15.  The building of the temple.

And thus she did when her friends brought many a kind greeting over the fastness of waters from the west.  Then the queen bade seek far and near those 1020 skilled in the arts, the best of those who could work most wondrously in the laying of stone upon stone, that they might raise a temple of God upon that place.  As the Lord of spirits counseled her from the heavens, she bade deck out the rood with gold and with gems, adorn it most artfully with precious 1025 stones; then to seal it with locks in a casket of silver.  There hath the rood of life, best tree of victory, dwelt since then, indestructible in its nobleness.  There shall it be ever ready, a solace for 1030 the ill of any disease, affliction, or sorrow.  Then straightway shall men find aid and divine grace through that holy form.

16.  The conversion of Judas.

Then after a little space Judas received the bath of baptism, and, cleansed [of his sins], was true to 1035 Christ, dear to the Lord of life.  His faith was steadfast in his heart when the Spirit of comfort had taken up his dwelling in the breast of the man, and had urged him unto repentance.  He chose the better course, the gladness of glory, and forsook the 1040 worse, the way of the idolater, and cast aside his heresy, the law of unrighteousness.  God, the eternal King, Creator, and Wielder of power, was gracious unto him.

Then he was baptized who many times had scorned the light; ...[1] his heart was inspired 1045 unto the better life; he was turned unto glory.  Verily fate decreed that he should become thus filled with faith, thus dear unto God and beloved of Christ in the kingdom of the world.  This was made manifest 1050 when Elene bade bring unto the holy city Eusebius, the bishop of Rome, exceeding wise amid the councils of men, to aid in her deliberation, and to ordain Judas into the priesthood at Jerusalem 1055 as bishop for the people in the cities, prudently chosen through the grace of the Spirit for the temple of God.  And in later times upon a new occasion she wisely named him Cyriacus.  Henceforth 1060 the name of the man was changed for the better throughout the cities—­’The law of the Lord’.

[Footnote 1:  A manuscript lacuna.]

17.  The finding of the nails.

Then again was the mind of Elene concerned about that fair mystery with regard to the nails 1065 which pierced the feet and hands of the Saviour, wherewith the King of the heavens, the mighty Prince, was bound upon the cross.  The queen of the Christians began to ask concerning them.  She bade Cyriacus that he, through the might of the 1070 Holy Spirit, fulfil her desire still further regarding the wondrous mystery, and that he