Quiz: Christian Holy days

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is celebrated on 27 September. The origin of this Feast is as follows. The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles King Constantine instructed his mother, Queen Helen, to go to Jerusalem, to cleanse the holy places from idols, to find the Life- giving Cross of the Lord and to build a huge and beautiful temple over the place of the Crucifixion and the Holy Sepulcher.

After many labors it was possible to find the place where the pagans had stoned the Life-Giving Cross. Having come to that place, Helen and the Jerusalem patriarch Macarius began to pray to God.

And a marvelous fragrance was smelled.

In order to recognize the Cross of the Lord, they applied the crosses in turn to the dead man. And when they applied the Life-Giving Cross, the dead man was resurrected.

Queen Helen with joy bowed to the Cross and kissed it, as well as all those who were nearby. And then the patriarch Macarius went up on the hill and began, raising the Cross, to show it to the people. And the people said, ‘Lord, have mercy,’ rejoicing and praising our Lord and Savior crucified on the Cross.

Since that time they began to celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.