Great despotic celebration of Christianity, which commemorates every year on September 14 the double finding of the Cross on which Jesus Christ was martyred.
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated with splendor every year on September 14. On this day, the double finding of the Cross on which our Christ was martyred is celebrated. With splendor the celebration every year also in the Holy Church of the Holy Cross in Fortetsa of Heraklion.
In particular, on Friday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. the Grand Solemn Vespers will be celebrated, presided over by the archbishop Archdiocese, Mr. Bartholomeus Voyatzoglou, proto-congregant of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete.
The hymns of the Vespers will be sung by the Archon Hymnodos of MICHE and cantor of the Holy Metropolitan Church of Agios Minas Mr. Plaitis Antonios with members of the dance “The Cretan Masters”.
At 10:00 in the evening there will be a prayer to the Holy and Living Cross.
The celebration on the day of the holiday
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Table of Contents
On Saturday, the day of the feast, and more specifically at 7 in the morning, the Orthros, the Ceremony of Ascension and the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated, officiated by the theophilestate Bishop of Knossos, Mr. Methodios.
The Meteorite Vespers will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. of the same day and the Greetings of the Holy and Animal Cross, superior of the Panosiology Archimandrite Mr. Kyrillos Christofis.
On Sunday, September 15 at 7:00 a.m. the Orthros and the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated and the memorial service of the blessed benefactors, donors of the Holy Church and the people of Fortets everywhere, minister of our Reverend Pastor the Archbishop of Crete etc. Eugene II
The parish informs the faithful that during the services a piece of the Holy Wood from the Ecclesiastical Council will be placed in worship.
Of the Cross: What we celebrate and why we fast from oil
Saint Helen, in 326 AD she went to Jerusalem to worship the Holy Places and thank God for the triumphs of her son, Constantine the Great.
Divine zeal, however, made St. Helen to begin research to find the Holy Cross. On Golgotha there was a pagan temple of the goddess Aphrodite, which he tore down and began the excavations.
Then, Saint Helen was led to find the Holy Cross by an aromatic plant growing in that place, our familiar basil. After painstaking excavations, three crosses were found, of the Lord and of the two robbers. The bishop of Jerusalem Makarios, after praying, touched the body of a pious lady who had died on the crosses. When her turn came and she touched the third cross, which was really the Lord’s, the woman immediately rose again.
September 14 of the year 335: Patriarch Makarios raised the Holy Cross on Calvary and placed it in the Church of the Resurrection. On the day of the celebration until today, basil is distributed in the Churches, so that the faithful remember the way in which the Holy Cross was found that Christ was martyred for.
The recovery of the Holy Cross
613 AD: The Persians conquered Palestine, plundered and destroyed the holy places of pilgrimage and took the Holy Cross as booty. After they brought it to their country, they considered the Cross magical, because of some miracles that happened.
September 14, 629: Emperor Heraclius, after his definitive victory against the Persians, recovered the sacred symbol of Christianity and took it first to Constantinople, where it was part of his triumph, and then to Jerusalem.
Finally, the church of Jerusalem considered that the Cross of Christ belongs to all of Christianity and therefore decided to chop up the Holy Wood and distribute it throughout the Church.
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Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross reflection
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: A Celebration of Faith and Triumph
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a significant celebration in the Christian calendar, commemorating the double finding of the Cross on which Jesus Christ was martyred. This grand celebration takes place every year on September 14, and it is a day of great joy and triumph for Christians worldwide.
The Historical Significance
According to historical accounts, Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, traveled to Jerusalem in 326 AD to worship at the Holy Places and thank God for her son’s triumphs [[2]]. During her visit, Saint Helena discovered the Holy Cross, which was hidden beneath a pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite. With the help of the bishop of Jerusalem, Makarios, three crosses were found, and the true Cross of Christ was identified through a miracle [[3]].
