sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFStone1939(help) ^Marucchi&al.(1908).sfnperror:notarget:CITEREFMarucchi_&_al.1908(help) ^Ziehr(1997),p. 63. ^Smyrnakis(1903),pp. 378–379. ^"MonasteriodeTarlac".Archivedfromtheoriginalon2019-03-06.Retrieved2019-03-04. ^Novoderezhkin(2020). ^Roth(2022). ^"CompendiumoftheReformsoftheRomanBreviary,1568–1961:Part10.1—TheReformof1960".NewLiturgicalMovement.Retrieved2021-05-02.{{citeweb}}:CS1maint:url-status(link) ^"14September(27September):TheElevationoftheVenerableandLife-CreatingCrossoftheLord".OrthodoxChurchinAmerica.Archivedfromtheoriginalon2002-02-25.Retrieved2022-05-24.. ^"ProcessionoftheHonorableWoodoftheLife-GivingCrossoftheLord".OrthodoxChurchinAmerica.Archivedfromtheoriginalon2012-02-05.Retrieved2012-03-21. Bibliography[edit] Ciggaar,Krijnie;et al.(1996),EastandWestintheCrusaderStates,Peeters,ISBN 90-429-1287-1. Cynewulf(1904),TheEleneofCynewulf,YaleStudiesinEnglish,vol. 21,translatedbyHolt,LuciusHudson. CyrilofJerusalem;et al.(1894),CatecheticalLectures[and]SelectOrations,ASelectLibraryoftheChristianChurch:NiceneandPost-NiceneFathers,2ndser.,vol.VII,translatedbyGifford,EdwardHamilton;et al.,NewYork:ChristianLiteraturePublishing. Drijvers,JanWillem(1992),HelenaAugusta,theMotherofConstantinetheGreatandtheLegendofHerFindingoftheTrueCross,Leiden. Duval,Yvette(1982),LocaSanctorumAfricae:LeCultedesMartyrsenAfriqueduIVeauVIIeSiècle,Rome.(French) Egeria(1919),ThePilgrimageofEtheria,translatedbyMcClure,M.L.;C.L.Feltoe,London:SocietyforPromotingChristianKnowledge. Eusebius(1890),ChurchHistory,LifeofConstantinetheGreat,andOrationinPraiseofConstantine,ASelectLibraryoftheChristianChurch:NiceneandPost-NiceneFathers,2ndser.,vol.I,translatedbyRichardson,ErnestCushing;et al.,NewYork:ChristianLiteraturePublishing. Hamilton,Bernard;et al.(2020),LatinandGreekMonasticismintheCrusaderStates,Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,ISBN 978-0-521-83638-8. Herzog,Sadja(1969),"Gossart,Italy,andtheNationalGallery'sSaintJeromePenitent",ReportandStudiesintheHistoryofArt,vol. 3,NationalGalleryofArt,pp. 67–70,JSTOR 42618036. JacobusdeVoragine(1900),"TheLifeofAdam",TheGoldenLegend...,vol. 1,translatedbyEllis,FrederickStartridge;et al.,London:J.M.Dent&Co. JacobusdeVoragine(1900),"OftheInventionoftheHolyCross&FirstofThisWordInvention",TheGoldenLegend...,vol. 3,translatedbyEllis,FrederickStartridge;et al.,London:J.M.Dent&Co. Kittel,Gerhard;et al.,eds.(1969),TheologicalDictionaryoftheNewTestament,vol. 6,Wm.B.Eerdmans,ISBN 9780802822482. Madden,ThomasF.(2005),TheNewConciseHistoryoftheCrusades,ISBN 0-7425-3822-2. Malouf,Amin(1983),TheCrusadesthroughArabEyes. Marucchi,Orazio;et al.(1908),"CrossandCrucifix",CatholicEncyclopedia...,NewYork:RobertAppletonCo. Meerson,Michael;et al.(2014),ToledotYeshu:TheLifeStoryofJesus,vol. 1,Tübingen:MohrSiebeck,ISBN 9783161534812. Norwich,JohnJulius(1988),Byzantium:TheEarlyCenturies,London:GuildPublishing. Novoderezhkin,Anton(26February2020)."ChristianRelic,aTrueCrossPiece,toBeKeptatRussia'sBlackSeaFleetFlagship".TASS.Sevastopol.Retrieved24May2022.{{citenews}}:CS1maint:url-status(link) Pogossian,Zaroui(2019),"Relics,Rulers,Patronage:TheTrueCrossofVaragandtheChurchoftheHolyCrossofAłt'amar",TheChurchoftheHolyCrossofAłt'amar:Politics,Art,SpiritualityintheKingdomofVaspurakan,ArmenianTextsandStudies,vol.3,Leiden:Brill,pp. 126–206,ISBN 978-90-04-40038-2. RobertofClari(1939),ThreeOldFrenchChroniclesoftheCrusades,translatedbyStone,EdwardN.,Seattle. Roth,Andrew(15April2022)."LossofMoskvaStrikesSeriousBlowtoRussianMilitary'sPrestige".TheGuardian.Archivedfromtheoriginalon15April2022.Retrieved15April2022. Runciman,Steven(1951),AHistoryoftheCrusades,vol. 1,Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,ISBN 0-521-34770-X. Saint-Laurent,Jeanne-NicoleMellon(2015),MissionaryStoriesandtheFormationoftheSyriacChurches,Oakland:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,ISBN 978-0-520-28496-8. Smyrnakis,Gerasimos(1903),ΤοΑγιονΟρος[ToAgionOros,TheHolyMountain],Athens.