The Miracle of the Appearance of the Precious Cross in the Sky over Jerusalem in the Time of the Emperor Constantius (351)

The miracle of the appearance of the precious Cross in the sky over Jerusalem in the time of the Emperor Constantius (351). After the death of the first Christian emperor, Saint Constantine the Great, power passed to his son Constantius, who was a follower of the heresy of Arius. To confirm the holy Orthodox faith a miraculous sign took place in Jerusalem: on 7 May 351, the day of Pentecost, at the third hour, a Cross appeared in the sky, shining with an indescribable radiance. The whole people witnessed this miracle. The appearance of the Cross began above the hill of Golgotha, where the Saviour was crucified, and reached as far as the Mount of Olives, which lies fifteen stadia from Golgotha. The Cross shimmered with the colours of the rainbow and held the gaze of the people. Stunned by the sight of the miracle, they hastened to the church of the Resurrection to pray.

Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem (350–387), informed the Emperor Constantius by letter of the miraculous appearance of the Cross and urged him to return to Orthodoxy. According to the ancient church historian Sozomen, many Jews and Hellenes were converted to the true faith by the miracle of the holy Cross appearing in the sky.