Holy Cross Day

September 14 – Holy Cross Day –

According to legends, the True Cross was discovered in 326 by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, during a pilgrimage she made to Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was then built at the site of the discovery, by order of Helena and Constantine. Nine years later the church was dedicated on September 13-14, with a portion of the cross placed inside it.

The date of the feast marks the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 335. This was a two-day festival: although the actual consecration of the church was on September 13, the cross itself was brought outside the church on September 14 so that the clergy and faithful could pray before the True Cross, and all could come forward to venerate it.