medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
A few weeks back, there was a discussion on the legend of St Helena and the
finding of the true cross. By chance, I just came across a reference to this situation
in Pierre Maraval, "The Earliest Phase of Christian Pilgrimage in the Near East
(before the 7th century)," Dumbarton Oaks Papers, 56 (2002), pp. 66-67: "It was
following the Council of Nicea in 325 that, on the orders of the emperor
[Constantine], an order given according to legend in the presence of his mother
[Helena], Bishop Makarios of Jerusalem began the search that led to the
rediscovery of both the tomb and the cross of Christ." There is a reference to S.
Borgehammar, _How the Holy Cross Was Found. From Event to Medieval Legend_
(Stockholm, 1991). This seems to indicate that Helena's involvement was, at best,
fairly marginal, despite later legend.
I hope somebody is still interested.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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