Interesting. How did they know it was the “true” cross and what happened to it?
Well, in responding to your post, I checked Wikipedia, (yea, I admit I’m not a genius), and according to their entry, St. Helena contracted to do excavation in an area near around a Roman Temple and three crosses were unearthed. (In the process she destroyed the Roman Temple). It is said that she wanted proof positive as to which of the crosses was the one upon which Christ was hung so she ordered that a sick woman be brought to the site and had the woman touch the crosses. The first two had no effect, but upon touching the third, she was immediately and miraculously healed.
I somewhat recall having heard that story in the 1970’s from my Grandmother, whose name was Helen and her patron saint was St. Helena and she had made quite a study of St. Helena’s adventures in life, (and they were plentiful). I’m a “believer” and active Roman Catholic and love the tale and would love to believe it true, but as well, I lived in Rome for 3 years and am quite an avid student of Roman history and have to tell you I’m somewhat skeptical.
On the one hand, I do believe that Helena was quite meticulous, wise and a very strong and determined woman, (and wealthy as well having made an “Augusta” Co-Empress of the Empire), but all of that notwithstanding, the truth of the matter is that Crucifixion was as common in the Empire as sacrifices to Quetzelcotle were in Mexico City, (and they had hundreds of yards of Skull racks lining their Main Street). In fact, hundreds of criminals and insurgents were crucified a month; the main roads into the major cities were lined with crosses upon which people hung. And from the histories I’ve read, they re-used the crosses over and over again. Along major Roman roads, you’ll see stones into which have been carved square holes into which they set crosses. Travellers knew they were approaching a major Roman city when they started to pass crosses adorned with the drooping bodies of the dead and/or dying along the road.
So, like..........really? What are the chances? And of course, to make matters worse, Helena, in Jerusalem, was in a virtual Christian tourist trap. At that time, the major industry was catering to Pilgrims from all over coming to see Jerusalem and the place where Jesus was crucified. The roads and streets would have been litered with people selling “sacred” artifacts. They probably had “sacred” artifact factories! I haven’t been to Jerusalem, but I’d be willing to bet there are tourist shops there, even today, where you can buy pieces of the true cross and the real nails and the crown of thorns. Its been a racket for 2000 years!