When is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord celebrated? Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord
The wife of the imp. Claudius II (-).
The 3rd version, also apparently originating in c. in Syria, reports that St. Elena tried to find out the location of the Cross from the Jews of Jerusalem, and in the end, an elderly Jew named Judas, who at first did not want to talk, after tortures, indicated the place - the temple of Venus. St. Helena ordered to destroy the temple and excavate this place. 3 crosses were found there; a miracle helped to reveal the Cross of Christ - resurrection through touching the True Tree of a dead man who was carried by. Of Judas, it is reported that he later adopted Christianity with the name Cyriacus and became bishop of Jerusalem; however, church historians no mention is made of any bishop of Jerusalem by that name in c.
Despite the antiquity of the 1st version of the legend about the acquisition of St. Cross, in the middle and late Byzantine era, the 3rd version became the most common; in particular, it is based on a prologue legend intended to be read on the Feast of the Exaltation according to modern liturgical books of the Orthodox Church.
When was the Cross found?
The exact date of the acquisition of St. Cross is unknown; apparently, it took place in or in the city. After the acquisition of St. Cross Emperor Constantine the Great began the construction of a number of temples, where divine services were to be performed with the solemnity appropriate to this city. OK. The large basilica Martyrium, erected directly near Golgotha and the cave of the Holy Sepulcher, was consecrated. Day of Renewal (that is, consecration, the Greek term enkainia (renewal) usually means the consecration of the temple) of Martyrium, as well as the rotunda of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulcher) and other buildings on the site of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Savior September 13 or 14 began to be celebrated annually with great solemnity , and the memory of finding St. The cross entered the festive celebration in honor of the Renewal.
Establishment of the Feast of the Exaltation
The establishment of the Feast of the Exaltation is connected, therefore, with the feasts in honor of the consecration of the Martyrium and the rotunda of the Resurrection, in relation to which the Exaltation was originally of secondary importance. According to the "Easter Chronicle" of the 7th century, the sacred ceremony of the Exaltation (here called staurofaneia (Greek) - the appearance [of the people] of the Cross) was first performed during the celebrations at the consecration of Jerusalem churches.
The choice of September 13 or 14 as the date of the Feast of the Renewal could be due both to the very fact of consecration on these days, and conscious choice. According to a number of researchers, the Feast of Renewal has become the Christian analogue of the Old Testament Feast of Tabernacles, one of the 3 main holidays of the Old Testament worship (Lev 34:33–36), celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Jewish calendar (this month roughly corresponds to September) , especially since the consecration of Solomon's temple also took place during Tabernacles. In addition, the date of the feast of renewal on September 13 coincides with the date of the consecration of the Roman temple of Capitoline Jupiter, and a Christian holiday could be established instead of a pagan one (this theory has not received much circulation). Finally, parallels are possible between the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14 and the day of the Crucifixion of the Savior on Nisan 14, as well as between the Exaltation and the feast of the Transfiguration 40 days before. The question of the reason for choosing exactly September 13 as the day of the Renewal holiday (and, accordingly, September 14 as the day of the Exaltation holiday) has not been finally resolved.
The very word "exaltation" among the surviving monuments was first found by Alexander Monk (527-565), the author of the laudatory word to the Cross, which should be read on the feast of the Exaltation according to many liturgical monuments of the Byzantine tradition (including modern Russian liturgical books). Alexander Monk wrote that September 14 is the date of the Feast of the Exaltation and Renewal, established by the fathers at the command of the emperor.
Subsequently, it was the Exaltation that became the main holiday and became widespread in the East, especially after the victory of Emperor Heraclius over the Persians and the solemn return of St. Cross from captivity in March (this event is also associated with the establishment of calendar commemorations of the Cross on March 6 and on the week of Great Lent). The Feast of the Renewal of the Jerusalem Church of the Resurrection, although preserved in liturgical books ah right up to now. time, became the pre-holiday day before the Exaltation.
