Some of the twelve great feasts of the Church come in pairs.  Nativity followed by Theophany; so also is the case with the feasts of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Exaltaton of the Cross.

As usual, the fathers of the monastery arranged for the decoration of the Cross with beautiful flowers.  We are blessed to have two crosses in the monastery that contain relics of the True Cross.  For this feast, we use a wooden cross worn by Archbishop Averky of blessed memory, which was placed inside a circular wooden holder, and which contains a piece of the True Cross. 

            According to the typicon, the Cross is decorated before Small Vespers, after which it is transferred from the Table of Offering to the altar table in the cathedral.  At the same time, bundles of flowers, mostly marigolds, and basil are placed in a large bowl along with large bouquets for the clergy.  According to tradition, basil is used as its name in Greek means “King,” and was the odor which filled the air when the Cross was found in Jerusalem so long ago.

            During the Great Doxology, the bishop, Vladyka Luke, vested in complete vestments, censes the altar table three times, and at the end of the chanting, he lifts up the Cross from the altar and places it on his head and goes out the northern deacon’s door, accompanied by the clergy, and supported by the two elder priests.  He goes to the Royal Gates and intones:  “Wisdom, attend, “ and blesses the faithful with the Cross, which he then takes to the analogion in the middle of the church, prepared for the Cross.  Then once again, Vladyka censes the Cross three times, from which again, he lifts it and proceeds to the platform, and the Cross is lowered very slowly by Vladyka while the choir chants “Lord have mercy” fifty times and then is lifted up while the choir chants another fifty times, “Lord have mercy.”  This is done in all four directions and then finished once more facing the east.  Each cycle is started with a litany of petition by the deacons.  While the Cross is being lowered and lifted, the two eldest priests pour rose water over the Cross, which flows down into the basin filled with the flowers.

            After this is done, the clergy sing “We worship They Cross, O Master,…”, which is repeated by the choir.  Thereupon the choir sings other appointed hymns, while the clergy venerate the Cross, are anointed by the bishop with blessed oil, given blessed bread and receive bouquets.  Following the clergy and the servers, the faithful proceed to venerate the Cross and receive the same blessed items.

            On the feast day itself, Vladyka Luke served the Divine Liturgy with the monastery clergy and guest clergy.  As on all feasts of the Lord, special antiphons are chanted in place of the usual beatitudes, and there was a special entrance verse intoned by the archdeacon. 

            In many ways, this is a joyous feast with its beautiful rituals, however the typicon appoints a strict fast on this day, so that we feel remorse at our sins which caused Our Lord to suffer and die on the Cross.  This feast in some ways mirrors the commemoration of Holy Friday and, besides commemorating the discovery of the Cross by St. Helena in the fourth century, it also brings to our spiritual attention, about half way during the year, the Lord’s Crucifixion, so important for our salvation.