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The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the titular feast of the Canons Regular
of the Order of the Holy Cross. Most early documents of the Order indicate that the first
Crosiers were inspired by the legends of the Holy Cross, popular throughout Europe in those
times because of the Crusades to the Holy Land. Russelius indicated that Theodore of
Celles, whom he identifies as the founder of the Brethren of the Holy Cross, actually
made a crusade and visited the sacred shrines in Jerusalem.
Tradition says that Helena discovered the true cross of Christ on September 14, 320.
Fifteen years later, the two churches built by Constantine, the Martyrium and the Anastasis,
were dedicated in Jerusalem. The following day, on September 14, the true cross was raised
and solemnly exposed for veneration by the assembly. Those churches which had major relics
of the cross would on this feast imitate the ritual of Jerusalem and raise up the Cross
for the veneration of the people. Thus the feast, though also the anniversary of the
finding of the cross, receives the name exaltation (meaning lifting up). The liturgical manuscripts
of the Order indicate that this feast has been celebrated with great solemnity and joy
since our beginnings.