Why we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross and how St. Helena discovered it 

On Sept. 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, honoring the Cross on which Jesus was crucified, is observed.  

The feast commemorates St. Helena’s discovery of the True Cross in Jerusalem in 326, its initial exaltation for public veneration in 335, and its recovery from the Persians in 628. It was first observed in Rome before the end of the 7th century.    

According to legend, Roman Emperor Constantine sent his mother, Helena, to search for the relics of the Christian tradition. She was 80 years old when she went to Jerusalem. An older Jewish man, recalling the legend of Christ’s crucifixion, pointed her to a place where the Cross was buried with two other crosses. She also discovered the superscription placed over Jesus’ head on the Cross and the nails used to crucify Him.  

Two stories explain how the Savior’s Cross was identified among the three. One recalls that an extremely sick woman touched it and was healed. Another says a young man was brought back from the dead after his body touched it. 

St. Helena placed the Holy Cross on Mount Calvary, where it was preserved in Jerusalem. However, the Cross was later stolen by Chosroas, the King of the Persians. It was not until 629, under Emperor Heraclius’ reign, that the Cross was recovered and triumphantly returned to Jerusalem.  

The story of St. Helena’s journey and discovery of the Cross is told in a 9th-century poem by Cynewulf, “Elene.”  

St. Helena was known to help many communities through her works of charity. Although she found Christianity late in life, St. Helena was a devout servant of God and follower of Jesus Christ. Because of her discoveries and good works, Christianity spread throughout the world. St. Helena is the patron saint of new discoveries and archeology.  

How to commemorate the Feast of the Holy Cross:  

• Read the poem, Elene; 
• Read the fascinating story about St. Helena;
• Have young children find every cross displayed in your house in a scavenger hunt of sorts;  
• Practice making the sign of the cross with your children;  
• Make a cross cake using cupcakes;  
• Make and serve pesto, as according to tradition, basil grew on the hill where St. Helena found the Holy Cross.  

Featured image: Saint Helena with the Cross, Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1525 (Cincinnati Art Museum)