The San Damiano Cross

This painted crucifix (12th c.) shows Christ upright and calm, flanked by Mary, John, and other biblical figures, with angels gathered above his arms. The inscription IHS NAZARE abbreviates Iesus Nazarenus (Jesus of Nazareth). Called the San Damiano cross for its resemblance to the icon that inspired St Francis, it uses rocky ground and trailing vines to mark the boundary between earthly space and the heavenly realm he reveals.