Santa Croce

On Friday, we visited Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem)! What an experience!

The Church of the Holy Cross is located on a Roman imperial estate and is built into part of the Sessorian Palace. Several sources, including an inscription in the church, verify that the Sessorian Palace was owned by the empress St. Helena (A.D. 255-330), Constantine's mother.

From the end of the 4th century it was said that St. Helena had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, during which she discovered the True Cross on which Christ was crucified and many other relics. It was also said that she wished to set up a shrine in Rome for pilgrims who could not travel to Jerusalem.

The most famous of the relics enshrined at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in the Chapel of the Holy Relics are three fragments from the True Cross, one nail used in the crucifixion, the bone of an index finger, said to be the finger of St. Thomas that he placed in the wounds of the Risen Christ, small pieces of the scourging pillar, and the Holy Sepulchre (the tomb of Jesus). It also contains a reliquary of two of the thorns from Christ's crown of thorns.

In 1492, a dramatic discovery was made in the course of repairs to a mosaic: a brick inscribed with the words TITULUS CRUCIS (Title of the Cross). Sealed behind the brick was a fragment of an inscription in wood, with the word "Nazarene" written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. This Title is mentioned in all four Gospel accounts. You may know it as INRI.

In a side room in the Chapel of the Holy Relics is another fascinating sight: a full-sized, exact replica of the Shroud of Turin. It is stretched out on the wall at eye level and well-lit, providing a rare opportunity to inspect the famous relic up close. 

This was an amazing experience for obvious reasons. We weren't allowed to take photos inside the Chapel of the Holy Relics, but we were able to pray before the relics.

Here's a photo I took of the church from the outside:

Here are some photos of the relics from the Internet so you can get an idea of what we saw:

From left to right above:

The bone of an index finger, said to be the finger of St. Thomas that he placed in the wounds of the Risen Christ 

A single reliquary containing small pieces of: the Scourging Pillar (to which Christ was tied as he was beaten); the Holy Sepulchre (Christ's tomb); and the crib of Jesus 

Two thorns from the Crown of Thorns. It is said that the plant from which these came cannot be identified. 

Three fragments from the True Cross (above)

Refers to above:

One nail used in the Crucifixion. Far more than the original three nails are venerated around the world; several popes openly cast copies that contained filings from those believed to be the originals. 

The Title of the Cross (INRI) discovered in the church in 1492. The fragment shows the word 'Nazarene' written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek.

A large vertical fragment of the Good Thief's cross