Exaltation of the Cross
September 2006 Metropolitan
Moses
A Sermon of His Eminence, Metropolitan
Moses
Today we celebrate the Universal Exaltation of the Cross. The origin of this feast goes back to the time of the discovery of the true Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine.
But it was Saint Constantine who first encountered the mystery of the Cross the day before the famous battle at the Milvian Bridge. Saint Constantine was opposite the city of Rome, on the other side of the bank of the Tiber river, considering his prospects for the battle the next day and saw a vision of the Cross. He then also saw a dream that night wherein Christ appeared unto him. Afterwards he asked Christian clergy in his entourage what this vision might mean, they affirmed “...They affirmed that He was God, the only begotten Son of the one and only God: that the sign which had appeared was the symbol of immortality, and the trophy of that victory over death which He had gained in time past when sojourning on earth.” As we all know, Saint Constantine became a worshiper of Christ and won the battle the next day and freed Rome from the tyrant Maxentius.
Later, after peace was afforded to the Roman Empire through the efforts of Saint Constantine, Saint Helen was inspired to make pilgrimage to the land sanctified by the footsteps of our Savior. Saint Helen sought out the Cross of our Savior, When the proper cite was located, as the story goes, she would throw pieces of gold down to where they were digging in order to inspire them. Their efforts were not fruitless, but they discovered not one but three crosses. How to identify the Cross of Christ? The crosses were placed one by one upon a woman that was nigh unto death and when the True Cross touched her she was completely healed. It is also said that the touch of the Cross raised a dead man.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem at that time, Saint Makarios, solemnly took the Cross in his hands and the enthusiastic crowd called out that they could not see the great object of their desire, The Cross, because of the multitude. Then Saint Makarios lifted the Cross on high and blessed the multitude.
On this day, we also celebrate the appearance of the Cross in 1925 in the area of Mount Hymettos, outside of Athens. The Traditionalist Orthodox who refused to accept the Papal calendar that was imposed on the State Church of Greece were being persecuted for their faith. For the feast of the Exaltation in 1925, many of the faithful planned to attend the service at a small chapel outside of the city, in order to be left alone. The police heard of the plan to hold services there, but by the time they arrived there were so many people present they dared not attempt to break up the service. Late into the night an enormous Cross was seen in the sky, not just two intersecting lines, but a three bar Cross. The Cross was lifted up and exalted for all to see for a long time. All traditionalists refer to this miraculous Exaltation of the Cross in the sky on the very feast day of the Exaltation of the Cross as a Divine confirmation of our sacred calendar.
The Cross which is lifted up on high today is a spiritual ladder which leads to heaven just as that ladder the Patriarch Jacob saw. How, it may be asked, is it that in some commentaries of the Fathers the ladder which Jacob saw is interpreted as a symbol of the Theotokos? Clearly it is both. Our Savior, moved by love for lowly man, clothed Himself in humility and took on our lowly nature, being born of the Holy Theotokos, thus putting on our flesh. By this singular and unique deed the Most Holy Theotokos became the ladder by which our Savior came down. He took on all that pertains to our nature, save sin, toiled and sweated for our sake, and at the last, mounted the Cross and was slain, Thus leading us up unto the heavens. We ascend by no other way, except the Cross. The Cross is the source of all good things. Without the Cross, there is no resurrection.
Today we celebrate the great mystery of the Cross, the essence of Christianity. The tree of disobedience that slew Adam is nullified by the Cross. Wood is healed by wood, the wood of obedience, the wood of humility, the wood of co-suffering love. As Metropolitan Anthony once wrote:
“The essence of Christianity is the renunciation of life’s pleasures; it is to be found in striving for purity; in the readiness to suffer for the Truth; in the acquisition of the feeling of constant love for God and men, and in the forgiveness of the offenses of enemies.”
It is necessary to deny ourselves in a heroic spirit. We are to be crucified through the cutting off of our will in obedience to the rules of the Church, in our efforts of self-sacrificing love, in patience and long-suffering. It is easy for a man to be deceived into making what appears to be a sacrifice, but as it turns out, is in reality for vainglory or an investment for some kind of return. True self-sacrificing love looks only to God and is ready to give up something for His sake.
In our “post-Christian era” there are many concepts proffered in the market place of ideas, quasi religious writers express their ideas on the power of myth and that religion is a consequence of a human need and that all religion is essentially the same, etc., etc.
Long ago, Saint Justin demonstrated that Christianity is unique and not similar to pagan myth. At best, mythologies borrow bits and pieces from the truth and make parodies of spiritual reality. As Saint Justin proclaimed in his Apology to the pagans in defense of Christianity, the one thing the pagans do not have is the mystery of the Cross.
And rightly so, what mortal man or sinful demon could ever fathom the depth of the love of God! The idea that our omnipotent God Who dwells in Unapproachable light would take on the form of a servant and not only that, but also tread the path of humility and death is beyond what any man could conceive of. A stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, but unto them that believe, the mystery of Co-suffering, self-sacrificing love. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have life everlasting.”
Let us exalt the Cross in our love for the truth and the love that we have, one for another. Amen.
