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The Armenian Apostolic Church on Sunday commemorates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats), which is the last of five Tabernacle Feasts observed by the church.

Khachverats commemorates the return of Jesus Christ’s Cross of Crucifixion from Persian captivity to Jerusalem and subsequent exaltation in Golgotha. In 614 A.D. the Persian King Khosrov II Parviz (590-628 A.D.) attacked Jerusalem and conquered the city. Persian soldiers devastated the sanctuaries and plundered the church of the Holy Sepulchre, known as the Church of the Resurrection. In the aftermath, the Persians took the Holy Cross on which Jesus was crucified. Interestingly, when the cross appeared in Persia, many people revered it and turned to Christianity.

In response to the capture of the Holy Cross, Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (610-641 A.D.) waged war on the Persian king. The Armenian military unit led by Mzhezh Gnuni joined Heraclius’s army. Heraclius triumphed over Khosrov II. In 628 A.D. the victorious army transferred the Holy Cross from Persia to the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem in a spectacular parade.

The Holy Cross was transferred from Persia to Jerusalem through the Armenian city Karin (now Erzerum). In Karin, the Persians endeavored to capture the Holy Cross once again, but the Armenians hindered them and forced them to withdraw. Upon returning, Armenians found that a spring of water had emerged at the site of the Holy Cross. This became a pilgrimage site, and one of the mountain peaks located to the southeastern part of Karin field was named Khachapayt.

A week-long fast precedes Khachverats. On the day of Khachverats, the ceremony of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is held. The cross, adorned with basil and flowers, is brought out in a festive procession and turned around the church. This ceremony symbolizes the return of the liberated Cross of Crucifixion through the flowery Armenian Highlands to Jerusalem. Then, the chief of the procession crosses the adorned cross and blesses the four corners of the world, beseeching well-being and peace from God and spraying rose water on the people.