Legends Surrounding the Spear of Destiny

The semi-legendary, semi-documented tale of the Holy Spear begins with the account in the Gospel of St. John, stating:

"But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs, but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out."

It was the Roman soldier Longinus (whose name appears in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus) who confirmed Jesus's death with this act. According to later apocryphal texts, Longinus converted to Christianity and met a martyr's end. The fate of the lance after this event remains uncertain, with another martyr, St. Maurice, often associated with it.

Another significant mention involves Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. In 325 AD, during her pilgrimage to Jerusalem, she is said to have discovered not only the True Cross but also the lance and a nail from it. The Spear of Destiny reportedly remained in Jerusalem until the 7th century before it was taken to Byzantium. By the early 13th century, it made its way to France, though its whereabouts were lost during the revolution. It is possible that the spear Emperor Alexios “already had” was indeed the same one offered by Raymond.

[Photo: Fra Angelico, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

Current Locations of the Spear of Destiny

Today, at least four locations claim a connection to this extraordinary relic. The first is the Krakow Cathedral on Wawel Hill, which houses a replica gifted to Bolesław I the Brave by Emperor Otto III in 1000 AD. The second is Geghard Monastery in Armenia, dating back to the 12th century, where, according to tradition, the spear brought by St. Jude Thaddeus was kept.

The Vatican holds another relic, which is tied to a tale involving Sir John Mandeville, who, in his 1357 travelogue, claimed to have seen the spearhead across the Bosporus, despite having seen a different one in Paris. While Mandeville's accounts may blend fact with fiction, it is believed that this Byzantine relic passed into Turkish hands and was eventually sent to Pope Innocent VIII in 1492, where it remains in St. Peter’s Basilica, though its authenticity is not strongly asserted by the Church.

The final location is Vienna, where the specimen in the Hofburg Museum is regarded as the "most authentic," playing a significant role in modern European history.

[Photo: Jean Colombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

The Cultural and Political Symbolism of the Spear

The Spear of Longinus first appeared in documented history as a gift from Pope Leo III to Charlemagne, though the details of its journey to the Pope remain unclear. German king Henry I the Fowler was determined to acquire it, eventually succeeding by trading part of Swabia with King Rudolf of Burgundy. The spear brought Henry numerous victories, including defeats against the Hungarians, and he later passed it on to his son Otto, believing it would grant him divine favor.

In those times, the intertwining of politics and religion elevated the "lancea sacra" to a symbol of divine authority, representing both power and the moral legitimacy of rulers. Its significance was so high that Bolesław the Brave received a replica of this revered relic from Otto III. Over the centuries, emperors and popes have exploited the lance’s symbolic potential.

Before the Reformation, the second Friday after Easter was celebrated as the Feast of the Lord’s Lance, first in Prague and later in Nuremberg. During this occasion, the lance was displayed for public veneration, often accompanied by a nail placed in its spearhead. However, as the importance of royal insignia waned, by the 18th century, the lance began to be viewed more as a museum piece than an object of worship. Concerned about Napoleon Bonaparte's ambitions, the lance was removed from Nuremberg and hidden in Vienna's Hofburg treasury.

The most troubling chapter in the lance's history is linked to Hitler, who recognized the powerful symbolism of the "lancea sacra" and sought to harness it for Nazi ideology. Following the Anschluss in 1938, he ordered its relocation from Vienna to Nuremberg, intending it to symbolize the unity and strength of the German nation. After the war, it was returned to Vienna by American forces.

[Photo: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]

Is the Spear of Destiny Authentic?

Unfortunately, modern archaeology casts a skeptical light on many alluring myths. The spear in Vienna is certainly not the one used by Longinus; it dates back only to the 8th century during the Carolingian period. This revelation can be difficult for some to accept. Austrian scholar Erik Szameit has suggested that some metal components of the lance might be older and may trace back to Roman times, given the spearhead's various repairs and modifications.

Interestingly, support for this notion has emerged from the British Isles. Metallurgist Robert Feather, after conducting X-ray and fluorescence analyses, indicated that while the blade appears to be medieval, the dimensions and design of the iron nail bear remarkable similarities to those utilized by the Romans in the 1st century AD. Thus, he did not completely dismiss the possibility that it might have originated from the cross on which Christ was crucified.

The first video titled "The Mystery of the Holy Lance | Full Historical Documentary" explores the historical context and significance of the Spear of Destiny.

The second video, "The Mystery Of The Holy Lance Used In Jesus' Crucifixion," delves into the spear's legendary past and its connections to Christ's crucifixion.

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