On September 27, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy and Life—giving Cross of the Lord, one of the twelve main holidays of the church year. On this day, believers remember the finding of the Cross on which the Savior was crucified and his return to Jerusalem from Persian captivity. The holiday commemorates Christ's sacrifice on the cross, His victory over sin and death.
According to church tradition, the Cross of the Lord was found in 326 by the labors of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsarina Elena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. Arriving in Jerusalem, she began searching for places associated with the suffering, burial, and Resurrection of the Savior. Over the past centuries, they were covered with earth and built up with pagan sanctuaries, but the memory of them remained among Christians.
After excavations near Golgotha, three crosses and a plaque with an inscription were found, once placed above the Savior's head. Since it was lying separately, it was not immediately possible to identify the Cross of Christ. According to legend, St. Macarius, the primate of the Jerusalem Church, suggested that the crosses he found be placed one by one on a seriously ill woman. At the touch of one of them, she received healing.
The news of the discovery of the shrine gathered a lot of people. Everyone wanted to see the Cross and worship it. Then Saint Macarius stood on an elevated place and raised the Cross over the people. The believers exclaimed in awe: "Lord, have mercy!" This solemn raising — the exaltation — gave the name to the holiday.
By order of Emperor Constantine, a church of the Resurrection was built over the places of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. It was consecrated in 335. The celebration of the Exaltation is closely connected with the memory of the consecration of this temple, which the Church celebrates on the eve of September 26.
The second event remembered on the holiday dates back to the 7th century. After the capture of Jerusalem, the Persians took the Life-giving Cross to their country. Subsequently, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius returned the shrine. Legend tells us that, carrying the Cross to Golgotha, he was able to continue his journey only after he took off his royal robes and put on simple clothes. This image recalls the humility of the Savior, who voluntarily accepted suffering for the sake of people.
The spiritual meaning of the Exaltation is revealed in gratitude to God for His salvation. By honoring the Cross, Christians glorify the crucified and risen Lord. The instrument of the painful execution became a sign of victory and hope for eternal life. As St. Andrew of Crete said, "The Cross is raised up so that Christ may be glorified."
The cross accompanies a Christian throughout his life: it is worn on his chest, and prayer and daily activities are sanctified with the sign of the cross. The Feast of the Exaltation calls us to remember the love of God, to endure trials with faith, to resist sin, and to support others. The worship of the Cross becomes complete in the desire to live according to the commandments of the One Who gave Himself for the salvation of the world.