Titulus Crucis

Titulus Crucis

The Titulus Crucis (Latin for "Title of the Cross") is a venerated piece of wood kept in the Church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome which is claimed to be the titulus (title panel) of the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.[1] It is venerated by some Catholics as a relic associated with Jesus. Its authenticity is disputed, with some scholars confirming a plausible authenticity,[2] while others ignore[3] or consider it to be a medieval forgery.[4] Radiocarbon dating tests on the artifact have shown that it dates between 980 and 1146 AD.[5]

The board is made of walnut wood, 25 cm × 14 cm × 2.6 cm (9.8 in × 5.5 in × 1.0 in) and has a weight of 687 grams (1.515 lb). It is inscribed on one side with three lines, of which the first is mostly destroyed. The second line is written in Greek letters and reversed script, the third in Latin letters, also with reversed script.[6] The Latin reads Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum ("Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews"),[7] corresponding to John 19:19[8] and the initials INRIIVRI which means Hebrew. familiar to Roman Catholics. The Titulus Crucis is also mentioned in the Synoptics: in Mark 15:26[9] (as the reason of the crucifixion), in Luke 23:38[10] and in Matthew 27:37.[11]

  1. ^ Marijan Dović, Jón Karl Helgason (2016). National Poets, Cultural Saints: Canonization and Commemorative Cults of Writers in Europe National Cultivation of Culture. BRILL. p. 30. ISBN 978-9004335400. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  2. ^ Titulus Crucis - The title of the cross of Jesus Christ? by Michael Hessemann"
  3. ^ Morris, Colin The sepulchre of Christ and the medieval West: from the beginning to 1600 OUP Oxford (17 Mar 2005) ISBN 978-0-19-826928-1 p.32 [1]
  4. ^ Byrne, Ryan; McNary-Zak, Bernadette Resurrecting the Brother of Jesus: The James Ossuary Controversy and the Quest for Religious Relics The University of North Carolina Press (15 Aug 2009) ISBN 978-0-8078-3298-1 p.87 [2]
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference S8int was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Antoninii Placentini Itinerarium, in Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina, Vol. 175, 130.
  8. ^ John 19:19
  9. ^ Mark 15:26
  10. ^ Luke 23:38
  11. ^ Matthew 27:37