The Largest Fragment of the True Cross at the Xeropotamou Monastery on Mount Athos

The True Cross of Xeropotamou Monastery

Preserved within the sacred Xeropotamou Monastery is the world's largest fragment of the True Cross, measuring 16x31x2.5 cm. This relic was a gift from Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos to the monastery's founder, Saint Paul of Xeropotamou.

The sacred artifact is housed in an ornately decorated reliquary crafted by jewelers Konstantinos Kallipolitis and Georgios of Enos in the 19th century, as indicated by an inscribed plaque.

Decorative Detail

The Largest Fragment of the True Cross at the Xeropotamou Monastery on Mount Athos
The Largest Fragment of the True Cross at the Xeropotamou Monastery on Mount Athos

Within the reliquary, the True Cross adopts a cruciform shape, edged in metal and adorned with precious gemstones. The base of the vertical beam features a wooden hole surrounded by twelve rubies, while eight large emeralds are embedded at the ends of the horizontal beams.

The cross's surface glistens with eight large diamonds and several smaller ones. At its center is an enamel figure of the crucified Jesus. An inscription at the base reads: "Konstantinos, Eufrosini, and their descendants".

To the right of the cross base are metallic depictions of Saint Helena, Saint Pulcheria, and Saint Theodosius. To the left, we find Saint Constantine, Saint Paul of Xeropotamou, and Emperor Romanos. Accompanying inscriptions identify each figure. Above them, a scroll unfurls, bearing an excerpt from Emperor Romanos' golden bull, detailing the gifting of the True Cross. The reliquary's topmost section showcases God the Father, flanked by angels holding symbols of the crucifixion: a sponge, spear, hammer, and nails. Four inset medallions at the corners depict prophets holding scrolls with cross-related texts.

Historical Significance

Inside the reliquary lid's inner side lies a large silver medallion with an enamel crucifixion scene, encircled by 10 ovals showcasing miniatures of Christ's Passion in the savat technique: Prayer on the Mount of Olives, the washing, the Last Supper, the betrayal, Christ before Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate's trial, the flagellation, "Ecce Homo", and the Entombment. The outer side features 40 martyrs to whom the monastery is dedicated. Miraculously, these saints aided in the monastery's post-fire restoration. In the early 16th century, ahead of a critical battle against Egyptian Turks, Sultan Selim I dreamt of 40 radiant, armed youths promising victory in exchange for aiding certain monks. Indeed, after an easy victory in 1517, the sultan not only assisted the monastery materially but also extended protection to the entire Holy Mount Athos.