Orthodox nations prepare for 1700th anniversary of finding the True Cross

Orthodox Christian nations are preparing to observe the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the True Cross in Jerusalem by Saint Helena, marking the upcoming jubilee in 2026.

Celebrations vary across the Orthodox world. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is organizing central festivities and a liturgical procession in Sofia. In Poland, the anniversary has been a focal point of pilgrimages to the Holy Hill of Grabarka. Greece is observing the occasion through various metropolises, involving the movement of relics of the True Cross. Other major churches, such as those in Romania and Serbia, have not designated the anniversary as a central national event as of mid-September.

According to religious tradition, the discovery occurred around 326 AD during the pilgrimage of Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. While historians distinguish between the documented construction of the Christian complex at Golgotha and the evolving traditions surrounding the discovery, the event remains a fundamental part of liturgical practice, symbolizing victory over death.