On September 26, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Renovation of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem — the Resurrection of the Word. This day commemorates the consecration of the church, erected over the greatest Christian shrines — Golgotha and the Holy Sepulchre — by the labors of Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great and his mother, Holy Queen Elena.
The word "renewal" in the name of the holiday means the consecration of the temple. The "Resurrection" folk name is associated with the old word "to be known" — to be called, to be called. This day is dedicated to the consecration of the church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, while the Church solemnly celebrates the event of the Savior's victory over death on Easter.
After the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, the places of the Savior's earthly life and sufferings were desecrated. Under Emperor Hadrian, the Holy Sepulchre was covered with earth and stones, and pagan structures appeared above the Christian shrines. However, the memory of the sacred places remained among the faithful.
In the fourth century, when the persecution of Christians ceased, Emperor Constantine wished to restore the holy sites of Jerusalem. His mother, Tsarina Elena, went to the Holy Land. With the assistance of Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem, work has begun on the liberation of places associated with the sufferings of the cross and the Resurrection of the Lord.
During the excavations, the Holy Sepulchre and Golgotha were discovered, and three crosses were found nearby. According to church tradition, the Savior's Cross was recognized by a miracle: when it was placed on the deceased, he came to life. Saint Macarius raised the Life-giving Cross so that the assembled people could worship the newly acquired shrine. The Church commemorates this event on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
A magnificent temple complex was built on the site of the sufferings, burial and Resurrection of Christ. The construction lasted about ten years. Saint Queen Elena did not live to see its completion, but her labors marked the beginning of the restoration of many holy sites in Palestine.
The solemn consecration of the temple took place on September 13, 335. Bishops and clergy from various regions of the Christian world have arrived in Jerusalem. In memory of this event, an annual holiday was established, which the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates on September 26 in a new style.
In the Nizhny Novgorod region, on this day, the patronal feast is celebrated in the churches of the villages of Voskresenskoye, Vodovatovo, Arzamas district, and Yurievo, Gaginsky district, as well as in the Cathedral of Arzamas.
The Feast of the Renewal of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ draws believers to the holy places of Jerusalem and reminds them of the spiritual renewal of man, to which the gospel message of the Risen Savior calls.