Category:Holy Nails (subject)
According to Christian traditions, the Holy Nails are the three (or four) nails used in the Crucifixion of Jesus.
Overview
The legend of the Holy Nails is connected with the legend of the True Cross. According to Christian traditions, when Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, found the remains of the True Cross in Jerusalem she also recovered the Holy Nails, which she brought with her to Constantinople. What happened to the nails became the subject of numerous legends. According to a popular version of the story, Helena gave a nail to his son Constantine to be embedded in his Helmet, the second nail became a bridle for his horse, and the third nail she cast in the Adriatic Sea to calm a storm.
Today there are 30 or more nails which are still venerated, or which have been venerated until recent times, as a relic of the Crucifixion of Jesus.
The Helmet of Constantine (and the Iron Crown of Lombardy)
The tradition that Constantine's Helmet contained one the Holy Nails is the origin of the legend of the Iron Crown of Lombardy.
The Bridle of Constantine
The relics of the Holy Nail now preserved at Carpentras and Milan are both in the shape of a bridle and claim to be the one used in Constatine's bridle.
The cult of the Santo Chiodo was promoted in Milan by Carlo Borromeo.
Other Nails
The list of Churches or Museums preserving reliquaries of the Holy Nails includes:
- The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem in Rome [Italy] -- Several relics related to the Holy Cross are housed in the Cappella delle Reliquie, built in 1930 by architect Florestano di Fausto.
- The Cathedral of Trier [Germany] -- The relic of the Holy Nail is preserved in the Treasure together with the most famous relic of the Holy Robe.
- The Cathedral of Colle di Val d'Elsa, near Siena [Italy] -- The relic of the Holy Nail is housed in a tabernacle by Mino da Fiesole.
- In the Holy Lance of the German imperial regalia in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna; see Holy Lance
In Depth
- Holy Nails (sources) -- survey of ancient sources
- Holy Nails (arts) -- survey of fictional works
- Holy Nails (research) -- survey of scholarly works
External links
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