The True Cross, on which Christ was crucified, is a revered object in Christianity. Many churches claim to have remains of it, and pieces can be purchased. Empress Helena found the True Cross in AD 300, and it changed hands several times before disappearing in the 1200s. Many fragments found in churches are likely frauds, but Catholic and Orthodox churches guard them carefully and display them on major holidays. Visitors may touch them in the belief of their healing powers.
In Christianity, the True Cross is the cross on which Christ was crucified. Because this cross occupies such a special place in Christian theology, it is considered an object of veneration and awe. Although the True Cross is no longer intact, many churches claim to have remains of it, which they keep in reliquaries, along with other sacred objects. It is also possible to purchase a purported piece of the True Cross, for a hefty price.
According to the mythology surrounding the True Cross, it was found in AD 300 by Empress Helena. She visited the site of the crucifixion and found the cross of Christ, along with the crosses used to hang the two thieves next to him. The True Cross was revealed by healing a very sick woman, and the legend of the True Cross was born.
Allegedly, Empress Helena took the nails from the True Cross, sending them to her son, the Emperor of Rome. The cross itself appears to have changed hands several times, until it was broken in the 1600s when part of the cross was taken as a trophy. Devout Christians hid the rest, producing it again on a successful crusade so it could be brought to safety. By 1200, the large pieces of the True Cross disappeared completely, with fragments appearing all over Europe.
Many people have suggested that the fragments of the True Cross found in most churches are probably frauds. Many of these fragments matched each other when analyzed under a microscope, but these matches do not necessarily imply that these pieces are from the True Cross. In the aftermath of the Crusades, numerous religious relics were brought to Europe from the Middle East, and many of them were probably of dubious provenance.
Churches that have a piece of the True Cross tend to guard it very carefully, whether or not the origins of the piece can be proven. Catholic and Orthodox churches are more likely to have such fragments, as these branches of Christianity are well known for their relics and sacred objects. Visitors to these churches may be able to see the relics behind glass, and they are also sometimes paraded on major holidays. In some cases, visitors may actually touch the relic or reliquary, in the belief that the True Cross has potentially healing powers or can lead to a spiritual experience.
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