Orthodox Christians following the old calendar on September 27 celebrate the Exaltation or Elevation of the Holy Cross, which is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the church year. According to tradition, on this day the people fast and pray before the Holy Cross elevated by the priest.
Contacted by IPN, Nun Teodora of the Convent “Saints Pious Marta and Mary”, said that the True Cross was discovered in 326 by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, during a pilgrimage she made to Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was then built at the site of the discovery, by order of Helena and Constantine.
“On this day, a group of priests mount a podium and elevate the Holy Cross higher and higher. The cross is decorated with fresh basil leaves and flowers and is put in the middle of the church for the faithful to venerate it,” said Nun Teorodra. “In small villages, where there is only one priest, the Holy Cross is not elevated, but is taken out so that it is seen by all the faithful and they venerate it.”
It is important that the people fast and go to church on this day. Nun Teodora called for inner peace and repentance.