Exaltation Post
For the Saturday before the Exaltation, the Typicon lists the liturgical readings of 1 Cor 2.6-9 and Matthew 10.37-42; for the week (Sunday) before the Exaltation - Gal 6. 11-18 and Jn 3. 13-17; for the Sabbath after the Exaltation - 1 Cor 1. 26-29 and Lk 7. 36-50; for the week after the Exaltation - Gal 2. 16-20 and Mark 8. 34-9. 1. In addition to the readings, the week after the Exaltation also had a special memory of schmch. Simeon, a relative of the Lord, with his followers.
The Feast of the Exaltation in the Typicons of the Studien Tradition
The service of the Feast of the Exaltation in all Studium monuments is celebrated according to the festive rite; at Vespers there is an entrance and proverbs are read (the same as in the Typicon great church); in the morning - reading from ch. 12 of the Gospel of John, to which is added "the Resurrection of Christ who saw" (which emphasizes the connection between the death of the Cross of Jesus Christ and the Resurrection of Christ); at the end of Matins there is the rite of the exaltation of the Cross; liturgical readings are the same as in the Typicon of the Great Church.
On the evening of September 13, a festive vespers is celebrated with “Blessed is the husband” and the troparion of the 2nd tone at the end. At Matins (with the same troparion to “God is the Lord”), 2 kathismas are chanted (the sedal kathismas are borrowed from the hymns of the cross of Oktoikh) and the degrees of the 4th tone are sung (with the exception of Sundays); then - the prokeimenon of the 4th tone from Ps 97, "Every breath" and the Gospel of John 12. 28-36a, after which "Seeing the Resurrection of Christ", Ps 50 and the canon of the holiday are sung. According to the 3rd ode of the canon, the cross sedal of Oktoikh, according to the 6th - the kontakion of the Exaltation, according to the 9th - "Holy is the Lord." There are no laudatory stichera; the verses are borrowed from the hymns of the cross of the Octoechos. After the stichera, "It is good" and the Trisagion of St. The cross is placed in front of the altar and worship begins with the singing of stichera. After the end of the kiss, in the chapter of the Typikon on the service of September 14, the special litany and the end of Matins are indicated, and the rite of exaltation is not mentioned, however, at the end of the Typikon this rite is written out. The liturgy contains pictorial antiphons with troparia of the 3rd and 6th odes of the feast canon on the blessed.
On the day of the afterfeast, September 15, the versification of the Psalter is canceled; the follow-up of the holiday is connected with the follow-up of the martyr. Nikita; troparion 1 tone. In the morning - 2 canons of the holiday (St. Cosmas (the same as on September 14), as well as St. Andrew) and the Great Martyr. Nikita. The service at the liturgy is the same as on the holiday. The compiler of the Typicon emphasizes that September 15, strictly speaking, is not the afterfeast of the Exaltation; the festive features of the service on this day are caused only by the need to give rest to the brethren. His attitude to the afterfeast of the Exaltation. Patriarch Alexy explains the practice of St. Sophia of Constantinople, where, as he notes, St. The Tree of the Cross is supposed to be worshiped already on September 10, and where the feast ends on September 14 with the return of the Cross to the palace after the liturgy.
The Typicon lists the readings for Saturday and the week before the Exaltation. (the same as in the Typicon of the Great Church); There are no prescriptions for Saturday and the week after the Exaltation in the Studian-Alexian Typicon. The statutory features of the Exaltation according to the Slavic Studio Menaion of the XII-XIII centuries. correspond to the Studian-Alexian Typicon.
II. Statutory instructions on the Exaltation in the Evergetid Typicon almost literally coincide with the same indications in the Typicon of the Monastery of Christ the Lover of Man. As in the Studian-Alexian Typicon, the festive cycle consists of the fore-feast of September 13, the feast of September 14, and the observance of September 15. Cornelius; in tribute - Exaltations and the Great Martyr. Nikita.
After vespers, on the day of the fore-feast, a pannihis is performed (in the Evergetid Typicon - a service similar to the modern Paschal Midnight Office) with a canon and a saddle of the Exaltation. Troparion of the forefeast - 2nd tone; at the Liturgy of the Blessed - the 3rd ode of the canon of the forefeast; reading the liturgy - schmch. Cornelius.
