The Finding of the True Cross by St. Helena

Fr. Scott A. Haynes

A Meditation for the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross, May 3

Introduction: The Cross as the Center of the Christian Mystery

For Christians, the Cross is not merely an instrument of torture; it is the Tree of Life, the throne of Christ the King, and the altar upon which the Lamb of God was slain for the salvation of the world. The Cross is where divine justice and mercy met in perfect harmony, and where sin and death were conquered by love. The rediscovery of the physical instrument of that redemption—the True Cross—is thus not a minor detail of history but a deeply theological event with enduring spiritual resonance.

The story of its discovery is closely tied to St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. Her journey to Jerusalem in the early 4th century and her reputed discovery of the Cross of Christ has been venerated for centuries by Christians in both the East and the West.

In this meditation, we will explore the historical narrative, the spiritual and theological significance for modern believers, the fate and current location of relics of the True Cross, and how the Church determined their authenticity. Through this lens, we find that the Finding of the Cross is more than a pious legend—it is a revelation of God’s intimate involvement in human history.

1. The Historical Narrative of St. Helena’s Pilgrimage

A Mother, a Pilgrimage, and an Empire Transformed

St. Helena was born around 248 AD, likely in Asia Minor. She was of humble origins, yet through divine providence became the mother of the man who would legalize Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. After Constantine’s victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, where he saw a vision of the Cross in the sky with the words In hoc signo vinces (“In this sign you shall conquer”), he issued the Edict of Milan in 313, ending the persecution of Christians.

Around 326 AD, at the age of nearly 80, Helena undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, supported by her son. Her primary goal was to locate the sacred sites associated with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which had been obscured by pagan structures during earlier imperial reigns. Most notably, Emperor Hadrian had built a temple to Venus on the site of Golgotha. According to Eusebius of Caesarea, Helena oversaw the destruction of this temple and ordered excavations to begin.

The Discovery of the Cross

According to early Christian tradition—especially as narrated by Rufinus and later by St. Ambrose, Socrates Scholasticus, and Theodoret—three crosses were discovered beneath the temple ruins: the crosses of Christ and the two thieves crucified alongside Him. To identify the True Cross, a dying woman (or in some versions, a dead person) was brought to touch each one. Upon touching one of them, she was miraculously healed (or raised from the dead), indicating that it was indeed the Cross of Christ.

Helena reportedly divided the Cross into parts: a portion was left in Jerusalem, a part was taken to Rome (now housed in the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem), and other fragments were distributed throughout the Christian world.

2. The Theological and Spiritual Significance of the True Cross

A Tangible Sign of the Incarnation and Redemption

The Cross is the central symbol of the Christian faith—not just because Christ died upon it, but because it reveals the depth of divine love. As St. Paul writes:

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

To find the actual Cross on which Christ was crucified is to encounter a tangible relic of the Incarnation, a piece of wood that bore the Body of God. The wood of the Cross is, in a mysterious sense, soaked with the blood of Christ. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, writing in the 4th century, said:

“The whole world has now been filled with pieces of the wood of the Cross” (Catechetical Lectures, 4.10).

The Cross as a Source of Miracles and Protection

From the earliest centuries, relics of the True Cross were associated with miraculous healings, exorcisms, and divine protection. The Emperor Heraclius, in the 7th century, famously carried a relic of the Cross into battle against the Persians, and the Byzantine emperors used fragments of the Cross as instruments of blessing and power.

In Christian iconography, the Cross is often depicted not just as a symbol of suffering but as victorious—held aloft by angels, shining with divine light, or blooming with flowers. As the hymn of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross proclaims: “Ave Crux, spes unica!” (“Hail, O Cross, our only hope!”).

St. Helena as a Model of Zeal and Piety

St. Helena’s search for the True Cross reveals the role of personal devotion in the unfolding of salvation history. She was not an apostle, theologian, or martyr, yet her humility, zeal, and faith led her to recover the most precious relic of the Christian world. She is thus a model for all laypeople—especially older adults—reminding us that it is never too late to do great things for God.

As St. Ambrose wrote in his funeral oration for Theodosius:

“Helena sought the Cross of Christ and found the salvation of the nations.”

3. Where Are the Relics of the True Cross Today?

Many relics of the True Cross were distributed over centuries. While some were lost during wars, iconoclasms, or revolutions, others remain enshrined in churches and monasteries across the globe. Here are some notable locations:

Rome – Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

Founded by St. Helena herself, this basilica in Rome houses some of the most prominent relics of the Passion, including:

• A large fragment of the True Cross.

• A nail from the Crucifixion.

• Thorns from the Crown.

• The inscription “INRI” once affixed to the Cross.

These relics are kept in a beautifully ornate reliquary chapel within the church.

Jerusalem – Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Cross

A significant relic of the Cross is preserved here, traditionally believed to be near the place where the wood for the Cross was originally grown—on a tree planted by Lot, according to a medieval legend.

