St. Helena’s quest to find the True Cross of Christ gave Christians throughout the ages a gift we still treasure in reliquaries throughout the world.
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It is said that in the 4th century, a gravely ill woman was brought before three crosses discovered in Jerusalem. After touching one of them, she was instantly healed. That was how Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, recognized the cross of Christ. From that moment on, that wood became known as the true cross.
Helena set out on her pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a single desire, to rediscover the places and the signs of Jesus' passion. During the excavations on Golgotha, where today stands the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, three Wooden Sahn verses were unearthed. From that miraculous event began the story of one of the most venerated relics of all time.
Over the centuries, small fragments of the cross were distributed among various churches and Christian communities. In Rome, at the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, a great reliquary preserves pieces of the cross along with other instruments of the Passion.
In Jerusalem, the remaining relics are still kept at the heart of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. Other fragments can be found in Paris, at Notre-Dame Cathedral, in Florence, at the Basilica of Santa Croce, in Brussels, at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula, and in many other cities, often hidden inside precious reliquaries.
Already in the Middle Ages, some question whether there might be too many fragments. In the 16th century, Erasmus even joked that if they were all gathered together, one could build an entire ship. Yet modern scholars have calculated that the total volume of the known fragments does not exceed that of an ordinary cross. Either way, the mystery and fascination remain intact. For Christians, the true cross is not just wood.
It is the symbol of hope, of love, and of new life. Every fragment recalls the sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate act of love that changed history. Even today, on Good Friday, the faithful venerate the cross, echoing St. Helena's gesture in recognizing in that wood the sign of salvation.
Perhaps the fascination of the true cross lies precisely in its power to unite. A piece of wood that breaks, that divides, yet carries a message so powerful it can speak to everyone.
