Crosses Everywhere
- Felicitas Sidders
- Mar 30
- 6 min read
Last year, during my trip to Spain, I visited Caravaca de la Cruz in Murcia. There, I found myself standing before the majestic Basilica-Sanctuary of the True Cross (Vera Cruz).
Churches don’t usually capture my attention, but the facade of this basilica was different. The color of the marble, far from the usual tones, radiated an imposing presence. It drew me in, inviting me to step closer and—almost instinctively—run my hands over its surface, feeling its texture (and its energy).
On its structure, the Caravaca Cross stood out—a peculiar symbol with a double crossbar, distinct from the conventional Latin cross.
The Legend of the Miraculous Mass
According to tradition, in the year 1232, during the Muslim rule of the Iberian Peninsula, the Moorish king Abu Zaydgoverned the region of Caravaca. He ordered a captive priest, Ginés Pérez de Chirinos, to celebrate a mass in his presence.
However, as the ceremony began, the priest realized that the altar was missing a cross—an essential element for the ritual. At that very moment, legend has it that two angels descended from the sky, bringing a double-barred cross and placing it on the altar.
From that day on, the Caravaca Cross became a powerful symbol of protection and faith. In many depictions, it appears flanked by the two angels who, according to the story, delivered it.
The Lignum Crucis: A Fragment of the True Cross
Beyond the legend, the cross venerated in the basilica is believed to contain a fragment of the Lignum Crucis—a piece of the very cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.
This belief ties into the medieval practice of distributing small fragments of the True Cross to various churches and reliquaries throughout the Christian world. In the case of Caravaca, it is said that the Templars or the Order of the Temple may have brought this relic from the Holy Land in the 13th or 14th century.
However, in 1934, the Caravaca Cross was stolen in an event still shrouded in mystery. Just two years later, with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the veneration of the Vera Cruz was suspended.
Yet, the devotion never faded. After the war, the Church sought a way to replace the lost relic. In 1942, Pope Pius XIIsent a new fragment of the Lignum Crucis from Rome to restore the tradition. Another fragment was later added in 2006, this time from Jerusalem.
Synchronicities: The Cross that follows me
Days later, still traveling in Spain, I was in my room when my gaze casually fell on a pair of pants I had recently purchased. To my astonishment—and with goosebumps to prove it—I discovered a cross in the design. Very similar to the Caravaca Cross, also with a double crossbar. I couldn’t believe it!
However, in the midst of my travels, I put my curiosity aside. There would be time to investigate more later.
But life had other plans…
Signs often appear in the everyday, in small details that go unnoticed. For me, they serve as a reminder that magic, the sacred, and divinity aren’t reserved for extraordinary moments; they reside in the simple, in the everyday.
A month later, back at home, while counting coins (a mundane task, if there ever was one), one 2-euro coin caught my attention. And there it was again, the symbol. THE CROSS ONCE MORE!
This time, it was the Slovakian coin, whose reverse shows a double-barred cross, similar to the patriarchal cross. A national emblem representing Christian faith and the country’s cultural heritage.
Three times, in such a short period. Something inside me told me this was more than just synchronicity. There was something I still hadn’t fully grasped…
Decoding the Message
Intrigued by these symbolic repetitions, I decided to delve deeper into their meaning. I switched into detective mode and discovered that some of the letters on the cross of my pants matched those on the Medal of Saint Benedict, which contains Latin inscriptions used as protection against malevolent influences.
But there were more letters that I couldn’t quite understand. So, I turned to someone I knew could help: Eduardo Mangiarotti (@edumangia), a priest and scholar of symbols, with whom I share a deep affinity for these topics.
When I sent him the image of the cross, he was surprised. That’s how an investigation began that led us to solve the mystery (well, he solved the mystery, I just presented the case haha).
Eduardo explained to me that, on the left side, the cross carried inscriptions from the Cross of Zechariah of Jerusalem, a symbol used for apotropaic purposes, meaning it was used for protection against the plague and other evils.
A Little History
This cross originated in Asia during the first millennium and was promoted by Saint Zechariah, Bishop of Jerusalem. It is said that during a smallpox epidemic, Saint Zechariah displayed the Patriarchal Cross and used prayers written on parchment (where only certain characters were inscribed) as protection.
Over time, this symbol spread widely:
In the 12th century, the Hungarians minted coins with this cross.
During the First Crusade, the Duke of Lorraine used it on his banner.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, it was adopted by French nobility and began to be called the Cross of Lorraine.
It is said that the Fathers of the Council of Trent (1546) carried it as a protective amulet against the plague.
The prayer "Healthy Remedy Against the Plague" is presented in the form of a cross and contains various Latin inscriptions and abbreviations. One of them is:
Sancte Deus, Sancte Fortis, Sancte Immortalis, miserere nobis (Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us).
Additionally, many of the letters on the cross represent jaculatories or short prayers of protection. For example, the inscription "Z.D.I.A.B.I.Z.M.R.A.H.G.F." corresponds to Latin phrases that, when translated, express supplications such as:
"The cross conquers, the cross reigns, the cross rules, by the sign of the cross deliver me, Lord, from the plague."
Continuing with the right side of the cross, indeed, it connected with the Medal of Saint Benedict, whose Latin initials invoke protection against evil:
C.S.S.M.L.: Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux (The Holy Cross be my light).
N.D.S.M.D.: Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux (Let not the infernal dragon be my guide).
V.R.S.: Vade Retro Satana! (Begone, Satan!).
N.S.M.V.: Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana! (Never tempt me with vain things).
S.M.Q.L.: Sunt Mala Quae Libas (Evil are the things you offer me).
I.V.B.: Ipse Venena Bibas (Drink your own poison).
In the center of the cross, we also find the monogram IHS, which stands for Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus, Savior of Mankind), a classic symbol of the Jesuits. Additionally, the feet and hands represent the resurrection, a message of triumph over death.
Here you can see, in order, the Cross of Zacharias, the cross on my pants , and the Medal of Saint Benedict.
The Reason Behind the Synchronicity
Up until that point, I couldn’t fully comprehend the message behind these encounters with the cross. But, as often happens to me, over time, the truth is revealed. The veil lifts.
That’s when I discovered something that changed everything: I had been the target of a work, a spell, or a curse. I’m not sure what to call it, nor do I know the exact intention behind it, but the revelation made me rethink the persistence of this symbol on my path.
Then I understood: it wasn’t just a sign, it was a warning. A reminder that I needed to protect myself.
I often navigate the spiritual and esoteric realms with a certain innocence, not thinking in terms of dichotomies like good or bad, benevolent or malevolent. But sometimes, these experiences shake me and bring me back to reality: not all energies are friendly, and not all people have good intentions.
I felt that this symbol appeared as a call to be more cautious, to be more aware of who I let in, and a reminder that even in the subtle, boundaries are necessary. Next step: getting a talisman!
Sometimes, the universe speaks to us through symbols. In my case, it’s even more apparent since I work with Tarot daily and am constantly interpreting symbols, which makes me more attuned to seeing them elsewhere and, in some way, being able to interpret them.
What about you? Have you had similar experiences?
Any symbol that has followed you through different moments in your life? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next post.
Felicitas Sidders
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