The Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord: the history of the holiday and its significance in 2026

On September 27, Orthodox believers celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-giving Cross of the Lord, one of the twelve main feasts of the church year. It is dedicated to two events at once: the discovery of the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, and his return from Persian captivity.

The history of finding the shrine dates back to 326. According to legend, the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine sent his mother, Queen Helena, to Jerusalem to find the Cross of the Lord. Excavations at the site of Golgotha were crowned with success: three crosses, nails and a tablet with an inscription were found under the foundation of a pagan temple. To determine which of the crosses was the true one, Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem proposed to attach them to a seriously ill woman. She was healed by the touch of one of the crosses.

Then Patriarch Macarius began to raise ("erect"). The cross, turning it to all sides of the world, so that the assembled people could see it. It was this moment that gave the name to the holiday.

Later, the celebration was joined by the remembrance of the return of the Cross from Persia. In the VII century, the Persian king Khosroy II plundered Jerusalem and took away the shrine. After 14 years, Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persians and returned the Cross. According to legend, when he carried the Cross to the temple in royal robes, an angel blocked his way. Then Heraclius removed the crown and porphyry, put on simple clothes and carried the Cross barefoot to the temple.

Today, the Elevation symbolizes victory over death: from the instrument of shameful execution, the Cross has become the main symbol of the Christian faith. In the temples, a solemn carrying out of the Cross is performed - the priest raises the shrine, turning it to all sides of the world. The cross remains on the analoe until October 4 - the day of the holiday.