The Holy Cross was then raised on Calvary and placed in the Church of the Resurrection on September 14, 335. This historic event marks the first finding of the Cross. Later, in 613 AD, the Persians conquered Palestine, plundered the holy places, and took the Holy Cross as booty. However, Emperor Heraclius recovered the Cross in 629 AD and returned it to Jerusalem, marking the second finding of the Cross [[3]].
The Celebration
On September 14, Christians around the world celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with great splendor. The celebration begins with Grand Solemn Vespers on the evening of September 13, followed by a prayer to the Holy and Living Cross. On the day of the feast, the Orthros, Ceremony of Ascension, and Divine Liturgy are celebrated, along with the Meteorite Vespers and the Greetings of the Holy and Animal Cross.
In some churches, a piece of the Holy Wood from the Ecclesiastical Council is placed in worship, allowing the faithful to venerate the Cross. Basil is also distributed in the Churches, commemorating the way in which the Holy Cross was found [[3]].
The Significance of the Cross
The Cross is a powerful symbol of Christianity, representing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for humanity’s salvation. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a celebration of this sacrifice and the triumph of Christ over death and sin. As Saint Helena’s discovery of the Cross reminds us, God wants to enter into a relationship of love with everyone, and the Cross is a symbol of that love [[1]].
The Recovery of the Holy Cross
The recovery of the Holy Cross by Emperor Heraclius in 629 AD marks a significant turning point in the history of Christianity. The Church of Jerusalem recognized that the Cross of Christ belongs to all of Christianity and decided to chop up the Holy Wood and distribute it throughout the Church, spreading the message of Christ’s love and sacrifice to all corners of the world [[3]].
Conclusion
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a grand celebration that commemorates the double finding of the Cross, the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice and love. As Christians, we are called to remember the sacrifice of Christ and the significance of the Cross in our lives. Through the celebration of this feast, we are reminded of God’s infinite love and the triumph of Christ over death and sin.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross reflection
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: A Celebration of Faith and Triumph
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a significant celebration in Christianity, commemorating the finding of the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was martyred. The feast is observed on September 14th in churches that follow the Gregorian calendar and on September 27th in churches that follow the Julian calendar [[1]]. This article delves into the history and significance of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, exploring its importance in the Christian faith.
The Discovery of the True Cross
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates two historical events: the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, and the recovery of the Cross from the Persians in 629 AD [[2]]. Saint Helena, driven by divine zeal, searched for the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, eventually finding it on Golgotha, where the pagan temple of Aphrodite once stood. After excavations, three crosses were discovered, and the bishop of Jerusalem, Makarios, identified the True Cross by praying and touching the body of a pious lady who had died. When she touched the third cross, which was the Lord’s, the woman miraculously came back to life.
The Celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
On September 14th, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated with grandeur in many churches around the world. The day begins with the Grand Solemn Vespers, followed by a prayer to the Holy and Living Cross. On the day of the feast, the Orthros, Ceremony of Ascension, and Divine Liturgy are celebrated, accompanied by hymns and chants. In some churches, a piece of the Holy Wood from the Ecclesiastical Council is placed in worship for the faithful to venerate.
Why We Fast from Oil
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a day of feasting, but it is also a day of fasting from oil. This tradition dates back to the early Christian Church, which observed a period of abstinence from certain foods on certain days. Fasting from oil is a way of showing devotion to God and commemorating the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.
The Recovery of the Holy Cross
In 613 AD, the Persians captured Jerusalem and seized the True Cross. However, in 629 AD, Emperor Heraclius recovered the Cross and returned it to Jerusalem. This event is also commemorated on September 14th, adding to the significance of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Conclusion
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a joyous celebration that reminds Christians of the triumph of Christ over sin and death. It is a day to reflect on the sacrifice of Christ and the importance of the Cross in the Christian faith. As we commemorate this momentous occasion, let us remember the words of Pope Francis: “On the cross, Jesus took upon himself our sin and the evil of the world and defeated them with his love” [[3]].
References
[1] Feast of the Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feastofthe_Cross>
[2] The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved from <https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-exaltation
