The Feast of the Exaltation of the True Cross
also called Roodmas
The feast of the Exaltation of the True Cross was first observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It commemorates the recovery of the relic of the Holy Cross, which had been discovered by St. Helena and after placed on Mt. Calvary, but then had fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians after the capture of the city and the massacre of its Christian population by the forces of Benjamin of Tiberias. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heralius in 629.
