The Dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

September 13 (September 26 o.s.) marks an interesting feast on the Orthodox calendar. It is already the Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord. But if you open the service book, you will see the “Commemoration of the Dedication of the Church of the Holy Resurrection of Christ our God.” What is this service commemorating?

As I mentioned in my article on the Exaltation, not long after the finding of the True Cross by the Empress Helen in 326 A.D., two churches were established on the sites of Golgotha and Christ’s Tomb. These were consecrated on the same day, September 13. Later, the practice of presenting the Cross to the faithful began to be held the following day, and September 14 became the feast of the Cross.