Exaltation of the Holy Cross
In 326 St. Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, discovered the three crosses on which Jesus Christ and the two thieves had been crucified. Archbishop Makarios touched each cross to a dying, sick woman to determine which was the Cross of Christ. She was perfectly healed immediately by the touch of the True Cross. St. Helena then built the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for the Holy Cross to be maintained and venerated at.
In 614, Jerusalem was conquered by the Persians, and the Holy Cross taken. The Persians burned the Church of the Resurrection and stole the Holy Cross.
In 628, Emperor Heraclius of Byzantium defeated the Persian king and brought the Holy Cross back to Jerusalem.
Before taking the cross into the Church, it was revealed to him to remove all his splendid clothing and imperial jewels so that he could carry the Holy Cross in humility, as had Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, wearing a sackcloth, he walked barefoot with the Holy Cross to plant it on Golgotha.
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ” - Jesus Christ