Before the festive vespers, while singing the troparion of the 1st tone “Save, O Lord, Thy people”; the same troparion is sung at the feast and tribute services), the Tree of the Cross is transferred to the altar. At Vespers, the versification of the Psalter is canceled (but if the feast falls on a Sunday, “Blessed is the husband” is sung); there are entrances and proverbs. After Vespers, pannihis are served with the canons of the day (apparently, the Octoechos) and V. (4th tone, creation of Herman). At the morning of the Exaltation to "God is the Lord" - the troparion of the holiday and. 2 kathismas are chanted: the 1st ordinary, the 2nd - the 13th (chosen for the sake of Ps 91-100, containing prophecies about the Cross; the same kathisma is indicated for the Exaltation in one of the manuscripts of the Studian-Alexian Typicon, reflecting the influence of the Evergetid Typicon); after the kathismas, the sedals of the gods of the Octoechos and patristic readings. After the readings - polyeleos and the 1st degree antiphon of the 4th tone (on Sunday - the degrees of the current voice, despite the cancellation of Sunday hymns); then prokeimenon, “Every breath”, the Gospel (Jn 12:28–36a), “Seeing the Resurrection of Christ” and Ps 50. The Canon of Matins – st. Cosmas; at the beginning of the canon (or during Ps 50), the Tree of the Cross is solemnly worn out of the altar and placed on a prepared table near St. gate. According to the 3rd song of the canon - the saddles of the Cross; on the 6th - the kontakion of the Exaltation and, "if time permits", 3 ikos (which is a trace of the full kontakion); on the 9th - “Holy is the Lord” and a special luminary of the Cross. Laudatory stichera are sung, a great doxology is performed, and the rite of the exaltation of the Cross is performed, followed by a special litany and the end of Matins. The liturgy contains daily antiphons (Ps 91, 92, 94), to the 3rd of which the troparion of the feast is chanted; there is a special entrance verse (Ps 98.5), the readings at the liturgy are the same as in the Typicon of the Great Church (but the Apostle - 1 Cor 1. 18-24).
September 15 in the Typicon is called the afterfeast and the celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation, on this day the celebration of the holiday is combined with the celebration of the Great Martyr. Nikita; troparion - “Save, O Lord, Thy people.” At Vespers - prokeimenon of the day; the versification of the Psalter at Vespers and Matins is canceled (except for the coincidence of September 15 with Sunday; the Evergetides Typicon contains detailed indications of such a coincidence). On Saturdays and weeks before and after the Exaltation, the readings are the same as in the Typicon of the Great Church (but the Gospel of the Sabbath after the Exaltation - John 3. 13-17).
III. In the Studio Typikons of the Athos-Italian group the festive cycle of the Exaltation has no forefeast (September 13 is the commemoration of the Renewal of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem and the celebration of the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin), the duration of the afterfeast is increased to 7 days. The celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation takes place on September 21st. The Morning Gospel of the Exaltation according to these monuments is longer than in Constantinople and Asia Minor by 3 verses: Jn 12. 25-36a.
Text revision from: 25.09.2014 08:47:38
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The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on September 27, 2020 (September 14 is the date according to the old style). The holiday is dedicated to the Cross of Jesus Christ, on which he was crucified. Rising means "lifting up". This holiday symbolizes the lifting of the Cross from the earth after it was discovered there.
On this day, people do not start any business, as there will be no positive result.
Traditionally, detours are made or religious processions with icons and prayers.
On this day, Vozdvizhensky evenings begin, which last for two weeks. Unmarried girls gather and read a certain spell seven times. According to legend, after such a ceremony, the one who is dear to her heart will fall in love with the girl.
Those who observe fasting in the Exaltation will receive forgiveness of 7 sins, and those who do not observe will receive 7 sins.
On this holiday, crosses are drawn in houses with chalk, soot, coal, garlic, animal blood. Small crosses made of wood are placed in the bins and mangers of animals. In the absence of crosses, they are made from rowan branches. They protect people, animals and crops from evil spirits.
history of the holiday
After the death of Christ, the holy Empress Helena ordered the erection of about 90 churches in various places: where the Savior was born, from where he ascended to heaven, where he prayed before death, at the burial place of his Mother. Part of the Cross and the nails with which he was chained to it, she brought to Constantinople. By order of Emperor Constantine, a temple was built in Jerusalem in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. Its construction took almost 10 years.
