When the new building for the St. Mary Magdalene Catholic parish opens in early 2007, it will feature a unique crucifix known as the San Damiano Cross. The icon-style cross is 12 feet tall and 10 feet across and was hand painted for the Sharpsburg church by long-time Atlanta artist, Jim Yarbrough.

The San Damiano Cross traces its history to the 12th century in Assisi, when St. Francis prayed before the cross in an abandoned and neglected chapel. The story tells of St. Francis hearing the word of God instructing him to rebuild the church — not merely the chapel which had fallen into ruin, but the life of the church as the people of God. St. Francis apparently not only heeded the word of God but also dedicated his life to helping others.

The cross is said to contain the story of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

Yarbrough was commissioned by Father Daniel J. Fleming, first and current pastor of St. Mary Magdalene, and has recreated the beauty and depth of the San Damiano Cross for the Sharpsburg parish.

During its construction and creation, the giant cross first found a home on the bedroom floor of Yarbrough and his wife, Jeanne, who live in Atlanta’s Grant Park area. The cross has resided there for several months, resting on a massive drop cloth as Yarbrough continued his painting. Yarbrough said while he doesn’t know the exact weight of the cross, it takes two people to lift each of the three sections.

Yarbrough said he viewed the work as a great opportunity. Although he’s done a wide range of art, a lot of it mythological, he says he considered the commission an education in itself.

“I was not used to working in Greek Orthodox style so it was more of a stretch to work in it,” he said. “It was so rewarding. It will mean a lot to a lot of people.”

In creating the replica of the original San Damiano Cross, Yarbrough says he worked from reproductions of the original image and didn’t make any changes to it, other than to double its size. The paint used is a modern acrylic water-based paint, “ ... very wearable and strong, of light-fast pigments that will even sustain water damage,” Yarbrough says.

St. Mary Magdalene members feel the San Damiano Cross is very significant for their parish because it contains the image of their patron saint, Mary Magdalene, standing at the foot of the cross with the Virgin Mary and St. John. There are countless explanations throughout the history of the figures on the cross and of the meaning of the symbols displayed on it.

Yarbrough says he plans to be on hand when the dedication of the new sanctuary at St. Mary Magdalene takes place in early 2007.

“My entire family wants to share in this very special moment,” he said.

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