Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-30

the Cross of Christ was ever dis
N covered, the story of that wool
IE&3EESI which for centuries the world ac-
- cepted without question as the
true cross is one of the most fascinating
in all history, especially at Easter time.
For nearly a thousand years that piece
CT wood was the focus of the Christian
world. Vows of faith were made upon it,
pilgrims innumerable, through many gem
e%rations, knelt before it in alteration; thou
sands upon thousands died to rescue 1t
from the hands of the infdel. Kings re
signed their thrones to rescue and defend
it and when, at last, under the conquering
Saladin, it disappeared forever from view,
a mighty cry of anguish went up all over
the Christian world.
Numberless fragments alleged to be bits
of the true cross are still in existence and
the Church of Santa Croce at Florence pos
sescss the inscription which was intrustCd
to it by Constantine. Contrary to the gem
eral idea, these fragments, il all gathered
together, would form but an insignificant
bit Of wood. Nearly all of them are so
minute that they can scarcely be seen by
the naked eye. They are mostly inclosed
in large and imposing reliquaries and be-
~Cause of their size the impression has gone
abroad that the alleged parts Cf the true
cross extant today would make many
crosses if brought together.
The Discovery of the Cross.
The main section of the wood long known
as the true cross was lost at Jerusalem.
The faith of men in the verify Of that wood
shaped the history of Europe and changed
the whole course of events in ChristendOm
for centuries.
On or about May ), In the year 1926,
Helena, the mother of Constantine, is re-
ported to have made the discovery. TIL
story runs that this venerable woman Wis
tied the Holy Land in her 18th year and
was guided to the ste of Calvary by an
aged Jew, who had treasured up all the
traditions which thu Christian ami
mostly of Jerusalem's heather conquerers
lad failed entirely to obliterate. An exca-
walton was made and at a considerable
depth three crosses were found. With
them, but lying apart by itself, was the
tile placed by Pilates command on the
ross of Christ.
According to some church authorities,
however, among others Chrysostom and
Ambrose, the title or part of it remained
attached to the cross of Christ and this
distinguished it from the crosses of the
thieves which had been buried with it.
Others hold, and this is the generally ac-
cepted version among Roman Catholics,
that at the instigation of Marcarius, bishop
Of Jerusalem, the three crosses were car
ried to the bedside of an invalid woman
and applied singly to the patient, who was
cured by the touch of one of them. 1t was,
therefore,, selected as the cross that had
been dyed with the blood of the Savior.
The greater part of the cross thus vim
dictated was deposited in a church built
upon the site of the discovery. Here it
was enshrined in a splendid silver case.
Helena took the remainder to her son in
Constantinople, whence a portion was sent
BY Constantine to Rome.
Now whether Helena discovered the true
cross or not is a question involving much
augmentation which cannot be entered
into here. The wood was accepted as the
true cross Of Christ and was so venerated
for centuries, as the fragments still left
are venerated today. A festival commemo-
rating the discovery is celebrated by the
Latin and Greek churches every year on
May 3.
For 300 years the principal portion of the
wood obtained by Helena in Jerusalem and
known as the Vera Crux Cthe True Crosse,
vas kept in the custody of the bishop of
$500 '"' NAAlbANNA tNNlg
Sunday to the pilgrims who thronged the
Holy City. From time to time persons of
large wealth and influence were allowed to
purchase small fragments and splinters
and these were carried to Europe and
placed in monasteries, abbeys and churches.
Ihey were most highly priced and received
with the greatest generation. Some cf
them have had most interesting histories.
Cross Captured and Retnken.
The history Of Jerusalem and its sacred
place and relics during three centuries
after Constantine is very obscure. In the
seventh century the Holy City went
through a series of vicissitudes. In 1914
the Persian emperor, Chosroes, descended
upon, captured and sacked Jerusalem. The
churches were burnt and among other
precious relics carried away was the true
cross, Ninety thousand Christians fell
hghting in defense Of the cross, which was
nnlV fAkan aftar III, Lot lR.-l.. I'll