Titulus Crucis

Titulus Crucis

Titulus Crucis is a relic believed by some to be part of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a small piece of wood on which is inscribed the Latin inscription, "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum," which translates to "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." This phrase is often abbreviated as INRI and is mentioned in the New Testament as the charge against Jesus that led to his crucifixion. The Titulus Crucis is housed in the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome, Italy.

History

The history of the Titulus Crucis traces back to the 4th century when Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with the mission to find the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. According to tradition, she discovered the cross in 326 AD along with the nails and the titulus. The relic was then brought back to Rome and placed in the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, a church founded by Helena to house the relics of the cross.

Authenticity

The authenticity of the Titulus Crucis has been a subject of debate among scholars and theologians. In 2002, a study conducted using Carbon-14 dating suggested that the wood dates back to the Middle Ages, between the 980 and 1146 AD, casting doubt on its authenticity as a relic of the 1st century. However, some argue that the dating might not necessarily reflect the age of the inscription or that the wood could have been a replacement or repair made during the Middle Ages.

Description

The Titulus Crucis is a small piece of wood measuring approximately 25 cm in length. The inscription is carved into the wood and filled with a reddish substance to make it more legible. The text is written in three languages: Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, following the accounts from the Gospels that the inscription on Jesus' cross was written in multiple languages.

Significance

Despite the controversies surrounding its authenticity, the Titulus Crucis remains an important symbol for many Christians. It represents a tangible connection to the crucifixion, one of the central events in Christian theology. The relic is an object of veneration and has been part of Christian religious practices for centuries.

See Also

• True Cross
• Relics associated with Jesus
• Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
• Saint Helena