September 14
The mother of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Helen, began a search in her later years for the Cross on which Christ was crucified. A temple to Aphrodite had been built on the site of Golgotha, as an act of desecration to the place where Christ had suffered and died. The Empress Helen ordered the excavation of the site, revealing the Sepulcher and three crosses. Unsure which was the true cross of Christ, Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, ordered a dead man’s body to be placed on each cross. As soon as the body was placed on the Lord’s Cross, he was restored to life. The Cross was lifted up and displayed for the veneration of all those present, and the people cried out, “Lord have mercy.”
Troparion (Tone 1)
Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance,
granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries,
and protecting Thy commonwealth by Thy Cross.
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