Constantine was intrigued by the vision and asked his saintly mother, Helen who was a Christian, to journey to the Holy Land and search for the true Cross of Christ. Although 325 years had passed since the cruxifiction of Christ, Helen did not lose hope of finding His Cross. It was buried deep in the earth where Golgotha once was located. A strange but beautiful flower was growing at the spot where they found the cross. This flower since that memorable day over 1600 years ago has been the official flower of the Orthodox Church.
All clergymen use the basil flower when the blessing the waters takes place.
The Persians captured the city of Jerusalem in the year 614 A.D. and they made off with the precious Cross of Christ. The Byzantine Emperor Heraclitus led an army from Constantinople to recapture the holy city and retrieve the Holy Cross of Christ. The war raged for over 15 years and victory was finally achieved. The Cross was once again returned to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We also celebrate the Veneration of the Precious and Life-giving Cross on the Third Sunday of Lent.