Researchers discover second relic within historic Czech cross
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Scientists examining Záviš’s Cross from the Vyšší Brod Monastery in the Czech Republic uncovered a second relic during a recent investigation.
The team has been studying the 13th-century golden cross since 2016, using non-invasive methods to avoid damaging the artifact. They found a piece of wood that touched the main relic, a fragment believed to be from the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.
Researchers also gained new insights into the gemstones and other relics hidden inside the cross, which is among the most important goldsmithing artifacts in the Czech Republic. Jiří Šindelář of the non-profit organization Naše historie explained that despite a complete restoration forty years ago, the cross still holds undiscovered secrets. He detailed these findings in a new book, Závišův kříž, which includes a virtual 3D model of the cross accessible through QR codes.
The cross originally contained a wooden core that was later replaced with cast silver. Experts discovered two pieces of wood inside, the original cedar and the “touched” relic. They believe spiritual power transferred from the main relic to the wood it contacted. Beyond this, the cross contains 26 smaller relics within tiny cavities, all of which scientists have now cataloged.
Researchers acknowledge that one reliquary space at the base of the cross remains unopened, as it is a silver box they cannot examine without potentially damaging it. They also determined that a central stone previously thought to be a ruby is actually a sapphire of an unusual color, and identified four exceptionally large natural pearls whose value cannot be determined.
