Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (27/09)

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, celebrated on September 27, was established in memory of the discovery and erection of the Cross of Christ. This significant event occurred under Emperor Constantine the Great, who was the first Roman emperor to stop persecuting Christians.

Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine, who won victory over enemies in three wars with God's assistance, saw in heaven God's sign — Cross with the inscription «This is victorious». Warmly wanting to find the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, Constantine sent his mother, the pious Queen Helena, to Jerusalem. Although the holy queen Helena was already in her old years by this time, she enthusiastically took up the task of fulfilling the order.

The pagan Roman emperors tried to completely destroy in humanity the memories of the sacred places where Jesus Christ suffered for people and was resurrected. Emperor Hadrian ordered that Calvary and the Holy Sepulcher be covered with earth and that the temple of the pagan goddess Venus and the statue of Jupiter be placed on an artificial hill. Pagans gathered at this place and performed idol sacrifices.

While searching for the Life-Giving Cross, Queen Helena questioned Christians and Jews, but for a long time her search remained unsuccessful. Finally, she was pointed to an old Jew named Judas, who reported that the Cross was buried where the temple of Venus stands. The cape was destroyed and, after praying, they began to dig the ground. Soon the Holy Sepulcher and not far from it were discovered three crosses, a board with the inscription «Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews», made on the orders of Pilate, and four nails that pierced the Body of the Lord.

To find out on which the Savior was crucified from three crosses, Patriarch Macarius alternately began to bring the crosses one after another to a seriously ill woman. No miracle happened from the two crosses; when the third cross was laid, she was healed that hour. It happened that at that time they were carrying the body for burial. Then they began to lay crosses on the deceased; and when the third cross was laid, the deceased came to life. Seeing the resurrected, everyone was convinced that the Life-Giving Cross had been found.

Christians, who came in countless numbers to worship the Holy Cross, asked St. Macarius to raise and erect the Cross so that everyone could, although from afar, reverently contemplate Him. Then the Patriarch and other clergy began to raise the Holy Cross high, and the people, crying: «Lord, have mercy», worshiped the Honest Tree.

Saint Helena brought with her part of the Life-Giving Tree and nails to Constantinople. Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine ordered the erection of a majestic and extensive temple in Jerusalem in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, which included both the Holy Sepulcher and Calvary. The temple took about 10 years to build. Saint Helena did not live to see the consecration of the temple — she died in 327. The temple was consecrated on September 26 (new style) 335. The next day, September 27, it was established to celebrate the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14th.

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