Justin Appel

'But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.'
- 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Dear Friends,

Today is the feast of Saint Helena of Constantinople (c. 246 - c. 330), the mother of Emperor Constantine, and the one credited with finding the True Cross with Saint Macerius, along with the assumed site of Jesus' death and burial in Jerusalem. Helena commissioned the construction of a complex of structures (a basilica, an atrium, and a rotunda) to enclose these places. This complex structure was dedicated on September 13, 335, and the following day, September 14, was consecrated as the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life Giving Cross, or Holy Cross in our Western calendar.

At the time of Helena and Macerius, the cross was placed high above where pilgrims could see it while gathered in large groups. They would fall down and reverently prostrate themselves before the venerable wood, crying 'Lord, have mercy'. Later in the 380's, Egeria would travel to Jerusalem, and reported that pilgrims waited in long lines to venerate the cross, touching their foreheads and eyes to the wood and kissing it.

This enthusiasm for an inanimate object may strike us as curious, or possibly even primitive at first blush. However, having visited many of these sacred sites only weeks ago, and experiencing one of Helena's churches, the Basilica of the Nativity, along with it's cave-shrine, I am happy to say that this venerating behavior is still alive and well -- and that it is compelling!

I went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem many times, and was surprised how happy I felt, how at home, how full of joy to be with this crowd of total strangers who were eagerly, expectantly, even blissfully waiting to be near the spots where Jesus died, where he was buried, and where he rose from the dead. They would put their hands on the tomb, prostrate themselves, kissing the stones and placing their foreheads on them to pray. Some would break into song while others leaned against the walls in poignant prayerful grief. In a particularly moving gesture, many people would approach the Stone of Unction -- thought to mark the place where Jesus' body was prepared for burial -- and would take out pieces of cloth (scarves especially) and lovingly wipe them in the sweet oil that was regularly poured on the rock. I remember seeing several Coptic monks take bundles of candles in their fists, lit with the fire from the stand, and thrust them triumphantly in the air while their brother snapped photos. How exultant they were to be in this place! How clearly they longed for and anticipated being here!

I couldn't help feel a bit ashamed of my lukewarmness, of my American apathy and skepticism about such things. How grateful I was for these devout Christians from India, from the Philippines, from Russia -- who taught me tangibly how to approach these holy spaces with fervor, as though being with Jesus was all that mattered!

Indeed, the desire to be in Jesus' presence, to be with the saints, to touch the very places where these people walked -- this essential instinct tells us a great deal about our faith: of our familial love for each other, of our need to acknowledge both spirit and body, or our belief in the resurrection of the dead, and of the simple but startling truth that real life is being with Jesus.

The people of Egeria's day couldn't wait to kiss the wood of the cross. Would we do the same, given the chance? The cross which is the sign of foolishness to the world, is instead to us a sign of the power of God.

I am grateful for Helena, for her devotion and commitment to protecting these holy sites, and for finding the Life-Giving Cross. No wonder she is sometimes called by an exalted title: Empress Helena, Equal of the Apostles.

Blessings,
Justin