Feast of the Exaltation of the Glorious Cross
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This week we begin a new a new Season in our Liturgical journey through the year. This season, which is the final season of the Liturgical year, is the Season of the Exaltation of the Glorious Cross. It begins on 14 September and lasts for seven weeks ending the liturgical calendar in our Maronite Church. This feast is one of the greatest feasts of the Eastern Churches. It is frequently mentioned in the ecclesiastical writing and always has as its object the triumph of Christ, his resurrection, and the veneration of the holy cross, the sign of his victory over death. The feast of the Exaltation of the Glorious Cross was first instituted in order to commemorate the dedication of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem on September 13, 335.
The second historical event which is the source of our present feast was the return of the holy cross to Jerusalem under Emperor Heraclius. The wood of the cross had been preserved in the church of the Resurrection until May 4, 614 when the Persians captured Jerusalem, burned the church of the resurrection and carried off the cross. After the victory of the Emperor Heraclius over the Persians, the cross was returned to Jerusalem on September 14 628. It is said that the Emperor, dressed in his royal vestments, carried the cross through the streets of Jerusalem. He was stopped by the Patriarch who demanded that he remove his vestments in order to become more like the scorned Christ. The Emperor agreed and walked through the streets barefooted. A crowd of the faithful accompanied him and prostrated before the holy cross.
This season is directed towards the second coming of our Lord. The Gospel readings and prayers are focused on the eschatological aspect of our faith. I pray that you will be able to join the priests and parishioners on Tuesday night, the eve of the feast, for Mass and then a procession with the cross on the church grounds.
Last Wednesday our parish thanked all the volunteers that helped us with Feast Week. Father Raphael offered the 7pm Mass for the volunteers and their families and everyone was invited to dinner in the recreation room. Although I could not be with you due to my presence in Lebanon with my family, I would like to thank each and everyone one of you for all that you did during feast week and all that you continually do.
