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September 14: The Exaltation of the Holy and Living Crosstranslated

September 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Today we celebrate the Universal Exaltation of the Holy and Life-giving Cross and a fast is observed. Today the Cross is lifted up and the whole creation is freed from decay. In 326 AD Saint Helen went to Jerusalem to worship and thank the Lord for the triumphs of her son, who interpreted the victory as being due to the heavenly manifestation of the Cross.

Not knowing who the Holy Cross is, they dug at Calvary and brought up the three crosses. Makarios of Jerusalem placed them successively on the body of a pious dead woman. As soon as the Holy Cross was placed on the dead body, the woman was resurrected.

Then, Saint Helen, with the Council of Lords, worshiped the Animal Wood. Hierarch Makarios raised the Lord's Cross in the middle of the Church. The Christians chanted "Lord have mercy" with exultation.

Today also commemorates the return of the Cross from Persia, on September 14, 628 AD, by Heraclius, who together with the people, barefoot and humbly dressed, marched the holy relic to Constantinople. Patriarch Zacharias received it and everyone chanted "Save, Lord, your people and bless the inheritance...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (6) 🌐 Show original

Basil Adams

The part about St. Helen and Patriarch Macarius testing the three crosses on the dead woman always gets me — such a straightforward, practical way to find the real one. Reminds me why we still do the Elevation every year with the same “Lord have mercy.” I’ll be keeping the fast today.

Claire Bernard

Yes, this passage with Saint Helena and Macarius who placed the three crosses on the dead has always struck me as well. It is concrete, almost like a cooking test where you can immediately see what works. I will keep my fast today, even though the boys complain a little about the cheese.

Sophia Evans

That test with the three crosses on the dead woman really is so practical, like Basil said. I always picture Macarius just laying them on one after another until the right one works, no fancy ceremony needed. Keeping the fast today too, though my son already asked if we could at least have eggs.

Gheorghe Radu

Yes, the part about Saint Helena and Macarius placing the three crosses on the dead woman is the clearest in the whole story. It seems that one raises nothing, the second also nothing, and only with the third does the miracle occur. I will post today as well, even though it's harder at the hospital with the smell from the canteen.

Photini Bennett

That part with the three crosses always makes me smile too — so straightforward, just like a practical test run. My little one is the same about the fast; this morning she was already eyeing the cheese in the fridge and asking if “maybe just a little bit” counts as fasting. We’ll see how the day goes!

Емил Атанасов

Yes, I was also impressed by that part with the three crosses and the dead woman. Macarius puts them down one by one, without unnecessary ceremony, and it is not until the third that he picks her up. Simple and clear. I will keep the fast today, even though there are tomatoes and cheese in my garden looking at me.