Khachverats - Exaltation of the Holy Life-Giving Cross of the Lord

Khachverats - the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, is the last of the five main calendar holidays of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The holiday is of great importance - it is dedicated to the life-giving cross - the symbol of Christianity. The celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord was established in memory of two important events.  The first was the miraculous discovery in 326 in Jerusalem of the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. And the second was the return of the shrine. After the wars of conquest, the Cross was in Persian captivity for a long time. And only in the 7th century did the Greek Emperor Heraclius return it to the Holy Land.  This procession passed through the historical lands of Armenia. Since then and to this day, the return from captivity and the raising of the holy cross are celebrated with great solemnity in Armenian churches around the world on Sundays falling between September 11 and 17. The following Monday, as after all great holidays, is Merelots (All Souls' Day).