On the
Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the
Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services
include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the
commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week.
Historical Background
The
commemoration and ceremonies of the Third Sunday of Lent are closely parallel
to the feasts of the Veneration of the Cross (September 14) and the Procession
of the Cross (August 1). Not only does the Sunday of the Holy Cross prepare us
for commemoration of the Crucifixion, but it also reminds us that the whole of
Lent is a period when we are crucified with Christ.
As we
have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24), and
will have mortified ourselves during these forty days of the Fast, the precious
and life-giving Cross is now placed before us to refresh our souls and
encourage us who may be filled with a sense of bitterness, resentment, and
depression. The Cross reminds us of the Passion of our Lord, and by presenting
to us His example, it encourages us to follow Him in struggle and sacrifice,
being refreshed, assured, and comforted. In other words, we must experience
what the Lord experienced during His Passion - being humiliated in a shameful
manner. The Cross teaches us that through pain and suffering we shall see the fulfillment
of our hopes: the heavenly inheritance and eternal glory.
As they
who walk on a long and hard way and are bowed down by fatigue find great relief
and strengthening under the cool shade of a leafy tree, so do we find comfort,
refreshment, and rejuvenation under the Life-giving Cross, which our Fathers
“planted” on this Sunday. Thus, we are fortified and enabled to continue our
Lenten journey with a light step, rested and encouraged.
Or, as
before the arrival of the king, his royal standards, trophies, and emblems of
victory come in procession and then the king himself appears in a triumphant
parade, jubilant and rejoicing in his victory and filling those under him with
joy, so does the Feast of the Cross precede the coming of our King, Jesus
Christ. It warns us that He is about to proclaim His victory over death and
appear to us in the glory of the Resurrection. His Life-Giving Cross is His
royal scepter, and by venerating it we are filled with joy, rendering Him
glory. Therefore, we become ready to welcome our King, who shall manifestly
triumph over the powers of darkness.
The
present feast has been placed in the middle of Great Lent for another reason.
The Fast can be likened to the spring of Marah whose waters the children of
Israel encountered in the wilderness. This water was undrinkable due to its
bitterness but became sweet when the Holy Prophet Moses dipped the wood into
its depth. Likewise, the wood of the Cross sweetens the days of the Fast, which
are bitter and often grievous because of our tears. Yet Christ comforts us
during our course through the desert of the Fast, guiding and leading us by His
hand to the spiritual Jerusalem on high by the power of His Resurrection.
Moreover,
as the Holy Cross is called the Tree of Life, it is placed in the middle of the
Fast, as the ancient tree of life was placed in the middle of the garden of
Eden. By this, our Holy Fathers wished to remind us of Adam’s gluttony as well
as the fact that through this Tree has condemnation been abolished. Therefore,
if we bind ourselves to the Holy Cross, we shall never encounter death but
shall inherit life eternal
Icons of the Commemoration
The most
common icon associated with the Veneration of the Cross is the same icon used
on the Feast of the Veneration of the Cross on September 14. In the icon,
Patriarch Macarius is standing in the pulpit elevating the Cross for all to see
and venerate. On each side of the Patriarch are deacons holding candles. The
elevated Cross is surrounded and venerated by many clergy and lay people,
including Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine.
In the
background of the icon is a domed structure that represents the Church of the
Resurrection in Jerusalem. This church was one of the churches constructed and
dedicated by Emperor Constantine on the holy sites of Jerusalem.
Another
icon related to this feast depicts the actual service of veneration that is
conducted in the churches on the Third Sunday of Lent. In the center of the
icon is the Cross. It is on a table surrounded by flowers. Above the Cross is
the image of Christ in a partial mandorla representing His glory. He is
blessing those who have gathered to venerate the Cross, the rulers, clergy,
monastics, and laity.
1. The
priest stands amongst the people holding the Cross.
2. At the
foot of the cross are flowers. As in the service of veneration, the icon shows
the priest venerating the Cross as the people chant the hymn “We venerate Your
Cross, O Christ, and Your holy Resurrection we glorify,” which is inscribed on
the table holding he Cross.
3. Christ
appears about the congregation extending His blessings.
Orthodox Christian Commemoration Of The
Sunday Of The Holy Cross
The
Sunday of the Holy Cross is commemorated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil
the Great, which is preceded by the Matins service. A Great Vespers is
conducted on Saturday evening. The hymns of the Triodion for this day are added
to the usual prayers and hymns of the weekly commemoration of the Resurrection
of Christ.
Scripture
readings for the Sunday of Orthodoxy are: At the Orthros (Matins): The
prescribed weekly Gospel reading. At the Divine Liturgy: Hebrews 4:14-5:6; Mark
8:34-9:1.
At the
conclusion of the Matins (the traditional practice in association with a vigil)
or of the Divine Liturgy, a special service is held. The Cross is placed on a
tray surrounded by basil or daffodils and is taken in solemn procession through
the church to the chanting of the Thrice Holy Hymn. The tray is placed on a
table before the people, and the hymn of the Feast of the Cross is chanted. As
the priest venerates the Cross, the priest then the people chant, “We venerate
Your Cross, O Christ, and Your holy Resurrection we glorify.” At the conclusion
of the service, the people come and venerate the cross and receive the flowers
or basil from the priest.
Hymns Of The Saint
Apolytikion (First Tone)
Save, O
Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; grant victory to the
faithful over their adversaries. And protect Your commonwealth, by the power of
Your Cross.
Kontakion (Grave Tone)
No longer
does the flaming sword guard the gate of Eden, for a marvelous quenching is
come upon it, even the Tree othe Cross. The sting has been taken from death,
and the victory from Hades. And, You, my Savior, has appeared unto those in
Hades saying: Enter again into Paradise.
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