Contents
The Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord is a holiday that is one of the 12 most important – twelfth – church holidays. They are connected with the events of the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God.
In fact, the Exaltation is a memory of an event that took place in the distant year 326. It was then that Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Helena found in Jerusalem the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.
What date is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrated in 2022
The Exaltation of the Cross is an enduring holiday, in 2022, as always, it will be celebrated 27 September.
History
According to legend, in 326, the mother of Emperor Constantine, Helen, went to Jerusalem in search of Christian shrines (it can be said that the queen became the founder of biblical archeology). So the Cross was found, as well as the Holy Sepulcher (the cave where Christ was buried and on the third day resurrected).
Excavations were carried out on Calvary, where Christ was crucified. Three crosses, several nails and a board with the inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” were found underground. True, the board lay separately, and it was impossible to understand which of the three crosses was the Lord’s. According to legend, the crosses were alternately applied to the sick person, and after touching that same Cross, he was healed. And when a funeral procession was walking past Golgotha, crosses were also placed on the deceased, and from the touch of one of the crosses he was resurrected.
The Jerusalem Patriarch Macarius raised (or, in other words, “raised”) the Cross so that all those present could see the newly acquired shrine – this was the beginning of the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord.
And Emperor Constantine, inspired by the finds of his mother, ordered the construction of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ (also known as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher) in Jerusalem. Construction was completed only in 335. Queen Elena did not live to see this event.
On September 13, 335, the temple was consecrated, and on September 14 (27 – according to the new style), it was decided to establish the celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Many bishops from all over the Roman Empire came to consecrate the temple. Thanks to them, the tradition of celebrating the Exaltation of the Cross spread throughout the Christian world.
The fate of the Life-Giving Cross
On the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Orthodox remember another historical event. The fact is that in 614 the Life-Giving Cross was stolen by the Persians who captured Jerusalem. It was possible to return it only 14 years later. Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persians in 628 and returned the Cross of Christ to Jerusalem.
But the further fate of the Cross is little known. Most likely, it was divided into many parts and taken around the world, so today there are particles of the Life-Giving Cross in many Orthodox churches.
Troparion of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross
Save, O Lord, Thy people/ and bless Thy inheritance,/ granting victory to the opposition// and keeping Thy habitation by Thy Cross.
What is depicted on the icons of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord
In the center, on a dais, stands the patriarch raising the Cross. Deacons support him by the arms. To the right of the patriarch or on both sides of him stand Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helena. The cross is worshiped by many people, mostly bishops, who contributed to the spread of the holiday.