Festvals and Symbols - The Parish of Greenford Magna

Festivals and SymbolsThe ninth in a series for 2012 written by Neil RichardsonThe Exaltation of the Holy Cross14th SeptemberSt. HelenaCIMA da ConeglianoIn art, St Helena is dressed in imperial regalia and holds a large cross.The Legend of the Holy CrossAfter the burial of Our Lord Jesus Christ, owing to the speedy approach of the Jewish Passover, there was nottime to burn the cross and other instruments of execution, as was usually done on account of theiruncleanness. Instead they were thrown into a hollow beneath the ledge where the execution had taken place,and hastily covered over.Every effort was made by the authorities to extirpate Christianity, and to further this end, the Emperor Hadrianin 136 AD ordered the hill of Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre to be covered with earth and a heathen templeerected on the site, hoping thereby to remove all landmarks associated with the Crucifixion and Resurrection.It was in 326 AD that the dowager Empress Helena, the Christian mother of Constantine, went on pilgrimageto Jerusalem and after due enquiry caused the site to be unearthed. There she found the three crosses, thesuperscription and the nails. The finding (Invention is the Latin word) was proclaimed throughout the Empireby the Emperor and is vouched for also by St. Cyril who was living in Jerusalem at the time. There was greatjubilation throughout Christendom and fragments of the Cross were conveyed by the Emperor's orders toalmost every country for honour and veneration. The largest part, the upright, was preserved at Jerusalem inthe Church of St. Helena (335 AD). In the year 614, however, Chosroes II, King of Persia, sacked Jerusalem,killing 90,000 Christians, and took the Holy Relic to Persia.It was recovered by the Christians and set up (Exaltation) once more, amid world-wide rejoicings, in Jerusalemin 629 AD. Our Church, built to the honour of the Holy Cross, may observe both festivals, the Invention onMay 3rd and more especially the Exaltation, on September 14th.Source – the Holy Cross Church guide published in the 1940s.4

This icon and information are from the website of theMelkite Catholic Eparchy of Australia and NewZealandIcons of the Feast usually portray St. Macarius in thecentre of the Icon, elevating the Holy Cross andshowing it to the people. This elevation or uplifting ofthe Cross shows its prominence as the sign ofvictory. Hence the name "Exaltation" or "Elevation ofthe Holy Cross."St. Constantine the Emperor, and St. Helena, hismother, are frequently shown, although some iconsdepict only St. Helena. Gathered about the Crosswith St. Macarius and St. Helena are bishops,priests, and hymnographers.With them, too, we are joined in oneness of mind andpurpose as we sing: "We bow to Your cross, 0 Lord,and we praise Your holy resurrection."TROPARION - Save Your people, 0 Lord, and bless Your inheritance; grant victory to Your Church over itsenemies and protect Your people by Your cross.From my personal point of view, Holy Cross Day has a special place because of my 30 years as rector of HolyCross Church. I was Installed on Holy Cross Day, 1982 and each Holy Cross day is a Parish Feast of Title andfor me, another anniversary of becoming the rector. The relevance of the cross and cross theology is just asclear to me today as it was when I studied theology back in 1974. The inspired words of St. Paul about thecross are still powerful and moving. 1 Corinthians 1: 18, and 22-25.“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it isthe power of God..... For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, astumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks,Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, andGod’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”The theology is expressed crisply and beautifully in this stanza from the hymn we call “Rock of ages” byAugustus Montague Toplady.Nothing in my hand I bring,Simply to thy cross I cling;Naked, come to Thee for dress;Helpless, look to Thee for grace;Foul, I to the Fountain fly,Wash me, Saviour, or I die.A. M Toplady (1740-1778)5