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AT the time that Cyril administered the church of Jerusalem after
Maximus, the sign of the cross appeared in the heavens. It shone
brilliantly, not with divergent rays like a comet, but with the
concentration of a great deal of light, apparently dense and yet
transparent. Its length was about fifteen stadia from Calvary to the
Mount of Olives, and its breadth was in proportion to its length.
So extraordinary a phenomenon excited universal terror. Men, women,
and children left their houses, the market place, or their respective
employments, and ran to the church, where they sang hymns to Christ
together, and voluntarily confessed their belief in God. The
intelligence disturbed in no little measure our entire dominions, and
this happened rapidly; for, as the custom was, there were travelers
from every part of the world, so to speak, who were dwelling at
Jerusalem for prayer, or to visit its places of interest, these were
spectators of the sign, and divulged the facts to their friends at
home. The emperor was made acquainted with the occurrence, partly by
numerous reports concerning it which were then current, and partly by a
letter from Cyril the bishop. It was said that this prodigy was a
fulfillment of an ancient prophecy contained in the Holy Scriptures.
It was the means of the conversion of many pagans and Jews to
Christianity.
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