Orthodox Christians on September 27 celebrate the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,.

This is one of the 12 main holidays of the Orthodox Church. However, this holiday differs from the others in the twenties in that its history is connected not only with biblical events, but with the later history of the Church - with the IV century.

The events are connected with the Equal-to-the-Apostles King Constantine and his mother - Elena. The Emperor stopped persecuting Christians. He wanted to find the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. An expedition headed by his mother, St. Helen, went to Jerusalem. Previously, the Roman emperors, who were pagans, tried to destroy the sacred place for Christians, where the Savior was crucified.

On Calvary at that time was the temple of the goddess Venus and the statue of Jupiter; pagan sacrifices were made. Queen Elena asked the local residents of Jerusalem about the exact place of Christ's cross sufferings. A Jew pointed to the place where the temple was located. He was destroyed and began to excavate. Soon the Holy Sepulcher, three crosses, four nails and a tablet with the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews".

Patriarch Macarius in order to find out which of the three crosses is the one on which Christ was crucified and ordered them to alternately bring them to a seriously ill woman. She was healed when the Cross of Christ was brought to her. At the same time near Calvary there was a funeral procession. The body of the deceased was also alternately placed with crosses, and the deceased resurrected at the moment when the turn of the Cross of the Lord came. Thus was established the true cross of Christ.

Patriarch blessed to erect - to raise the Cross so that Christians can bow to it. The clergy and believers, with the words "Lord, have mercy," bowed to the Cross of the Lord. Holy Queen Helena brought to Constantinople part of the Life-giving Cross and nails. Emperor Constantine allocated funds for the construction in Jerusalem of the majestic church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. The temple was erected for 10 years; his consecration took place on September 26 (in a new style), 335 years, and the celebration of the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Creating Cross was established on September 27.

Parts of the Cross of the Lord are kept in many temples, around the world.

Also in the Holy Mount Athos, in particular, in the abodes of Vatoped, Karakal, Dionisiat, Simonopetra, Zograf, Filofei, Pantokrator, Esfigmen, Stavronikita, Grigoriat, Xiropotam and St. Paul's Monastery.

The Holy Fathers of Athos spoke a lot about the meaning of the Life-Giving Cross. "If there was no power of the Cross, no one would ever be able to reconcile with God". (St Gregory Palamas). "The All-Good God granted us the Holy Cross. To them we can sanctify the Divine Mysteries, we can open the doors of Paradise, they can drive the demons ". (Equal to the Apostles Cosmas Aetolian).