In 327, Queen Helena died, not having lived to see the consecration of the temple. Despite this, on September 13, 335, he was consecrated, and the next day - the 14th - the celebration of the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross Lord's.
Have an interesting day
Task for today: Refrain from food of animal origin.
The Holy Empress Helena, after the death of Christ, ordered the erection of about 90 churches. Temples were supposed to be in a variety of places: where the Savior was born, from where he ascended to heaven, where he prayed before his death, at the burial place of his mother. But the queen did not live to see the consecration of the temple. And yet, on September 13, it was still lit, and the next day a holiday was appointed.
By Orthodox tradition on the day of the holiday itself, a strict fast - refrain from food of animal origin.
Signs
North wind - to a warm summer.
If the west wind blows for several days in a row, then the weather will be bad in the coming days.
At sunrise, the moon outlines a reddish, quickly disappearing circle - to clear and dry weather.
Geese fly high - the flood will be high, low - the river will rise low.
If the cranes fly slowly and high, cooing on the fly, then the autumn will be warm.
Each day of the year is unique and contains past events that are celebrated by the Orthodox Church. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was established in memory of the found cross on which Jesus was crucified.
On the day of the Exaltation, services are held in churches, during which believers remember the events associated with the acquisition of the cross of the Lord. The instrument of murder and shame has become a symbol of atonement for sins. The cross is a great sanctuary for Orthodox world, hope and support. Divine services on the Exaltation tell about the acquisition of the Life-Giving Cross by Empress Elena. This event is celebrated annually on September 27, it is also called the Lord's Day. Its great meaning is to remind us: at the cost of his life, the Savior gave us Eternity with God.
Traditions and rules of the holiday
The celebration of the Exaltation is dedicated to a great event - the finding by Empress Elena of the Cross on which Jesus was crucified. Having found the relic, Patriarch Macarius raised (raised) the cross, presenting the opportunity for ordinary people to see the shrine. From this action came the name - Exaltation.
On the day of the Exaltation, it is customary to fast. It is believed that fasting on September 27 removes 7 sins from a person. It is forbidden to eat eggs, meat, fish, dairy products. But strict fasting is observed not with fear, but on the contrary, with joy about redemption and salvation.
Priests advise not to be stingy with alms to those in need. Part of the cooked Lenten treats can be taken to church or distributed to the poor with best wishes. Kindness always pays off.
On Thursday, September 26, an all-night vigil and service will be held. On the feast itself, a priest in purple robes brings the Cross into the hall. This, of course, is not the Life-Giving Cross itself, but only its symbol. But on September 27, real grace comes from him. Believers take turns kissing it, and the priest anoints with holy oil.
The Feast of the Exaltation is closely connected with the second coming of Christ. Jesus himself once said: doomsday precede the sign of the cross: the Cross will shine in heaven, and all people will see the Lord descending through the clouds. While there is time, every believer should think about his soul.
Folk customs of the Exaltation
Mixed with folk customs and pagan traditions, Orthodox holiday overgrown among ordinary people with beliefs that have no theological value.
By folk custom, September 27 do not go to the forest. It is believed that nature is preparing for winter, and to disturb it is to call trouble on your kind. Respect for nature did not even allow harvesting, arranging firewood. Other work that could disturb Mother Nature was also prohibited.
Also on this holiday, the peasants were afraid of the evil spirits that roamed the forest and prepared for the coming of winter. No one crossed the border of the forest for fear of encountering forest spirits. Such meetings threatened with loss of reason, health problems, damage and damnation. Therefore, our ancestors paid special attention to good spirits, appeasing them so that they would protect them from evil all winter.
Young people tried to woo the girls they liked, and adults went to temples. Of them they brought home church candles who were placed in the corners and read prayers protecting from any manifestation of evil.
In 2019, celebrating the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Orthodox will honor the great relic. Now the Cross is not a weapon of execution, but a symbol of redemption and forgiveness. For believers, it is an identification mark, spiritual support in difficult days, a symbol of protection, faith and strength. We praise the Cross of Christ as the ladder of salvation that leads to heaven. Peace in the soul, strong faith,and do not forget to press the buttons and
23.09.2019 05:38
One of the main church holidays, called the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, has a rich history and many traditions, ...