Mount Athos, Greece

The Monastery of Xeropotamou on Mount Athos possesses the largest relic of the True Cross outside of Rome. It is used in processions and veneration especially during Holy Week.

Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris

Before the tragic fire, Notre-Dame housed a reliquary with a relic of the Cross and the Crown of Thorns. These relics were rescued during the fire and are preserved by the Archdiocese of Paris.

Other Locations

Smaller relics of the True Cross can be found in:

• The Cathedral of Ghent (Belgium)

• Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana (Spain)

• St. Mark’s Basilica (Venice)

• Several churches in Jerusalem, Italy, France, and the Balkans.

Many Catholic and Orthodox churches also house authenticated splinters or fragments in reliquaries, often brought out for veneration on Good Friday or the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14).

4. How Were the Relics Authenticated?

Skeptics have sometimes questioned the authenticity of relics, especially with reports in the Middle Ages that seemingly exaggerated the number of pieces of the Cross. Yet the Church has applied serious methods—both spiritual and forensic—to confirm relics over time.

Miraculous Confirmation

As early as the 4th century, the miraculous healing associated with the True Cross served as the first and most powerful testimony of its authenticity. This was understood in a biblical context, echoing stories such as the healing of the woman with the hemorrhage who touched Christ’s cloak (Mark 5:25–34). The principle: contact with a holy object can transmit divine grace.

Ecclesial Discernment

In the centuries following Helena’s discovery, relics of the True Cross were carefully authenticated by bishops, emperors, and eventually by the Roman Curia. Documents known as authenticae were issued, confirming the provenance of relics and underlining their veneration. These often included:

• A seal from the bishop or abbot.

• A statement of origin (e.g., “from Jerusalem” or “from Helena’s Basilica”).

• The date and purpose of distribution.

Forensic and Scientific Inquiry

In modern times, scientific analysis has occasionally been applied. Wood samples attributed to the True Cross have been examined, and findings have shown that the wood is consistent with trees found in Jerusalem during the time of Christ (such as pine or cedar). However, the Church does not rest the relic’s value on science alone.

As Pope Benedict XIV explained in his De Servorum Dei Beatificatione (1740):

“Though the authenticity of a relic may not be established with absolute certainty, the Church may approve its veneration if it has a long-standing tradition, is accompanied by miraculous signs, or has clear ecclesiastical documentation.”

In short, the Church allows for the veneration of relics when there is moral certainty, even if absolute scientific proof is elusive. The ultimate test is not chemistry but faith, tradition, and spiritual fruit.

5. What the Finding of the True Cross Means for Us Today

1. The Cross Is Not Just a Past Event, But a Present Power

When we hear of St. Helena’s discovery, we are reminded that the Cross is not simply a historical tragedy. It is the ongoing source of grace for every Christian. As St. Paul wrote:

“For the word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

To meditate on the True Cross is to gaze into the mystery of our salvation and to encounter a God who enters our pain, not avoids it.

2. A Call to Carry Our Own Crosses

St. Helena searched for the Cross of Christ with determination and devotion. We are called not merely to find the Cross, but to carry it:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

The rediscovery of the Cross by St. Helena invites us to rediscover the meaning of our own sufferings and trials. United to Christ, our crosses become redemptive.

3. A Witness to the Continuity of the Church

The veneration of the True Cross, passed on from Helena to the Church across centuries, is a visible sign of the unbroken continuity of Catholic tradition. Despite wars, persecutions, and doubts, the relics of the Cross remain—a silent but powerful witness that the Church still holds and honors the memory of Christ in body and blood, history and mystery.

4. The Importance of Holy Pilgrimage and Sacred Objects

In an age of increasing secularism, many dismiss the idea of relics and pilgrimages as “superstitious.” But as Pope St. John Paul II affirmed in Pilgrimage in the Great Jubilee:

“Pilgrimage is a metaphor for life itself. The pilgrim who sets out in search of holy places is ultimately seeking the face of God.”

St. Helena’s pilgrimage invites modern Christians to rediscover the beauty of sacred travel and holy relics—not as magical objects, but as windows into the divine mystery.

Conclusion: The Cross—Then and Now

St. Helena’s discovery of the True Cross was not simply an archaeological success. It was a spiritual triumph. It showed that the Church, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can uncover and preserve the deepest treasures of the faith. It demonstrated that even in a world of ruins and forgotten places, God can resurrect what has been buried and bring to light what has been hidden.

As Christians today, we do not need to travel to Jerusalem to find the Cross. We find it in the Eucharist, in the Sacraments, in the sufferings of daily life, and in every act of love and sacrifice. But remembering the physical wood upon which Christ hung reminds us that our faith is not myth—it is history. It is flesh and blood. It is wood and nails.

St. Helena sought the True Cross. May we seek it too—in our hearts, in our homes, and in our lives.