Clergy Notes — September 14, 2025
Early in the fourth century, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. To show his imperial benevolence, Constantine ordered a grand church to be built in Jerusalem. The site that he chose was Golgotha, the hill where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified and buried. Many years previously, the hill had been levelled and buried under many tons of debris. The entire area had to be excavated for the new church.
Interestingly, Constantine put his mother, Helena, in charge of the work. During the many months of painstaking digging, the labourers discovered a single large wooden beam. It was carefully taken to the authorities, who issued a proclamation that this was a remnant of the very cross on which Jesus had been crucified. Portions of this beam were carefully preserved and enshrined near the altar of the new church. The church was dedicated in honour of the Resurrection on September 14th in the year 335. Ever since then, Christians in both the East and West have kept this date as Holy Cross Day.
There is an Anglo-Saxon poem called “The Dream of the Rood”. The word “rood” is derived from the Old English word “rod” or beam, but it came to be used to refer specifically to the crucifix. In the poem, the narrator is having a dream. He sees the Cross on which Jesus was executed. As he gazes upon it, he is dazzled by the fact that it is adorned by the most magnificent jewels – sparkling and twinkling in the light. However, he gradually notices that amidst the beautiful gems, the wood is deeply stained with blood. A conversation, rather bizarrely, takes place between the narrator and the Cross. He is helped to understand that it is the instrument of shame and painful death that ultimately leads to a wonderful bringing together of God and creation. Suffering leads to salvation.
I like to think that Good Friday focuses on the crucifixion as the final climax of Jesus’ physical, emotional and spiritual pain. The blood is real. Holy Cross Day encourages us to stand back from that a little and to give thanks for what was achieved on that day – forgiveness and reconciliation. Today, let us enjoy the jewels that decorate the Rood.
Fr. Neil G.