«You ascended to the cross by Your will. To Your new people, who bear Your name, grant Your bounties, Christ God. Rejoice with Your power the faithful people, victory over the adversaries, give them, who have Your weapon of peace as a guide, an irresistible victory» (Kontak holiday).
Historical origin of the holiday
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord is established to commemorate the discovery of the parts of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. This holiday commemorates the events of the 326th century, when Empress Elena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in order to find the place of Christ's crucifixion. In XNUMX, during excavations, she discovered parts of the Cross, but the real cross was identified through the miracles that occurred when she touched it. The holiday was established in the middle of the XNUMXth century, and since then it has become important in the Christian tradition. At first it was celebrated only in Jerusalem, but over time it began to be celebrated in all Christian churches.
Veneration of the cross
On the day of the holiday, during the liturgy, the cross is raised before the believers as an act of worship and glorification. This is a symbolic act that emphasizes the importance of the cross as a sign of salvation and victory over sin and death. The cross is often brought to the middle of the church so that all believers can approach and worship it.
The meaning of the cross
The cross in the Christian tradition is a symbol not only of execution, but also of salvation. It is a sign of victory over sin and death. Through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, mankind received the possibility of forgiveness and eternal life. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross emphasizes these aspects and serves as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and his divine mission.
Victory over evil
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross emphasizes the importance of the cross as a sign of Christ's victory over evil and death. This holiday reminds us that through the sacrifice of Christ, mankind received the possibility of salvation and eternal life. It is a day for rethinking one's faith, worship and spiritual enrichment, as well as for celebrating the importance of the cross as a symbol of the Christian faith.
+ o. Tom Glynn
"When I crossed into Gaza, the checkpoint asked me if I had a weapon with me. I replied, "Oh yes, my cross and my prayer book." - Saint Mother Teresa.
On Saturday, September 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of the Lord. This week's focus is on the Cross; since it is one of the main church holidays, it lasts for eight days. On this day, the discovery of the Holy Cross by Empress Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Saint Constantine, is commemorated. She was a person with a strong personality and a wonderful character. At the age of eighty, she undertook the most difficult archaeological expedition to the Holy Land, her aim was nothing less than to rediscover the places recognized as sacred in the life of our Lord. Today, she is considered the patron saint of archaeologists. Empress Saint Helena wanted to find the remains of the Cross of Jesus, almost 300 years after the crucifixion, without the help of maps or modern tools. Finding the true Cross was important to her, because it was the miraculous appearance of the Cross with the command "with this sign conquer" that led to the conversion of her son to the Christian faith and the liberation of the Church from persecution.
The opening of parts of the Cross of Christ took place on September 14, 325. He was buried under the debris of centuries of dirt and debris. Above the place where the Cross was found, a still unknown fragrant herb grew, which was named Cornflower in honor of Empress Elena. Since then, it has become a custom to decorate the cross with basil leaves. Today is Sunday of preparation for the holiday. Two Scripture readings set the tone for the week. We hear the words of St. Paul: "Let me not boast in anything, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14). Paul's entire pride lies in the atonement brought about by the Passion and death of Jesus. This is the only thing that matters in his life. The cross is a symbol of the Divine Paradox - a symbol of terrible execution, which has become an instrument of life and hope. To "boast" in the Cross is to admit that all our human efforts have led to nothing.
Our confidence can rest only on God's grace, which saves us from this cruel and sinful age. Another reading is from the Gospel, and it is actually one of the strongest phrases in the Bible: "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). On this day of the holiday, the Cross is displayed, decorated with flowers and herbs. We bow before her and sing: "We worship Your Cross, Lord, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection." In the message, we will hear the words of St. Paul: "We preach Christ crucified!" (1 Cor. 1:18-24). Listening to the abbreviated reading of the Passion, we will again face this great mystery of God's love for us.
