Exaltation of the Holy Cross religious feast observed

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, also known as Krestovden, commemorates two historical religious events: the discovery of the True Cross on Golgotha and its subsequent return to Jerusalem from Persia.

According to tradition, Empress Helena discovered the Cross after locating it beneath a temple on Golgotha. The authenticity of the Cross was confirmed when a deceased person was brought back to life after being touched by the third cross found during the excavation. Following its discovery, the Cross was taken to Persia by King Khosrow during his conquest of Jerusalem.

In 628, the Greek Emperor Heraclius defeated Khosrow and returned the relic to Jerusalem. Tradition states that after a vision from Patriarch Zacharias, Heraclius stripped himself of his royal garments to carry the Cross barefoot and in humble clothing, mirroring the path of Christ, before placing it in the Church of the Resurrection.