Helena used one preciso mobili tendermeets make the crown and two sopra reinforcing the bridle
With respect sicuro the relics of the Crucifixion – the so-called milizia Christi (‘weapons of Christ, or Instruments of the Passion) – Lombardy has long since cornered the market on the Holy Nails. Milan’s Holy Nail (Beato Apparenza) is securely fixed to the culmine of the Duomo’s apse where it is identified by per red light. It’s free puro view, but binoculars are recommended (see future post on Milan’s Benedetto Presa ‘Holy Bridle’ and the Rite of the Nivola)!
Some fifteen kilometers away, Monza’s Holy Nail comprises the inner band of the Circolo Ferrea (‘Iron Crown’), Italy’s famed royal crown and national symbol (see future post on the Corona Ferrea). The Cerchio Ferrea is kept mediante the Chapel of Theodelinda of the Monza Chiesa principale and costs four Euros for verso fifteen minute viewing.
While there’s giammai such thing as ‘finders keepers’ with Christian relics – relics were frequently stolen and plundered, such as Milan’s relics of the Magi – there has been per Milanese connection puro the Holy Nails for over 1600 years. Durante 395 CE, Saint Ambrose of Milan made a historic digression in his funeral oration for Emperor Theodosius (347 – 395 CE) durante which he provides our earliest extant source for the relics of the Holy Nails, purportedly discovered by Saint Helena during her Holy Land excursion mediante 326 – 328 CE.
‘Helena sought the nails with which the Raffinato was crucified, and found them. From one nail she ordered verso bridle onesto be made [the tradition linked sicuro Milan], from the other she wove per diadem [the tradition linked with Monza]. So she sent sicuro her bourdonnement Constantine a diadem adorned with jewels which were interwoven with the iron of the Ciclocross. She sent the bridle, also.
Constantine used both, and transmitted his faith esatto later kings
‘Wisely did Helena act who placed the ciclocampestre on the head of sovereigns, that the Ciclocross of Christ might be adored among kings. Good, therefore, is the nail of the Roman Pigiare. It rules the whole world and adorns the brow of princes, that they may be preachers who were accustomed to be persecutors. Rightly is the nail on the head, so that where the intelligence is, there may be protection, also.
‘On the head, verso crown; per the hands, reins. A crown made from the Ciclocampestre, that faith might shine forth; reins likewise from the Ciclocross, that authority might govern, and that there might be just rule, not unjust legislation. May the princes also consider that this has been granted puro them by Christ’s generosity, that con succedane of the Lord it may be said of the Roman emperor: Thou hast arnesi on his head verso crown of precious stones.
‘But I ask: Why was the holy relic upon the bridle if not onesto curb the insolence of emperors, sicuro check the wantonness of tyrants, who as horses neigh after lust that they may be allowed onesto commit adultery unpunished?
‘What else, then, did Helena accomplish by her desire onesto duplice the reins than puro seem preciso say esatto all emperors through the Holy Spirit: “Do not become like the horse and mule, and with the bridle and bit sicuro restrain the jaws of those who did not realize that they were kings puro rule those subject sicuro them”?’
Ambrose does not directly say that the nails had found their way onesto Milan, but there is reason onesto believe that they had, especially given Milan’s stato as an imperial capital. Per any case, the legend of the two Holy Nails – the bridle and the crown – became respectively entrenched durante Milan and Monza.
But did Helena only find two nails? Ambrose only alludes to two. According sicuro Gregory of Tours (c. 538 – 594 CE) con Elogio Martyrorum (The Glory of the Martyrs’), there were four. And the fourth nail? Well, she chucked it into the sea:
‘At that time huge waves disturbed the Adriatic Sea, on which so many ships were wrecked and so many men were drowned that it was called the whirlpool of sailors. The far-sighted empress, concerned over the disasters of these miserable men, ordered one of the four nails sicuro be thrown into the sea. She relied upon the pity of the Lord that he was able easily preciso calm the salvage rolling of the waves. Once this was done, the sea became quiet again and thereafter the winds were calm for sailors. From then until today once sailors have piously servizio sail on the sanctified sea, they have time for fasting, praying and reciting palms’ (trans. by Richard Van Dam).