THE FEAST OF THE CROSSTHE FEAST OF THE CROSS

Feast of the CrossFeast of the Cross

Tut 17 Tut 17 – (September 27)(September 27)– Feast of the appearance of Feast of the appearance of

the Cross to Empress the Cross to Empress Helena (4Helena (4thth century) century)

– Day of Consecration of Day of Consecration of Church in JerusalemChurch in Jerusalem

Baramhat 10 Baramhat 10 – (March 19)(March 19)– Feast of the return of the Feast of the return of the

Cross from the Persians at Cross from the Persians at the time of Emperor the time of Emperor Heraclius (7Heraclius (7thth century) century)

What is the Cross?What is the Cross?

Actual Cross our Lord Actual Cross our Lord was crucified uponwas crucified upon

Spiritual Cross we Spiritual Cross we carry as Christians and carry as Christians and disciples of our Lorddisciples of our Lord

Sign of the CrossSign of the Cross

One fingerOne finger– Tradition received from Tradition received from

St. MarkSt. Mark– ““if I by the finger of God if I by the finger of God

cast out demons…”cast out demons…”– Law written with the Law written with the

finger of Godfinger of God– One GodOne God

One in essenceOne in essence Three Three

hypostases/Personshypostases/Persons One of the Trinity was One of the Trinity was

IncarnateIncarnate

And the Son

In the Name of the Father

And the Holy Spirit One God. Amen.

WITH ALL YOUR HEART

YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND

AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH

Sign of the CrossSign of the Cross

Make prostration Make prostration (metania)(metania)

Give blessingGive blessing Can make hand in the Can make hand in the

sign of the Crosssign of the Cross– Jesus Christ ConquerorJesus Christ Conqueror– God the Logos took God the Logos took

flesh to save usflesh to save us

Meanings of the CrossMeanings of the Cross

SalvationSalvation Love of GodLove of God Faith in TrinityFaith in Trinity Faith in IncarnationFaith in Incarnation Spiritual struggleSpiritual struggle Death to worldDeath to world Faith in Work of Holy Faith in Work of Holy

Spirit in Sacraments Spirit in Sacraments and our life to transfer and our life to transfer us from left to rightus from left to right

Why the Cross?Why the Cross?

ST. ATHANASIUS (On the Incarnation of the Word):

a) “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” (Deut 21:23). – He came to bear our curse

b) that He might draw His ancient people and the Gentiles and join them both together in Himself, “If I am lifted up from earth I will draw all people unto Myself.” (Jn 2:32)

c) The cross provides a death in the air, which is the sphere of the devil, the enemy of our race – “according to the prince of power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2).

Old Testament SymbolsOld Testament Symbols

Aaron’s rodAaron’s rod Moses w/arms lifted up Moses w/arms lifted up

fighting against Amalekitesfighting against Amalekites Bronze serpentBronze serpent Abraham’s sacrifice of Abraham’s sacrifice of

Isaac (carrying wood)Isaac (carrying wood) Jacob blessing sons of Jacob blessing sons of

JosephJoseph Passover lamb/blood on Passover lamb/blood on

threshold of houses of threshold of houses of IsraelitesIsraelites

Rock in the wildernessRock in the wilderness

Some Verses from Holy BibleSome Verses from Holy Bible ""If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,

and follow Meand follow Me" (Luke 9:23; cf. Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34)" (Luke 9:23; cf. Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34) ""And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of MeAnd he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew " (Matthew

10:38; cf. Luke 14:27)10:38; cf. Luke 14:27) ""For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but for us who For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but for us who

are being saved, it is the power of Godare being saved, it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18)" (1 Corinthians 1:18) ""But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks

foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of Godand the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:23)" (1 Corinthians 1:23)

""But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the worldthe world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14)" (Galatians 6:14)

""For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucifiedcrucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2)" (1 Corinthians 2:2)

""O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?" (Galatians 3:1) " (Galatians 3:1)

““knowing this, that our old man was knowing this, that our old man was crucifiedcrucified with Him, that the body of sin might be with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.(Romans 6:6) (Romans 6:6)

““I have been I have been crucifiedcrucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Old Testament PropheciesOld Testament Prophecies

Psalm 22Psalm 22 Isaiah 53Isaiah 53 Many other versesMany other verses