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Upon her arrival in Jerusalem, an incredible sequence of events took place. Paulinus of
Nola, writing in 403 A.D., recounts what happened next:

She [Helena] became eager to obtain information solely on the site of the crucifixion. So
she sought out not only Christians full of learning and holiness, but also the most learned
of the Jews to inform her of their native wickedness in which, the poor Jews, they even
boast. Having summoned them she assembled them in Jerusalem. Her resolve was
strengthened by the UNANIMOUS WITNESS OF ALL ABOUT THE SITE. There was
then, undoubtedly under the impulse of a revelation she had experienced, that she ordered
digging operations to be prepared on that very site. Letter 31.5.

The wily Jews, knowing full well that the Temple of Venus covered the tomb of John Hyr-
canus, went along with Constantine's dream and confirmed that this was indeed the place of Jesus'
death and burial! In actuality, Helena wanted confirmation of the visions and dreams which she
and her son Constantine had experienced; and the Jews were more than willing to oblige!

Sozomen, the famous 5th-century church historian, adds some detail: "Some say that the
facts [about Christ's tomb] were first disclosed by a Hebrew who dwelt in the East, and who de-
rived his information from some documents which had come down to him by paternal inheritance.
(Ecclesiastical History, II.1).

Ironically, the man who supposedly had this historical evidence for the site of Christ's pas-
sion, was a Jew by the name of JUDAS! According to Ernest L. Martin:

This Judas told Helena that the Temple of Venus was the proper site of Christ's crucifix-
ion. Helena then, "by an impulse of revelation," had her attendants dig into the ground at
the place where Judas told her. And amazingly, they came upon three crosses superim-
posed upon one another. But that wasn't the end of it. Nearby was found a tablet which
had upon it the exact words which the New Testament said Pilate placed above Christ's
head. Also found in the same spot was a sponge and a reed like those associated with
Christ's passion. -- Secrets of Golgotha, p.127.

Nobody, it seems, questioned the fact that these items were in an excellent state of preser-
vation after being buried in the ground for some 295 years!!

This clinched the matter for Constantine's mother -- the visions were verified, this was the
site of Christ's death!

The story doesn't end here! Gregory of Tours, in his History of the Franks, records that
"the venerable wood of the cross was discovered through the zeal of Helena, the Hebrew Judas re-
vealing the spot, WHO WAS AFTERWARDS BAPTIZED AND NAMED QUIRIACUS." (I.36).
This wily Jew, who was not even a Christian at the time of the "discovery," became famous and
was eventually made a bishop of Jerusalem!

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