Constantine

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they located the house that Constantine had secured for them. The servants took especially good care of the emperor’s mother and daughter. The house was filled with fresh flowers and fresh fruit. After they rested, they spent several weeks touring. The streets near the market were lined with shops. “I think I could fill a museum just with items from Jerusalem,” Helena said. “I like that one shop. Did you see all the coins?” “No, I didn’t notice the coins,” Samson said. “I am sure Jerusalem is for sale.” “I have a few items you can send to the museum,” she said. “I have gathered soil from the gardens, bricks from the road, six olive trees, six date trees, and several pieces of the old temple.” “Are you certain those trees will survive in Constantinople?” Constantina asked. “It gets very cold at home.” “I don’t know,” Helena said. “I am certain Constantine employs a gardener who will know how to care for them.” Samson joined the women. “Constantine told me to take you to the site of the temple to Aphrodite,” he said. “He is having it torn down and is planning to build a church in its place.” “I would like to see the site,” Helena said. “I believe it is where Jesus was nailed to the cross.” “I would also like to see that site,” Constantina said. “Most of the buildings around here are new or being repaired.” “The revolutions have been difficult for Jerusalem,” Samson said. “The Jewish people were a problem for the Roman military, and finally, Titus destroyed the city.” The following day, Samson escorted Helena to the construction site and introduced her to the site manager. “I have been hoping Helena would come to see me,” Drawus said. “We may have found Jesus’ burial cave.” Helena became very interested. She beamed at the builder. “Show me the cave,” she said. “I want to see it.” “Be careful,” Drawus said. “This is a construction site.” “What is all that stuff in the back of the cave?” Constantina asked. “Take it out in the sunlight where Helena can inspect it.” “It looks like three crosses and a pile of cloth,” he said. “I plan to enclose the cave with the new church.” “Samson, ship the crosses and burial wrappings to the museum,” she said. “Now we really have something. We have the cross on which Jesus hung.” “You could hang the cross in the church,” Constantina said. Sampson picked up a handful of nails and showed them to Helena. She smiled. “That is quite a relic,” Samson said. “Constantine will be proud of you. I will make arrangements to ship it home.”