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FEAST OF THE Universal Exaltation
of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
SEptember 14
Introduction
The Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving
Cross is celebrated each year on September 14. The Feast commemorates
the finding of the True Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine.
Background
In the twentieth year of his reign (326), the Emperor Constantine
sent his mother Saint Helen to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places
and to find the site of the Holy Sepulchre and of the Cross. Relying
upon the oral tradition of the faithful, Saint Helen found the precious
Cross together with the crosses of the two thieves crucified with
our Lord. However, Helen had no way of determining which was the
Cross of Christ.
With the healing of a dying woman who touched one of the crosses,
Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem identified the True Cross of Christ.
Saint Helen and her court venerated the Precious and Life-Giving
Cross along with many others who came to see this great instrument
of Redemption.
The Patriarch mounted the ambo (pulpit) and lifted the Cross with
both hands so that all of the people gathered could see it. The
crowed responded with "Lord have mercy".
This became the occasion of the institution in all of the Churches
of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross, not only in memory of the
event of the finding of the Cross, but also to celebrate how an
instrument of shame was used to overcome death and bring salvation
and eternal life.
The Feast is an opportunity outside of the observances of Holy
Week to celebrate the full significance of the victory of the Cross
over the powers of the world, and the triumph of the wisdom of God
through the Cross over the wisdom of this world. This Feast also
gives the Church an opportunity to relish the full glory of the
Cross as a source of light, hope and victory for Christ's people.
It is also a time to celebrate the universality of the work of redemption
accomplished through the Cross: the entire universe is seen through
the light of the Cross, the new Tree of Life which provides nourishment
for those who have been redeemed in Christ.
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| 1. Patriarch Macarius is seen standing
on the pulpit in the center of the icon elevating the Cross. |
Icon of the Feast
The icon of the Feast of the Precious Cross tells the story of
the finding of the Cross and of its Exaltation. Patriarch Macarius
is standing in the pulpit elevating the Cross for all to see and
venerate (1 & 2). On each side of the Patriarch are deacons
holding candles (3). The elevated Cross is surrounded and venerated
by many clergy and lay people, including Saint Helen, the mother
of Emperor Constantine (4).
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| 2. Patriarch Macarius (detail). |
3. Deacons can be seen holding candles
while coming to venerate the Holy Cross (detail). |
In the background of the icon is a domed structure that represents
the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. This church was one
of the churches constructed and dedicated by Emperor Constantine
on the holy sites of Jerusalem.
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| 4. Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor
Constantine who discovered the Holy Cross (detail). |
Orthodox Christian Celebration of the FEAST
OF THE Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
This Feast of our Lord is celebrated with the
Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, which is conducted on the
day of the feast and preceded by the Matins service. A Great Vespers
is conducted on the evening before the day of the feast.
On the day of the Feast at the conclusion of
the Matins or of the Divine Liturgy, a special service is held.
The Cross is placed on a tray surrounded by branches of basil and
is taken in solemn procession through the church to the chanting
of the Hymn of the Feast. The tray is placed on a table, and the
priest takes the Cross and offers petitions from each side of the
table, the four directions of the compass. This represents the universal
nature of the offering of Christ upon the Cross. As the people respond
by chanting "Lord have mercy", the priest raises and lowers
the cross, a commemoration of its finding and exaltation. At the
conclusion of the service, the people come and venerate the cross
and receive the basil from the priest. The basil is used and offered,
as it was the fragrant flower growing where the Cross was found.
Scripture readings for the Feast of the Cross
are the following: At Vespers: Exodus
15:22-16:1; Proverbs
3:11-18; Isaiah
60:11-16. At the Orthros (Matins): John
12:28-36. At the Divine Liturgy: I
Corinthians 1:18-24; John
19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30-35.
Hymns of the Feast
Apolytikion (First Tone)
Save, O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; grant
victory to the faithful over their adversaries. And protect Your
commonwealth, by the power of Your Cross.
Kontakion (Fourth Tone)
You who were lifted upon the Cross of Your own will, O Christ our
God, bestow Your compassions upon the commonwealth that bears Your
Name. By Your power, gladden our faithful rulers, giving them victory
over their adversaries. May your alliance be for them a weapon for
peace, an invincible standard.
Resources
The Incarnate God: The Feasts of Jesus Christ
and the Virgin Mary, Catherine Aslanoff, editor and Paul Meyendorff,
translator (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press,
1995).
Festival Icons for the Christian Year by John Baggley (Crestwood,
NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2000), pp. 111-115.
The Festal Menaion translated by Mother Mary
(South Canaan, PA: St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press, 1969) pp.
50-51.
Orthodox Saints, Vol. 3, by Fr. George Poulos
(Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1991), pp. 193-194.
The Synaxarion: The Lives of the Saints of
the Orthodox Church, Vol. 1, by Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra
(Ormylia: Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady, 1998), pp.
101-102.
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