Page 3 - Revista Paisiana Nr 7 Septembrie 2024

În perioada următoare o parte din Sfânta Cruce
a fost spartă în aşchii mai mici, iar în anul 1187, Epis-
copul de Bethleem a luat aşchiile cu el în războiul îm-
potriva arabilor, la Hattinn, dar după victoria armatei
lui Saladin, ultimele rămăşiţe ale Sfintei Cruci au fost
pierdute.

Istoria Crucii continuă cu anul 615, când regele
persan Cosroe Parviz cucereşte Ierusalimul, îl jefuieşte
de comorile sale cele mai de preţ şi fură şi relicva Sfin-
tei Cruci. A urmat un război crâncen, iar în anul 629
Împăratul Heraclie al Bizanţului recuperează Crucea
şi o aduce din nou la Sfântul Mormânt. În perioada
634-635, lemnul sfintei cruci a fost dus în procesiune
de la Ierusalim la Constantinopol și înapoi, un obicei The vision of St. Constantine of the Precious
Cross of Christ, and his victory in battle
care se păstrează şi în zilele noastre. Astfel, bucăţi din
lemnul crucii au rămas la Constantinopol, dar câteva
au fost duse şi la Roma.

The History of the Feast

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

he Feast of the Universal Exaltation and lifted the Cross with both hands so that all of
of the Precious and Life-Giving the people gathered could see it. The crowd res-
Cross is celebrated each year on ponded with “Lord have mercy”.
September 14. The Feast comme- This became the occasion of the institution
morates the finding of the True in all of the Churches of the Exaltation of the Pre-
Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by Saint cious Cross, not only in memory of the event of
Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine. the finding of the Cross, but also to celebrate how
In the twentieth year of his reign (326), the an instrument of shame was used to overcome
Emperor Constantine sent his mother Saint Helen death and bring salvation and eternal life.
to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places and to The Feast is an opportunity outside of the
find the site of the Holy Sepulchre and of the observances of Holy Week to celebrate the full
Cross. Relying upon the oral tradition of the significance of the victory of the Cross over the
faithful, Saint Helen found the precious Cross to- powers of the world, and the triumph of the wis-
gether with the crosses of the two thieves cruci- dom of God through the Cross over the wisdom
fied with our Lord. However, Helen had no way of of this world. This Feast also gives the Church an
determining which was the Cross of Christ. opportunity to relish the full glory of the Cross as
With the healing of a dying woman who a source of light, hope and victory for Christ’s
touched one of the crosses, Patriarch Macarius of people. It is also a time to celebrate the universa-
Jerusalem identified the True Cross of Christ. lity of the work of redemption accomplished
Saint Helen and her court venerated the Precious through the Cross: the entire universe is seen
and Life-Giving Cross along with many others who through the light of the Cross, the new Tree of Life
came to see this great instrument of Redemption. which provides nourishment for those who have
The Patriarch mounted the ambo (pulpit) been redeemed in Christ.

sursa informațiilor și ilustrația articolului:
PAISIANA nr. 7 / septembrie / 2024 www.basilica.ro / www.ziarullumina.ro 3