On September 27, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - one of the 12 main, or twelfth holidays of the Orthodox Church.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross: history
On the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, they remember how Queen Equal to the Apostles Elena found the Cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. The cross was found in 326 near Mount Calvary in Jerusalem. Since the 7th century, the memory of the return of the Life-Giving Cross from Persia by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius (629) began to be connected with this day.
The holiday is called the Exaltation of the Cross, because both at the acquisition and at the return of the Cross, the primate raised (raised) the cross three times so that everyone could see it.
Equal-to-the-Apostles King Constantine wished to build temples of God on places sacred to Christians in Palestine (i.e., on the site of the birth, suffering and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, etc.) and to find the Cross on which the Savior was crucified. With great joy, his mother, St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Elena.
In 326, Queen Helen went to Jerusalem for this purpose. She put a lot of work to find the Cross of Christ, since the enemies of Christ hid the Cross, burying it in the ground. Finally, she was pointed to an elderly Jew named Judas, who knew where the Cross of the Lord was. After much questioning and persuasion, he was forced to speak. It turned out that the Holy Cross was thrown into one cave and littered with garbage and earth, and a pagan temple was built on top. Queen Elena ordered to destroy this building and dig out a cave.
When they dug up the cave, they found in it three crosses and a tablet lying separately from them with the inscription: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." It was necessary to find out which of the three crosses is the Cross of the Savior. The Jerusalem Patriarch (Bishop) Macarius and Empress Elena firmly believed and hoped that God would show the Holy Cross of the Savior.
On the advice of the bishop, they began to offer crosses one by one to one seriously ill woman. No miracle happened from two crosses, but when the third cross was laid, she immediately became healthy. It happened that at that time the deceased was being carried past for burial. Then they began to lay crosses one after the other and on the deceased; and when the third cross was laid, the dead man revived. Thus they learned the cross of the Lord, through which the Lord performed miracles and showed life-giving the power of His Cross.
Empress Elena, Patriarch Macarius and the people around them with joy and reverence bowed to the Cross of Christ and kissed it. Christians, having learned about this great event, gathered in countless numbers to the place where the Cross of the Lord was found (found). Everyone wanted to venerate the holy life-giving Cross. But since it was impossible to do this because of the multitude of people, everyone began to ask at least to show him. Then Patriarch Macarius stood on an elevated place and, so that everyone could see, several times erected(picked up) him. The people, seeing the Cross of the Savior, bowed and exclaimed: “Lord, have mercy!”
The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Kings Constantine and Helena, over the place of suffering, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, built a vast and magnificent temple in honor of Resurrection of Christ. They also built temples on the Mount of Olives, in Bethlehem and in Fevron near the Oak of Mamri.
Queen Elena brought part of the Cross of the Lord to her son, Tsar Constantine, and left the other part in Jerusalem. This precious remnant of the Cross of Christ is still kept in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.
Icons of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
The most common plot of the icon of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord took shape in Russian icon painting in the 15th-16th centuries. The icon painter depicts a large crowd of people against the backdrop of a single-domed temple. In the center on the pulpit stands the Patriarch with the Cross raised above his head. The deacons support him by the arms. The cross is decorated with twigs of plants. In the foreground are the saints and everyone who came to venerate the shrine. On the right are the figures of Tsar Constantine and Empress Helena.
Prayers
Troparion, tone 1
Kontakion, tone 4
magnificence
We magnify Thee, Life-Giver Christ, and honor Your Holy Cross, by which Thou hast saved us from the work of the enemy.
Choruses
Irmos of the 9th song
Hymns to the Cross of the Lord
Choir of the Orthodox Brotherhood in the name of the Archangel Michael.
Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thy inheritance, victories Orthodox Christian bestowing upon those who oppose, and keeping Thy residence by Thy Cross.
Participated in the Exaltation of the Cross and on the Sunday of the Cross
Ascended to the cross by will, to your namesake new residence, grant Your bounty, Christ God; rejoice in Your strength, giving us victories for comparisons, the provision of Your possessions, the weapon of the world, an invincible victory.
Choir of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra and MDA
Rejoice Life-Giving Cross .
