For centuries, Judea – a territory dominated by the Roman Empire – kept a profound secret: the whereabouts of the Cross of Christ. It was only in 326 that St. Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine and a fervent Christian, decided to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, along with an expedition in search of the most precious relic of Christendom.

The excavation was arduous. Mount Calvary had been buried and levelled by the Romans, transforming the sacred site into an esplanade.

Nevertheless, after weeks of labour, the team of workers finally revealed the original topography. Then came the surprise: in a deeper investigation, three crosses were found! It remained to be seen which one of them was the pledge of our salvation…

Amidst the general commotion, the Bishop of Jerusalem, St. Macarius, begged God to send a sign: “Grant us to know, Lord, in an evident way, which of these three crosses served for Thy glory!” Now, there was a sick woman in the city, whose case the doctors considered hopeless. When she was touched by the first two crosses, nothing happened. However, upon coming into contact with the third, the woman instantly recovered her health. The miracle left no room for doubt: the true Cross had been found!

St. Helen later divided the precious relic, with parts destined for Rome, Constantinople, and Jerusalem. Given the devotion of the faithful, these portions were later fragmented, allowing for the dissemination of relics of the true Cross throughout the Christian world. Symbolically, however, for the Cross continues to stand while the world turns: stat Crux dum volvitur orbis.