Editing Relics associated with Jesus (section)

==The True Cross==
[[File:Accademia - Giambattista tiepolo - Esaltazione della croce, 1740-45 ca.jpg|thumb|Discovery of the True Cross, by [[Giovanni Battista Tiepolo|Tiepolo]], 1745]]

The "[[True Cross]]" refers to the actual cross used in the [[Crucifixion of Jesus]]. Today, many fragments of wood are claimed as True Cross relics, but it is hard to establish their authenticity. The story of the fourth-century discovery of the True Cross was reported in [[Jacobus de Voragine]]'s ''[[The Golden Legend]]'' published in 1260, that included the lore of saints venerated at the time.<ref>Margaret Aston, ''Faith and Fire'' Continuum Publishing, 1993 {{ISBN|1-85285-073-6}} p. 272</ref>

Tradition and legend attribute the discovery of the True Cross to [[Helena, mother of Constantine the Great]] who went to Syria Palaestina during the fourth century in search of relics. [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] was the only contemporary author to write about Helena's journey in his ''Life of Constantine''. But Eusebius did not mention the True Cross, although he dwelt on the piety of Helena and her reporting the site of the [[Holy Sepulchre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-01/Npnf2-01-29.htm#P7646_3165242|title=NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine - Christian Classics Ethereal Library|website=www.ccel.org}}</ref> In the fifth century writings by [[Socrates Scholasticus]], [[Sozomen]] and [[Theodoret]] report on the finding of the True Cross.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thiede|first1=Carsten Pet|author-link1=Carsten Peter Thiede|last2=d'Ancona|first2=Matthew|author-link2=Matthew d'Ancona|date=2000|title= The quest for the true cross|url=https://archive.org/details/questfortruecros00cars/page/22|location=London|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|page=22|isbn=9780297842286 }}</ref>

Pieces of the purported [[True Cross]], including half of the [[INRI]] inscription tablet, are preserved at the [[basilica]] [[Santa Croce in Gerusalemme]] in Rome. Other small pieces of the True Cross are reportedly preserved in hundreds of other European churches. The authenticity of the relics and the accuracy of reports of finding the True Cross is not accepted by all Christians.  The belief in the [[Early Christian Church|Early Christian Church tradition]] regarding the True Cross is generally restricted to the Catholic and [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]]. The medieval legends of the True Cross provenance differ between Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition. These churches honour Helena as a saint, as does also the [[Anglican Communion]].<ref name=ACCalendar>{{cite web|title=Saint Helena Queen and Widow|url=http://www.anglicancatholic.org/liturgicalcalendars/280|website=anglicancatholic.org|access-date=April 10, 2015}}</ref>