“Santacruzan” is a religious-historical pageant held in the Philippines during the month of May. It depicts the finding of the Holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by Queen Helena, the mother of the very powerful Emperor, Constantine the Great who ended the persecution of Christians.
Constantine, the emperor of Rome some hundreds of years ago, had a dream in which he was asked to go to the battle field to fight in the name of the Holy Cross. He conquered his enemy and that victory led to his conversion into a Christian. He became the first Christian emperor in history. His mother Reyna Helena, was inspired by all these experiences and in the year 326A.D., she went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to seek the Holy Cross, the wooden cross on which Christ was supposed to have been nailed. She successfully found the Holy Cross, complete with its inscription `INRI` on its top.
The festivity commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Empress Helena and her son, the newly converted emperor. After finding the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, it was authenticated by a miracle of healing attributed to it, and was brought back to Rome. The search was marked with a joyful celebration of thanksgiving.
The religious procession is a re-enactment of the finding of the Holy Cross by Reyna Helena.
Here I am wearing a custom made FAMOUS PHILIPPINES LADIES GOWN CALLED: Filipiniana Terno. Its hand embroidered adorned with pearls and crystals. The fabric is made of silk fibers imported from the Philippines. I am the HERMANA Mayor- which means oldest sisters of the chosen Queens in the festival.
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