09/14/2026
Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Feast Day : September 14
The sign of our Christianity, the source of our redemption, a vivid reminder of the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made for us upon Calvary.
The history of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was established in the seventh century, but has it’s origins in the fourth century. Saint Helena of Constantinople (mother of Roman Emperor Constantine I), is said to have discovered the True Cross upon which hung the Savior of the World in 326. She commissioned the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was built on the site of discovery and dedicated on September 14, 335. The most substantial piece of the True Cross was placed inside of the church. During the dedication, the practice of veneration of the cross was begun.
However, in the year 627, during the reign of the emperor Heraclius I of Constantinople, the Persians conquered the city of Jerusalem and removed the True Cross. The emperor resolved to win back by combat this precious object. Before he left Constantinople with his army, Heraclius went to the church and begged God to sustain his courage, taking with him to combat an image of Jesus. His armies miraculously won victory after victory, and peace was soon established. Heraclius insisted that one of the conditions of the peace treaty was the return of the True Cross, and upon return to Jerusalem, the faithful honored the occasion with procession, olive branches, and torches.
Carrying the cross on his shoulders, wishing to honor the Lord, processed through the city, returning the saving instrument of grace to Calvary. However, upon reaching the gates, he found he could go no further. “Take care, O Emperor!” the Patriarch Zachary is reported to have said to him.“Certainly the imperial clothing you are wearing does not sufficiently resemble the poor and humiliated condition of Jesus carrying His cross.”
Heraclius was touched on hearing this, and removed his splendid jewel-covered robes and shoes. Donning a poor man’s tunic, he continued to Calvary and replaced the True Cross in the sanctuary of the church.
During the course of the procession, numerous miracles occurred- a dead man returning to life, four paralytics cured, ten lepers healed, 15 blind men given their sight, several possessed people exorcised and many sick people totally healed.And the people greatly rejoiced. From that year on, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was instituted.
Thus, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated every year on September 14, recalls three historical events: the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the emperor Constantine; the dedication of churches built by Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary; and the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by the emperor Heraclius II.
Today’s feast is a triumphant liturgy— a day in which red is worn to symbolize the glorious and saving sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. The Church sings of the triumph of the Cross—no longer an instrument of death and torture—but the powerful and glorious instrument of our redemption. The feast celebrates the Holy Cross as the instrument of our salvation.
We make the Sign of the Cross before prayer which helps to fix our minds and hearts to God. After prayer we make the Sign of the Cross to keep close to God. During trials and temptations our strength and protection is the Sign of the Cross. At Baptism we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, signifying the fullness of redemption and that we belong to Christ.
Let us look to the cross frequently, and realize that when we make the Sign of the Cross we give our entire self to God — mind, soul, heart, body, will, thoughts.
➕We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
for by thy cross thou hast redeemed the world.➕
