the True Cross

E346005

The True Cross is the Christian relic believed to be the actual wooden cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified.

All labels observed (13)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian relic
object of veneration
relic of Jesus
associatedWithEvent Crucifixion of Jesus
associatedWithFigure Emperor Constantine the Great
Helena of Constantinople
Jesus Christ
associatedWithObject relic of the Holy Nails
relic of the Titulus Crucis
associatedWithPlace Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Golgotha
Jerusalem
category Christian relics of the Passion
objects associated with the Crucifixion of Jesus
contestedAspect authenticity of surviving fragments
discoveryDate circa 326
discoveryPlace site of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
discoveryTradition said to have been discovered by Helena in the 4th century
distributedTo various churches in the Roman Empire
feastDate 14 September
3 May
hasFeast Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross
hasLegend legend of its concealment and rediscovery
legend of its origin from the Tree of Life
hasRelicType fragmentary relics
primary relic
iconography often depicted in Christian art as the cross of the Crucifixion
influence inspired construction of large monumental crosses and crucifixes
keptAt Byzantine imperial palace in Constantinople
Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
various European cathedrals
liturgicalUse processions on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
veneration of the Cross on Good Friday
material wood
religiousTradition Christianity
significance believed to be the wooden cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified
subjectOf medieval legends
pilgrimage practices
scholarly debates about authenticity
symbolism symbol of Christ’s sacrifice
symbol of redemption
symbol of victory over death
theologicalStatus not required belief in Catholic doctrine
veneratedBy Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox Churches
linked to: Oriental Orthodoxy

Roman Catholic Church
some Anglican churches
some Lutheran churches

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (14)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz namedAfter the True Cross
Siege of Antioch notableEvent Discovery of the Holy Lance
linked to: the True Cross
The Rood relationshipToChrist Christ’s cross
subject linked to: the Rood
linked to: the True Cross
Stavrovouni Monastery hasRelic relics of the Holy Cross
linked to: the True Cross
Kreuzerhöhung relatedTo Inventio Crucis
linked to: the True Cross
True Cross hasNameInGreek Τίμιος Σταυρός
linked to: the True Cross
True Cross hasNameInGreek Τίμιος και Ζωοποιός Σταυρός
linked to: the True Cross
Meskel commemorates Finding of the True Cross
linked to: the True Cross
Stat Crux Dum Volvitur Orbis refersTo the Cross of Christ
linked to: the True Cross
Battle of Nineveh (627) relatedEvent Byzantine recovery of the True Cross
linked to: the True Cross
Imperial Treasury houses relics of the True Cross
linked to: the True Cross
God's Son hasPart The Cross
linked to: the True Cross
Holy Nails traditionalDiscovery Helena’s discovery of the True Cross
linked to: the True Cross
Timios Stavros chapel hasNameInGreek Τίμιος Σταυρός
linked to: the True Cross