A wonderful Orthodox rite in honor of the feast of September 27 — the rite of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

On Saturday, September 27, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the most important twelve—day holidays - the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This date brings together several key events in church history: the finding of the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, the consecration of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, and the return of the shrine from Persian captivity in the 7th century. The holiday is accompanied by strict fasting and a special rite of exaltation, when the cross is raised before the faithful as a symbol of victory over death and the salvation of mankind. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

The history of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of the central Christian holidays associated with the memory of the discovery and solemn finding of the Life—giving Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. According to church tradition, the search for the place of the crucifixion and the remains of the cross in the early 4th century was led by Tsarina Elena, the mother of Emperor Constantine.

As a result of the excavations, three crosses were discovered. The finding of the Cross and the consecration of the Constantine Basilica over the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site of the crucifixion, formed the basis for the establishment of a special holiday, which was fixed in the church tradition in the IV–VII centuries.

In addition to the acquisition, the content of the feast included another significant event — the return of the Cross to the hierarchical and prayer life of the Eastern Church after its temporary loss and subsequent return from Persian captivity in the 7th century, associated with the name of Emperor Heraclius.

It was the combination of these events — the discovery, the consecration of the temple and the return of the relic — that determined the theological and historical context of the holiday.

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Exaltation of the Holy Cross: divine services and rituals

The holiday is one of the twelve and occupies a special place in the liturgical charter. Its structure combines elements of the memory of the Cross, liturgical solemnity and the practice of public display of the shrine. On the evening before and on the day itself, special services are held with troparia and kontakion dedicated to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and its saving significance for the world.

One of the key points is the rite of exaltation: a cross (often decorated with basil or flowers) is placed in the center of the temple, a special ceremony is performed with it: the troparion "To Your Cross ..." is sung several times, the cross is erected and shown to the worshippers for worship, after which the faithful kneel and venerate the shrine.

There are nuances in different local traditions, for example, the order of processions, the ritual of bringing the relic and putting it on the lectern, as well as the accompanying chants, but the meaning of the ceremony remains the same.

The cross appears as a symbol of victory over death and the gift of salvation. The liturgical practice of this day emphasizes rigor and a penitential tone.: The Exaltation is always accompanied by the lenten nature of the service, and it has a pre-feast and eight days after the feast in the charter of the Eastern Church. The detailed texts of the rite and hymns are recorded in the typicon and liturgical books and are available in translations and publications of the liturgical tradition.

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Exaltation of the Holy Cross: what not to do on September 27

Over the centuries, tradition and popular beliefs have given rise to a number of prohibitions and recommendations related to this day. In the church charter of the Church itself, the main thing is the fasting nature of the day. The Exaltation is considered a day of strict fasting, so believers are advised to refrain from eating meat and dairy products.

In addition, in folk practice, advice and prohibitions of a domestic nature are timed to coincide with the Exaltation: do not do heavy work, postpone washing, sewing, do not quarrel and do not allow blasphemy and profanity.

The pastors draw attention to the fact that the true meaning of the day lies in repentance, prayer, attention to the way of the cross of Christ and the renewal of one's own faith.