The Five Crosses

The Five Crosses

The Five Crosses (or commonly known as Les Cinq Croix) is a Christian monument of Calvary at Ploubezere, near Lannion, Côtes-du-Nord, in Brittany, France.^[1]

The calvary monument includes a high Christian cross in the center, with two other crosses on either side which were gathered with the center cross on the calvary platform. One of the crosses dates back as far as the 10th century, and has the date of "1728" inscribed on the back which is believed to be when it was joined with the cross of Christ on the platform.^[2]

The Five Crosses are approximately 5 kilometers south of Lannion; about 1.5 kilometers south of Ploubezere. The crosses are at the intersection of D11 with route D31b on the right (toward Plouaret), but turning left toward Tonquédec (Breton: Tonkedeg) on route D113 48°41′34″N 3°26′41″W / 48.692816°N 3.444702°W / 48.692816; -3.444702 (The Five Crosses).

The Anglican theologian E. W. Bullinger (1837–1913), a frequent visitor to Brittany, cited the Five Crosses, and included a photograph thereof, as one historical evidence that he was not original in his view that four—rather than the traditional count of two— "others" were crucified with Jesus: two thieves and two other malefactors.^[3]

See also

• Another Five Crosses exists; it is a monument to five brothers killed in combat in the 11th century. The monument may be found at the intersection of route D933 (Route de Houdan) and D136 north toward Marchefroy.^[4] 48°50′54″N 1°31′39″E / 48.848437°N 1.5275°E / 48.848437; 1.5275 (The Five Crosses)

References

1. ↑ "(English, translated)Crucifixes. (French, original) Calvaires". (English, translated) The five crosses dating from different periods. The oldest, also the most massive, could date from the tenth century. The latest cross dates from the fifteenth or sixteenth century. The five crosses were collected on the same support in the eighteenth century. ... Location: The Five Cross located about 5 km south of Lannion, you must go to Ploubezre then continue towards Plouaret; the Five Cross located on the edge of the road, about 1.5 km after leaving Ploubezre. (French, original) Les cinq croix datent d’époques différentes. La plus ancienne, qui est aussi la plus massive, pourrait dater du Xe siècle. La croix la plus grande remonte au XVe ou XVIe siècle. Les cinq croix ont été rassemblées sur un même support au XVIIIe siècle. Bien que non étayée par des faits historiques, la tradition locale dit que cet ensemble aurait été édifié en commération d’un combat au cours duquel les habitants auraient repoussé les anglais. Situation : Les Cinq Croix se trouvent à environ 5 kilomètres au sud de Lannion ; il faut se rendre à Ploubezre puis poursuivre en direction de Plouaret ; les Cinq Croix se trouvent en bordure de la route, environ 1,5 kilomètre après avoir quitté Ploubezre 
2. ↑ The Genesis Pursuit. Spencer, S.J. Xulon Press. 01 May 2006.
3. ↑ E. W. Bullinger. "The Companion Bible, Appendix 164: The "Others" Crucified With The Lord (Matt. 27:38 and Luke 23:32).". Mislead by tradition and the ignorance of Scripture on the part of medieval painters, it is the general belief that only two were crucified with the Lord. But Scripture does not say so...it is clear [from cited Scriptural evidence] that there were four "others" crucified with the Lord...To show that we are not without evidence, even from tradition, we may state that there is a "Calvary" to be seen at Ploubezere near Lannion, in the Cotes-du-Nord, Brittany, known as Les Cinq Croix ("The Five Crosses"). There is a high cross in the center, with four lower ones, two on either side. 
4. ↑ Official site