Rejoice, life-giving Cross, invincible victory of piety, the door of paradise, the faithful affirmation, the fencing of the Church, even if the aphids are ruined and abolished, and the mortal power is trampled down, and we ascend from earth to heaven, an invincible weapon, resisting demons: the glory of the martyrs, the saints, as truly fertilizer: a haven salvation, grant the world great mercy.
Prayers to the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord
Prayer one
O Honest Cross, guardian of soul and body, wake up: casting down demons in your own way, driving away enemies, exercising passions and giving us reverence, both life and strength, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and honest prayers of the Most Pure Theotokos. Amen.
Prayer two
O Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Of old, you were a shameful instrument of execution, now the sign of our salvation is forever revered and glorified! How worthily I can, unworthy, sing to Thee, and how dare I bow the knee of my heart before my Redeemer, confessing my sins! But the mercy and inexpressible philanthropy of the humble Boldness, Spread on you, gives me, let me open my mouth to glorify Thee; for this sake I cry to Ty: rejoice, Cross, the Church of Christ's beauty and foundation, the whole universe - affirmation, Christians of all - hope, kings - power, faithful - refuge, Angels - glory and chanting, demons - fear, destruction and driving away, wicked and unfaithful - shame, the righteous - delight, the burdened - weak, overwhelmed - a haven, the lost - a mentor, obsessed with passions - repentance, the poor - enrichment, floating - helmsmen, the weak - strength, in battles - victory and overcoming, orphans - true protection, widows - intercessor, virgins - protection of chastity, hopeless - hope, sick - doctor and the dead - resurrection! You, foreshadowed by the miraculous rod of Moses, a life-giving source, soldering those who are thirsty for spiritual life and delighting our sorrows; You are a bed, on which the Resurrected Conqueror of Hell rested royally for three days. For this sake, morning, and evening, and noon, I glorify Thee, the blessed Tree, and I pray by the will of Him who has blossomed on Thee, may He enlighten and strengthen my mind with Thee, may He open in my heart a source of perfect love and all my deeds and my paths will overshadow Thee May I magnify Him who is nailed to Thee, for the sake of my sin, the Lord my Savior. Amen.
Liturgy of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
On the day of the Exaltation of the Cross it is necessary to perform All-night vigil and Liturgy. But now they rarely serve all night, so the festive Divine service on the eve of the holiday - the vigil - becomes central.
The Exaltation is the Lord's (dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ) twelfth feast. Therefore, its service does not connect to any other service. For example, the memory of John Chrysostom is transferred to another day.
Interestingly, during Matins on the Exaltation of the Cross, the Gospel is read not in the middle of the temple, but in the altar.
The climax of the feast is when the preeminent priest or bishop, dressed in purple vestments, carries out the Cross. All those praying in the temple kiss the shrine, and the primate anoints them with holy oil. During the general veneration of the Cross, the troparion is sung: “We bow to Thy Cross, Master, and glorify Thy holy Resurrection.”
The cross lies on the lectern until October 4 - the day the Exaltation is given. On surrender, the priest takes the cross to the altar.
Order of the Exaltation of the Cross
The rite of the Exaltation of the Cross is performed at matins after the great doxology and singing of the troparion Save, O Lord, Thy people..., consists of a five-fold overshadowing of the Cross and its elevation to the cardinal points (to the east, south, west, north and again to the east). An important change, in comparison with the Studium monuments, is the addition to the rite of five deacon's petitions (corresponding to five autumns of the Cross), after each of which a hundred times Lord have mercy. In addition, according to the Jerusalem Rule, before raising the Cross, the primate must bow to the ground so that his head is a span away from the ground (Greek. spithame, about 20 cm). During the correction of liturgical books in the Russian Church in the 2nd half. 17th century the order of the fall of the cardinal points during the rank was changed: the Cross is erected to the east, west, south, north and again to the east. This order has been maintained to this day.
Great religious holiday The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on September 27 (September 14 according to the old style) of each year.
The holiday is dedicated to the Cross of Jesus Christ, on which he was crucified. Rising means "lifting up". This holiday symbolizes the lifting of the Cross from the earth after it was discovered there.
