In the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Latin phrase "In Exaltatione Sanctae Crucis" translates to "In the Exaltation of the Holy Cross" in English. This phrase refers to the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which is celebrated on September 14. The feast commemorates the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena in 326 AD and the recovery of the relics from the Persians in 628 AD²³.

The feast is significant in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions and is one of the Twelve Great Feasts in the Byzantine Rite². It is a day of fasting and abstinence and is considered a major celebration in the liturgical calendar². The phrase is often used in liturgical texts and prayers associated with this feast.

Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, is credited with finding the True Cross during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land around 326 AD. Here is a summary of how she found it:

1. **Pilgrimage to the Holy Land**: Saint Helena embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with the intention of finding the relics of Jesus Christ's crucifixion⁴.

2. **Excavation of the Site**: Upon her arrival, she ordered the excavation of a site that was believed to be the location of Jesus' crucifixion. This site had been covered by a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter or Venus⁴.

3. **Discovery of Three Crosses**: During the excavation, three crosses were found. To determine which one was the True Cross, a miraculous test was conducted⁵.

4. **Miraculous Test**: According to tradition, a woman who was near death was brought to touch each of the three crosses. When she touched the third cross, she was miraculously healed, confirming it as the True Cross of Christ⁵.

5. **Construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre**: Following the discovery, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built over the site to commemorate the finding of the True Cross⁴.

Saint Helena's discovery of the True Cross is considered one of the most significant events in Christian history, and her efforts are commemorated in the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14⁴⁵.

Saint Helena is believed to have found several significant relics during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. These relics include:

1. **Fragments of the True Cross**: Pieces of the cross on which Jesus was crucified².
2. **Nails of the Crucifixion**: Nails that were used in the crucifixion of Jesus⁴.
3. **Crown of Thorns**: Thorns believed to be from the crown placed on Jesus' head during his crucifixion⁴.
4. **Titulus Crucis**: The inscription that was placed above Jesus' head on the cross, which read "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"⁴.

These relics were brought back to Rome by Saint Helena and can still be venerated today in the **Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem**²³.

²: Origins of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - ccwatershed.org
³: Triumph & Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Andrew of Cret
⁴: Visit the spot where St. Helena found the true Cross - Aleteia
⁵: St. Helena and the Finding of the True Cross - Lay Pers...


(1) Visit the spot where St. Helena found the true Cross - Aleteia. https://bing.com/search?q=How+did+Saint+Helena+find+the+True+Cross.
(2) St. Helena and the Finding of the True Cross - Lay Pers.... https://www.lettersfromthesaints.com/blog/st-helena-and-the-finding-of-the-true-cross.
(3) The Legend of the True Cross: The Story of St. Helena's Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCLOneJmQ1c.
(4) Saint Helena, the First Archaeologist and Discoverer of the True Cross?. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdxbK1DzVh4.
(5) Empress Helena discovers the 'True Cross'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y_GEXPl8zs.
(6) Visit the spot where St. Helena found the true Cross - Aleteia. https://aleteia.org/2021/08/25/visit-the-spot-where-st-helena-found-the-true-cross.
(7) Stolen and Found: The Story of the True Cross - Good Catholic. https://www.goodcatholic.com/stolen-and-found-the-story-of-the-true-cross/.
(8) How did St. Helena find the true cross of Jesus Christ? - Aleteia. https://aleteia.org/2021/08/18/how-did-st-helena-find-the-true-cross-of-jesus-christ.
(9) 8 Incredible relics from the Holy Land that St. Helena may have found .... https://aleteia.org/2018/08/18/8-incredible-relics-from-the-holy-land-that-st-helena-might-have-found.