St. Mary's Church

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Crucifix

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Crucifixion is execution by suspension from a cross.  The Old Testament mentions this form of punishment as used by the Egyptians and by David against the descendants of Saul.  This manner of death was reserved for slaves and criminals but was suffered by Christ to atone for the sins of man.

Story of Christ’s Cross
When Jesus’ body was taken from the Cross, the cross on which He died was thrown into a ditch or well, covered over with stones and earth so it would not be found.  Constantine, a non-Christian, asked God for help in his battles for the Roman Empire (312 AD).  In answer to his prayers, a luminous cross or monogram of Christ appeared in the heavens bearing the inscription “In This Sign Thou Wilt Conquer”.  In gratitude of his victory, Constantine placed on the Roman Standard and on the soldiers’ shields the Cross.  St. Helena, Mother of Constantine, at age 80 made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem about the year 326 AD.  Heathens, as an aversion to Christianity, built a temple to Venus where Christ was buried.  They placed a statue of Jupiter in the place that Christ rose from the dead.  Helena consulted everyone and learned it was a Jewish custom to make a hole near the place where the body of a criminal was buried and throw into it whatever belonged to his execution.  Helena ordered the buildings and statues destroyed and after digging to a great depth, found the holy sepulcher and near it, three crosses, also the nails from Christ’s hand and feet.  Also found was the title board which had been fixed to Christ’s cross.  Since the title board was found away from the crosses, they could not tell which was Christ’s cress.  Bishop Macorious, knowing a holy woman of the city who was extremely ill, suggested the three crosses be taken to her, never doubting God would allow them to discover which cross was the one they sought.  The lady completely recovered after touching one of the three crosses when the other two showed no effect.

Helena carried one part of the cross to her son, Constantine, a portion she sent to Rome.  It is still preserved in the Church of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem and the greater portion of the cross remained in Jerusalem.  The tablet of the inscription above Christ’s head was sent to Rome to the same church.  The title board was placed at the top of an arch where it was found in a case of lead in 1492.  The inscription was in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.  It was lettered in red and white.  The colors have since faded and the words Jesus and Judaorum are eaten away.  The board appears now to be nine inches but it must have been 12 inches long.

A magnificent church was built where the crosses were found in Jerusalem.  The main part of the cross is enclosed in a silver shrine.  St. Paulinus related that though chips were almost daily cut off the cross and given to devout persons, the sacred wood never diminished.  The discovery of the Cross must have happened about the month of May or early spring for St. Helena returned the same year to Constantinople and from there to Rome where she died on August 18, 326.   The finding of the True Cross is celebrated on May 3^rd.

In 614, Chosroes II, King of Persia, invaded Palestine, took and sacked Jerusalem and Heraclius of Constantinople marched into Persia forced the Persians to sue for peace and Heraclius brought the Sacred Cross back to Jerusalem in 629.  When he reached the city gat on the way that led to Calvary, the Emperor laid aside his robes and marks of royalty and clothed himself in sackcloth and barefoot carried the Cross up the ascent to Calvary and restored it to its place in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  The Church commemorates this event on September 4^th as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

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