(Greek) Sozomenus(1890),ChurchHistory,ASelectLibraryoftheChristianChurch:NiceneandPost-NiceneFathers,2ndser.,vol.II,translatedbyHartranft,ChesterD.;et al.,NewYork:ChristianLiteraturePublishing. Socrates(1890),ChurchHistory,ASelectLibraryoftheChristianChurch:NiceneandPost-NiceneFathers,2ndser.,vol.II,translatedbyZenos,A.C;et al.,NewYork:ChristianLiteraturePublishing. Treadgold,Warren(1997),AHistoryoftheByzantineStateandSociety,Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,ISBN 0-8047-2630-2. Waitz,Georg,ed.(1880),ScriptoresRerumGermanicaruminUsumScholarum,MonumentaGermaniaeHistorica,vol. 18,Hannover.(Latin) "TheAnglo-SaxonChronicleonAlfredtheGreat",SourceProblemsinEnglishHistory,translatedbyWhite,AlbertBeebe;et al.,NewYork:Harper&Bros.,1915 Wiles,MauriceF.;et al.(2001),StudiaPatristica:PapersPresentedattheThirteenthInternationalConferenceonPatristicStudiesHeldinOxford,1999,Leuven:Peeters,ISBN 978-90-429-0881-9. Ziehr,William(1997),DasKreuz,Stuttgart.(German) Zuckerman,Constantin(2013),"HeracliusandtheReturnoftheHolyCross",ConstructingtheSeventhCentury,TravauxetMémoires,vol.17,Paris:AssociationdesAmisduCentred'HistoireetCivilisationdeByzance,ISBN 978-2-916716-45-9. Furtherreading[edit] Deuffic,Jean-Luc,ed.(2005),ReliquesetSaintetédansl'EspaceMédiéval,Pecia.(French) Frolow,A.(1961),LaReliquedelaVraieCroix:RecherchessurleDéveloppementd'unCulte,Paris.(French) Murray,AlanV.(1998),"MightyagainsttheEnemiesofChrist:TheRelicoftheTrueCrossintheArmiesoftheKingdomofJerusalem",TheCrusadesandTheirSources:EssaysPresentedtoB.Hamilton,Aldershot,pp. 217–238. Olmi,Massimo(2015),IndaginesullaCrocediCristo,Torino.(Italian) Olmi,Massimo(2018),ISegretidelleReliquieBibliche,Rome:Xpublishing.(Italian) Externallinks[edit] WikiquotehasquotationsrelatedtoTrueCross. WikimediaCommonshasmediarelatedtoTrueCross. FernandCabrol,"ThetrueCross":aCatholicview TheHolyCrossinJerusalem RelicoftheTrueCrossinWrocław,Poland Authoritycontrol:Nationallibraries Israel UnitedStates CzechRepublic Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=True_Cross&oldid=1090839984" Categories:CatholicChurchinJerusalemChristianfolkloreChristianmythologyChristianrelicsChristianterminologyChristianityinJerusalemCrucifixionofJesusJesusandhistoryRelicsassociatedwithJesusIndividualcrossesandcrucifixesChurchoftheHolySepulchreHiddencategories:ArticlescontainingLatin-languagetextArticlescontainingGerman-languagetextHarvandSfnno-targeterrorsCS1maint:url-statusArticleswithshortdescriptionShortdescriptionisdifferentfromWikidataAllarticleswithunsourcedstatementsArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromNovember2018ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromMay2019ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromOctober2017ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromNovember2012CommonscategorylinkisonWikidataArticleswithJ9UidentifiersArticleswithLCCNidentifiersArticleswithNKCidentifiers Navigationmenu Personaltools NotloggedinTalkContributionsCreateaccountLogin Namespaces ArticleTalk English Views ReadEditViewhistory More Search Navigation MainpageContentsCurrenteventsRandomarticleAboutWikipediaContactusDonate Contribute HelpLearntoeditCommunityportalRecentchangesUploadfile Tools WhatlinkshereRelatedchangesUploadfileSpecialpagesPermanentlinkPageinformationCitethispageWikidataitem Print/export DownloadasPDFPrintableversion Inotherprojects WikimediaCommonsWikiquote Languages العربيةBikolCentralБългарскиCatalàЧӑвашлаČeštinaDeutschΕλληνικάEspañolEsperantoEuskaraفارسیFrançais한국어Hrvatskiবিষ্ণুপ্রিয়ামণিপুরীBahasaIndonesiaItalianoעבריתLatinaMagyarМакедонскиBahasaMelayuNederlands日本語NorskbokmålNorsknynorskPolskiPortuguêsRomânăРусскийSimpleEnglishSlovenčinaSlovenščinaSrpskohrvatski/српскохрватскиSuomiSvenskaTürkçeУкраїнськаTiếngViệt中文 Editlinks