At the end of the service, the people venerate the cross and receive sprigs of basil from the priest. Commemorated September 14 Troparion of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, Tone 1 O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. It replaces the Thrice-Holy of the Divine Liturgy. The normal antiphons are replaced by special verses from the psalms 22, 74, and 99, which have direct reference to Christ's crucifixion on the Cross. The Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross is celebrated each year on September 14. The Elevation of the Cross, celebrated on the fourteenth of September, commemorates the finding of Christ’s Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century; and, after it was taken by the Persians, of its recovery by the Emperor Heraclius in the seventh century at which time it was “elevated” in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. Let us confess His name before men, so that He will also confess for us before His Father who is in Heaven (Matth. All gifts from God are given to us for our salvation. The next day, September 14 of the same year, the Elevation of the Holy Cross was held in the middle of the Church, with every ecclesiastical order, and everyone rushed to worship the Holy Cross with deep emotion and reverence. Search, Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America. Elevation of The Holy Cross Orthodox Church, Sacramento, CA. The faithful light bonfires to commemorate St. Helen's bonfire that revealed the Holy Cross, and burn daisies to symbolize the incense that descended upon the location of the Cross. As Thou was mercifully crucified for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by Thy name; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Thy power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Thy weapon of peace (Kontakion). On the eve of the feast, Vespers is served and contains three Old Testament readings. The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord: The pagan Roman emperors tried to completely eradicate from human memory the holy places where our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and was resurrected for … 3 rd. On this day the faithful make dedication to the crucified Lord and pledge their faithfulness to him by making prostrations at the Lords feet on the life creating Cross. Facebook | Source: St. Herman Orthodox Church Today, the Elevation of Christ’s Holy Cross, is the climax of the 40 day lenten period that began with the Feast of Holy Transfiguration on Aug 6, in which time we have passed over from death to life in the mystery of the Theotokos’ Dormition and her blessed Nativity as the “child, the daughter of God.” This is a holy day of fasting and repentance. The Elevation of the Holy Cross is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on September 14. For the feast, the Cross is placed on a tray surrounded by flowers or branches of basil, and placed in the center of the Church for veneration… του Τιμίου Σταυρού, (also known as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross) is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on September 14. Troparion & Kontakion. For the feast, the Cross is placed on a tray surrounded by flowers or branches of basil, and placed in the center of the Church for veneration. The Church Year, The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”, Founded in 1794 — Granted Autocephaly in 1970. Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross. 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