Other holiday names
Exaltation, Exaltation Day, Stavrov's Day, Third Autumn, Battle of Truth and Falsehood, Kapustnitsy, Autumn Serpentine.
About the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord
About three hundred years after the crucifixion of Christ, there were terrible persecutions against the Orthodox Church. Roman rulers from Nero (reigned 54-68) to Diocletian (reigned 303-313) different ways they destroyed Christians, they were thrown to be torn to pieces by beasts, they were killed, crucified, rotted in dungeons, burned at the stake. Roman pagan kings sought to erase from human memory everything connected with the coming of the Son of God Jesus Christ to our land.
The Appearance of the Cross to ConstantineBut at the beginning of the fourth century, by the providence of God, Emperor Constantine came to power, who, before the decisive battle for power, had a heavenly sign in the form of a cross. And at night, Jesus Christ Himself appeared to him and said that in order to win, he must replace the Roman symbols on the banners with crosses. Constantine fulfilled the command of the Lord and received a long-awaited victory, after which he himself and his mother, Queen Elena, believed in True God Jesus Christ.
The persecution of Christians by royal decree was stopped and the restoration of Christian churches and shrines began.
In 326, Queen Helen went to Jerusalem. Arriving at the holy place, she saw that a pagan temple in honor of Venus was built on the site of Golgotha, and a temple in the name of Jupiter was erected on the site of the Holy Sepulcher. He ordered the destruction of pagan sanctuaries and the erection of Christian churches in their place.
But it was still necessary to find the Cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. Elena searched for the Holy Cross for a long time and in vain, hundreds of Christians and Jews were interviewed, no one could give at least some information. Quite by accident, she learned that an old Jew named Judas could tell where to find the shrine. He was persuaded for a long time to tell where this place was, finally he showed a cave filled with stones, where the Cross of the Savior and two crosses could be located, on which the robbers were crucified that day.
Cross of the Lord With prayers, they began to dig a cave and found three crosses in it, and next to them they found a tablet on which was written in three languages "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
In order to understand which of the crosses was the Cross of the Savior, they brought a seriously ill woman, on whom all the crosses were placed in turn. After she touched the real Life-Giving Cross, the patient was healed.
In order to make sure that this is exactly the same Cross that they were looking for, it was attached to the deceased, who was carried to be buried. After the Cross touched the deceased, he resurrected and everyone was completely convinced that such a miracle could only come from the Life-Giving Cross.
With great joy, Empress Elena and all the people who were with her bowed to the shrine and venerated it. The news of the holy discovery almost instantly spread throughout the district, and Jews began to gather at the place where the Cross was found. There were so many people that many could not only bow to the Cross, but even see Him. To show the find, Patriarch Macarius stood on a high place and raised (raised) the Life-Giving Cross, everyone finally saw Him and, falling on their knees, prayed "Lord have mercy."
Later, by order of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine, in Jerusalem, on the site of the Resurrection of Christ, the construction of a monument to this event began, which was built for ten whole years.
Saint Helena died in 327, she did not live to see the completion of construction for eight years. The temple in honor of the Resurrection of Christ was consecrated on September 13 (according to the new style), 335.
And the next day, September 14, was set as a holiday - the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross.
By the care of the holy Empress Helena, more than eighty churches were founded, including in the birthplace of Jesus Christ - in Bethlehem, in the place of the Ascension of the Lord - on the Mount of Olives, in Gethsemane, where the Savior prayed before His Holy Death and where the Mother of God was buried after Dormition.
For all the work that Konstantin and Elena put into the distribution Christian faith, the Holy Church canonized them as Equal-to-the-Apostles.
Heraclius brings in the Cross of the Lord On this festive day, Christians remember another event - the return of the Cross of the Lord to Jerusalem from fourteen years of Persian captivity.
Chosroes II, the king of Persia, attacked Jerusalem, seized the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord and captured Patriarch Zechariah (609-633).
For 14 years, the Holy Cross was in Persia until the time when, from God's help, Emperor Heraclius won the battle against Chosroes. Peace was concluded and the shrine finally returned to the Christians.