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From Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History (c. A.D. 260-340)...
Today we celebrate the Universal Exaltation of the Cross. The origin of this feast goes back to the time of the discovery of the true Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine.
But it was Saint Constantine who first encountered the mystery of the Cross the day before the famous battle at the Milvian Bridge. Saint Constantine was opposite the city of Rome, on the other side of the bank of the Tiber river, considering his prospects for the battle the next day and saw a vision of the Cross. He then also saw a dream that night wherein Christ appeared unto him. Afterwards he asked Christian clergy in his entourage what this vision might mean, they affirmed “...They affirmed that He was God, the only begotten Son of the one and only God: that the sign which had appeared was the symbol of immortality, and the trophy of that victory over death which He had gained in time past when sojourning on earth.” As we all know, Saint Constantine became a worshiper of Christ and won the battle the next day and freed Rome from the tyrant Maxentius.
Later, after peace was afforded to the Roman Empire through the efforts of Saint Constantine, Saint Helen was inspired to make pilgrimage to the land sanctified by the footsteps of our Savior. Saint Helen sought out the Cross of our Savior, When the proper cite was located, as the story goes, she would throw pieces of gold down to where they were digging in order to inspire them. Their efforts were not fruitless, but they discovered not one but three crosses. How to identify the Cross of Christ? The crosses were placed one by one upon a woman that was nigh unto death and when the True Cross touched her she was completely healed. It is also said that the touch of the Cross raised a dead man.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem at that time, Saint Makarios, solemnly took the Cross in his hands and the enthusiastic crowd called out that they could not see the great object of their desire, The Cross, because of the multitude. Then Saint Makarios lifted the Cross on high and blessed the multitude.
On this day, we also celebrate the appearance of the Cross in 1925 in the area of Mount Hymettos, outside of Athens. The Traditionalist Orthodox who refused to accept the Papal calendar that was imposed on the State Church of Greece were being persecuted for their faith. For the feast of the Exaltation in 1925, many of the faithful planned to attend the service at a small chapel outside of the city, in order to be left alone. The police heard of the plan to hold services there, but by the time they arrived there were so many people present they dared not attempt to break up the service. Late into the night an enormous Cross was seen in the sky, not just two intersecting lines, but a three bar Cross. The Cross was lifted up and exalted for all to see for a long time. All traditionalists refer to this miraculous Exaltation of the Cross in the sky on the very feast day of the Exaltation of the Cross as a Divine confirmation of our sacred calendar.
The Cross which is lifted up on high today is a spiritual ladder which leads to heaven just as that ladder the Patriarch Jacob saw. How, it may be asked, is it that in some commentaries of the Fathers the ladder which Jacob saw is interpreted as a symbol of the Theotokos? Clearly it is both. Our Savior, moved by love for lowly man, clothed Himself in humility and took on our lowly nature, being born of the Holy Theotokos, thus putting on our flesh. By this singular and unique deed the Most Holy Theotokos became the ladder by which our Savior came down. He took on all that pertains to our nature, save sin, toiled and sweated for our sake, and at the last, mounted the Cross and was slain, Thus leading us up unto the heavens. We ascend by no other way, except the Cross. The Cross is the source of all good things. Without the Cross, there is no resurrection.
Today we celebrate the great mystery of the Cross, the essence of Christianity. The tree of disobedience that slew Adam is nullified by the Cross. Wood is healed by wood, the wood of obedience, the wood of humility, the wood of co-suffering love. As Metropolitan Anthony once wrote:
“The essence of Christianity is the renunciation of life’s pleasures; it is to be found in striving for purity; in the readiness to suffer for the Truth; in the acquisition of the feeling of constant love for God and men, and in the forgiveness of the offenses of enemies.”
It is necessary to deny ourselves in a heroic spirit. We are to be crucified through the cutting off of our will in obedience to the rules of the Church, in our efforts of self-sacrificing love, in patience and long-suffering. It is easy for a man to be deceived into making what appears to be a sacrifice, but as it turns out, is in reality for vainglory or an investment for some kind of return. True self-sacrificing love looks only to God and is ready to give up something for His sake.
In our “post-Christian era” there are many concepts proffered in the market place of ideas, quasi religious writers express their ideas on the power of myth and that religion is a consequence of a human need and that all religion is essentially the same, etc., etc.
Long ago, Saint Justin demonstrated that Christianity is unique and not similar to pagan myth. At best, mythologies borrow bits and pieces from the truth and make parodies of spiritual reality. As Saint Justin proclaimed in his Apology to the pagans in defense of Christianity, the one thing the pagans do not have is the mystery of the Cross.
And rightly so, what mortal man or sinful demon could ever fathom the depth of the love of God! The idea that our omnipotent God Who dwells in Unapproachable light would take on the form of a servant and not only that, but also tread the path of humility and death is beyond what any man could conceive of. A stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, but unto them that believe, the mystery of Co-suffering, self-sacrificing love. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have life everlasting.”
Let us exalt the Cross in our love for the truth and the love that we have, one for another. Amen.
----------
From Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History (c. A.D. 260-340)...