The Sign of the Cross over Jerusalem

At the time when Cyril governed the church of Jerusalem after Maximus, the sign of the cross appeared in the sky. It shone brilliantly, not with rays spreading out like a comet’s, but with a great deal of light gathered together, apparently dense and yet transparent. It stretched about two miles, from Calvary to the Mount of Olives, and its width was in proportion to its length. [a]

So extraordinary a sight struck everyone with terror. Men, women and children left their houses, the marketplace or their work and ran to the church, where they sang hymns to Christ together and freely confessed their belief in God. The news stirred our whole empire not a little, and it spread quickly. For, as was the custom, there were travelers from every part of the world, so to speak, staying at Jerusalem to pray or to see its famous places. They saw the sign and told the facts to their friends at home. The emperor learned of the event partly from the many reports about it that were going around at the time, and partly from a letter from Cyril the bishop. It was said that this wonder fulfilled an ancient prophecy contained in the Holy Scriptures. It led many pagans and Jews to become Christians.