With great solemnity, the emperor Heraclius, in the royal crown and purple, carried the returned Cross to its rightful place in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Patriarch Zacharias walked beside him. But near the gate that led to Golgotha, the procession suddenly stopped, Heraclius could not go further. To the astonished emperor, the Holy Patriarch suggested that the Angel of the Lord Himself blocked the path, because the One Who had to bear the Cross in order to atone for human sins, passed this path in humility and in a humiliated form.
Then the emperor took off his royal robes and put on simple poor clothes. Only after that he was able to bring the Life-Giving Cross into the temple.
On the day of the Exaltation of the Honest Christ, a strict fast is observed!
magnificence
We magnify Thee, Life-Giver Christ, and honor Your Holy Cross, by which Thou hast saved us from the work of the enemy.
How and what to pray to the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord
Holy Cross pray in different occasions, in joy, in trouble, in happiness or in sorrow. The prayer "Let God rise again ..." included in the evening rule is the most strong prayer that every Christian needs to know. She will protect you from all evil and misfortune. The Holy Fathers recommend reading the prayer to the Holy Cross before each exit from the house.
Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let all who hate Him flee from His presence. As the smoke disappears, let them disappear; like wax melts from the face of fire, so let the demons perish from the face loving God and signing the sign of the Cross, and saying with joy: Rejoice, Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, drive away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been crucified on you, who descended into hell and corrected the power of the devil, and gave us His Honest Cross to drive away every adversary. O Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Lady Virgin Mother of God and with all the saints forever. Amen.
Traditions and rituals on Vozdvizhenye
- September 27 - worship of the Cross, religious processions, Exaltation evenings, reading a conspiracy for love, on this day they do not start new business.
believers Orthodox Church worship the Cross.
On this day, people do not start any business, as there will be no positive result.
Traditionally, detours or religious processions are made with icons and prayers.
On this day, Vozdvizhensky evenings begin, which last for two weeks. Unmarried girls gather and read a certain spell seven times. According to legend, after such a ceremony, the one who is dear to her heart will fall in love with the girl.
Whoever observes the fast during the Exaltation will receive forgiveness of 7 sins, and those who do not observe it will receive 7 sins.
On this holiday, crosses are drawn in houses with chalk, soot, coal, garlic, animal blood. Small crosses made of wood are placed in the bins and mangers of animals. In the absence of crosses, they are made from rowan branches. They protect people, animals and crops from evil spirits.
Signs and sayings on the Exaltation
- The rise of autumn moves towards winter.
- At sunrise, the moon outlines a reddish, quickly disappearing circle - the weather will be clear and dry.
- The north wind on this day prophesies a warm summer next year.
- Geese fly high - the flood will be high, low - the river will practically not rise.
- If the cranes fly slowly and high, cooing in flight, then the autumn will be warm.
- If the west wind blows for several days in a row, then the weather will be bad in the coming days.
- On September 27, birds begin to fly south. And there is at the same time a very good sign, which reads as follows: if you see the departure of birds for a holiday, you must definitely think cherished desire that will come true anyway.
- It is also very important to say that earlier on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, absolutely every housewife cleaned the house. It was believed that in this way, it is possible to expel all kinds of evil spirits and damage from the house.
- It will also help to expel negative energy and negativity from home next ritual on the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord: for this it is necessary to take three church candles directly, and install them on one saucer. Next, you need to spray absolutely every corner of your home with a cruciform movement. At that moment, it is imperative to say absolutely any prayer that you know by heart. But the best option would be the prayer "Our Father" or the ninetieth psalm.
- It is very important to remember that it is categorically not worth starting any new business on the holiday, because, unfortunately, it is according to the sign that this business will end in failure.
- It is from the holiday of September 27 that incredibly cheerful youth holidays begin, which in turn have a name - skits. In ancient times, young beauties dressed up in festive dresses and went directly from house to house to chop cabbage. This action was carried out with extremely cheerful songs and was accompanied directly by delicious treats.
- Previously, they always knew that if you go to the forest on the Exaltation holiday, then there is a high probability that you will not be able to return at all. It was assumed that on September 27, the goblin collects each animal in the forest in order to unambiguously count each of them and thereby know how many living creatures live in his forest. And this action categorically no one should observe. And whoever disobeys and still goes to the forest for the Feast of the Exaltation, thereby showing disrespect to the goblin, may not return home that day.
