FROM THE HISTORY OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE TRUR CROSS IN GEORGIA

Abstract

There are numerous legends surrounding the divine tree from which the cross—used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Savior of humanity—was carved. This is no coincidence. From the early days of Christianity, this sacred tree became an object of deep reverence among believers, who attributed many miracles to it. According to Georgian tradition, the origin of the biblical tree is linked to the site where the Holy Cross Monastery in Jerusalem would later be established. However, other traditions associate the divine tree with either the biblical figure Adam or the legendary Jewish king Solomon. Church tradition credits the discovery of the Life-giving Cross to Helena (248/250–330 AD), the mother of Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great, known for her devout faith and her kindness toward Christians. It was she who uncovered both the True Cross and the tomb of Jesus on Golgotha around the years 326–328 AD. In the years that followed, relics of the True Cross were dispersed across many countries, with fragments preserved in Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches. A piece of the Life-Giving Cross reached Georgia shortly after the country embraced Christianity.

The Christian legend of the felling of the sacred tree in Mtskheta is believed to have been inspired by the biblical narrative of the cutting of the tree. According to tradition, a portion of the True Cross was sent to Georgia by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine. One fragment was destined for Mtskheta, a significant sacred site, while another piece, known as the "Footstool," was kept in Manglisi. Later, this latter relic was taken by Emperor Heraclius; however, a part of it remained in Georgia and was eventually incorporated into the Cross of King David the Builder. 

Key words: Life-giving Cross; Holy Tree; Mtskheta; Saint Nino; King Mirian; Emperor Constantine.