World's Largest Cross?

We try to be pretty open-minded and tolerant on this website, but occasionally, somebody writes to us with information that makes us gawp so much that we feel obliged to share it.

The Nativity Cross in the 1990's was one example, and here, ten years later is another.

An idea has been conceived for the 'biggest cross in the world' at Nazareth, Israel. If built, it would be covered by 7.2 million tiles and you can pay to have your loved one's name engraved on one. Each tile measures 2cm x 5cm and depending on its location within the cross costs between $50 and $300. At the date of writing this article (January 2008), planning approval has not yet been sought from the municipality and since Nazareth is an architecturally modest city with two-thirds majority Muslim residents, plans for such a structure would certainly raise eyebrows.

The provocative size of such a large cross is precisely why the Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Bishop Elias Chacour, and the Vatican's Fr. Pierre Batista, oppose the idea. Even Nazareth Cross Church Ltd has doubts the project will get off the ground, but they invite you to send you money anyway. (See http://www.comeandsee.com//modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=824 for more on this story. And see Hope Cross for other money-making crosses.)

If built, the cross would be 60 metres high, which would not make it the 'biggest cross in the world'. At Interstate 40, Groom, Texas, there's a cross standing 200 feet tall, which for the metrically challenged is 61 metres. And let's not forget another 'biggest cross in the world' atop the Valley of the Fallen in Spain (http://www.feelmadrid.com/valleyofthefallen.html) - This is more than twice the height at an incredible 150 metres.

That cross was built not only with the blessing of the State, but was actually commissioned by the State. It commemorates those who died during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and contains the remains of 40,000 soldiers. War graves are an interesting subject in themselves. (See Churchyard Cross.)

So the Nazareth Cross will not be the largest, even if it is built.