The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ^

[Kolokotronis]

Apolytikion in the First Tone

Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.

Synaxarion:

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.

[Kolokotronis]

Major Feast Ping

[ELS]

It is always joyous when the Churches of the East and the West observe the same liturgical feast on the same day.

From the extraordinary form of the Roman rite for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross:

O God, Who gladden us this day by the yearly feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, grant, we beseech You, that we who know on earth the mysteries of Christ may be found worthy to obtain in heaven the rewards of His redemption. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, Who with Thee, livest and reignest in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. +Amen.

Christ became obedient for us to death, even to death on a cross. Therefore God also has exalted Him, and has bestowed upon Him the name that is above every name. Alleluia, alleluia. Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the load that hangs on you: to bear up the King and Lord of heaven, you alone were worthy. Alleluia.

Through the sign of the Holy Cross protect Your people, O Lord, from the snares of all their enemies, that we may pay You a worthy service, and our sacrifice may be acceptable to You.

Through the sign of the Cross, deliver us from our enemies, O our God.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

bump

[arielguard]

When I first started reading stories like this from Church history I thought it would be tough to believe. Then on second thought I realized modernist “christians”, and historians would give Homers tales more credence.

It’s funny (considering my background) how good it feels to bring flowers from church to put in our family prayer corner. I actually called in late in order to be at the Exaltation at church. The funny thing was that my partner (RC) also called in from church. Our Sgt. didn’t really care though which was cool.

[Kolokotronis]

“It’s funny (considering my background) how good it feels to bring flowers from church to put in our family prayer corner.”

The Faith is found as fully in something as simple as a bunch of flowers from the base of the elevated Cross adorning icons in your prayer corner as in discussions of Palamite theology. AG, it is precisely such simple devotions as bringing those flowers home which will allow you to develop an Orthodox mindset, grow in The Faith and advance in theosis.

[arielguard]

My wife and I have struggled pretty hard to get some of the most common theological errors to stop being second nature. We asked our priest to delay us another year to baptize us because we know how UN-Orthodox we still are. But, Father Josiah told us straight up,”I’ll be the one who decides.” I guess that’s something else we have to learn...spiritual authority.

[Kolokotronis]

“I guess that’s something else we have to learn...spiritual authority.”

Ah, well, AG, having a spiritual father is a great blessing.

As for doing un-Orthodox things, well, becoming an Orthodox Christian and developing an Orthodox phronema is usually a long process. The metanoia you experience, however, is total. Orthodox Christians look at the world differently than other people do. A non-Orthodox culture, like the one we live in here in the West, is in many ways antithetical to an Orthodox mindset and makes the process a hard one. In Orthodox countries, at least in those parts of them which haven’t become seduced by the worst the West has to offer, the people “walk Orthodox”, even the cocks “crow Orthodox” as my wife says. Its easier to think Orthodox there. Orthodoxy is simply part of everything there in a way that Western Christianity simply isn’t around here anymore.

In any event, your priest was undoubtedly right in baptizing you when he did. Likely it was clear to him that you needed to be fully part of the Eucharistic community of The Church and to participate fully in her liturgical/sacramental life to advance further in your theosis. Those flowers you brought home are part of that.

[Kolokotronis]

“I guess that’s something else we have to learn...spiritual authority.”

Ah, well, AG, having a spiritual father is a great blessing.

As for doing un-Orthodox things, well, becoming an Orthodox Christian and developing an Orthodox phronema is usually a long process. The metanoia you experience, however, is total. Orthodox Christians look at the world differently than other people do. A non-Orthodox culture, like the one we live in here in the West, is in many ways antithetical to an Orthodox mindset and makes the process a hard one. In Orthodox countries, at least in those parts of them which haven’t become seduced by the worst the West has to offer, the people “walk Orthodox”, even the cocks “crow Orthodox” as my wife says. Its easier to think Orthodox there. Orthodoxy is simply part of everything there in a way that Western Christianity simply isn’t around here anymore.

In any event, your priest was undoubtedly right in baptizing you when he did. Likely it was clear to him that you needed to be fully part of the Eucharistic community of The Church and to participate fully in her liturgical/sacramental life to advance further in your theosis. Those flowers you brought home are part of that.

[arielguard]

Thanks Kolo,
I appreciate your opinion, because it helps confirm or deny my thoughts on these matters. I’ve been trying to learn some Russian so that someday (God willing) I’ll be able to go. I want to see Valaam Monastery. I’ve visited their website many times and use some of the pictures as wallpaper.

Back on topic a little. My mother (charismatic proty) sent me an email with with some little feel good Joel Osteen kind of blurb. So I sent her a reply with the Icon of the Exaltation of the Cross. Along with a happy reply about the Feast Day of course!