Charles’ coronation with shards of the True Cross donated by Pope | UK News
The coronation procession for King Charles III. is headed by a cross containing religious relics donated by the Pope.
Two shards of the True Cross, said to be the cross used when Jesus Christ was crucified, were presented to Charles by Pope Francis at the coronation.
Both pieces are in the shape of a cross – one is 1cm and the other 5mm – and are set behind a rose crystal gemstone so they can only be seen up close.
The fragments have been incorporated into the Cross of Wales, a gift from the King to the Church in Wales to celebrate its centenary, which will lead the coronation procession to Westminster Abbey on May 6th.
The cross will be blessed today by the Archbishop of Wales at Holy Trinity Church in Llandudno, North Wales, before being taken to London.
After the coronation, the cross is shared between the Welsh Anglican and Catholic Churches.
The cross was made from recycled silver bullion from the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, South Wales. The silver features the royal mark – a leopard’s head – applied by King Charles last November.
Words from St. David’s last sermon are engraved on the back of the cross. You are reading “Byddwch Lawn. Cadwch y ffydd. Gwnewch y Pethau Bychain” translated: “Be merry. keep the faith Do the little things.’
It also includes a shaft made from Welsh felling wood and a strand made from Welsh slate.
Andrew John, Archbishop of Wales said: “We are honored that His Majesty has chosen to mark our centenary with a cross that is both beautiful and symbolic.
“Its design speaks to our Christian faith, heritage, resources and commitment to sustainability.
“We are also delighted that it will be used for the first time to lead Their Majesties into Westminster Abbey at the coronation service.”
What is the True Cross?
The true cross is a term used for the cross used during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross takes place in England on September 14 to mark three events: the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena; the consecration of churches built by Emperor Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulcher and Calvary; and the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem in 629 by the Persians.
Many churches around the world hold remains that are said to be fragments of the True Cross – but there are no early accounts of the apostles or early Christians preserving the physical cross itself.
An alleged fragment of the True Cross held by Waterford Cathedral in Ireland has been carbon dated to the 11th century.
In February 2020, a piece of the True Cross was scheduled to be placed aboard the Moskva, a Russian missile cruiser with a chapel onboard.
The ship sank during the Russian invasion of Ukraine last April, and the fragment is believed to have gone down with the ship.
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff and Bishop of Menevia, Mark O’Toole added: “It is with a feeling of deep joy that we accept this cross, kindly presented by King Charles, which contains a Relic of the True Cross, generously endowed Seeing was bestowed by the saint.
“Not only is this a sign of our nation’s deep Christian roots, but it will surely encourage us all to live our lives according to the love of our Savior Jesus Christ.
‘We look forward to honoring it, not only in the various planned celebrations, but also in the dignified setting in which it will find a permanent home.’
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