Hymnology of the Cross

The Hymnology of the Cross

Feasts and Celebrations

Feast of the Cross From: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (2017) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Cross In Byzantine liturgical observance, the Universal Exaltation (also called Elevation in Greek Churches) of the Precious and Life-creating Cross commemorates both the finding of the True Cross in 326 and its recovery from the Persians in 628, and is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the church year. September 14 is always a fast day and the eating of meat, dairy products and fish is prohibited. The Feast of the Exaltation has a one-day forefeast and an eight-day afterfeast. The Saturday and Sunday before and after September 14 are also commemorated with special Epistle and Gospel readings about the Cross at the Divine Liturgy The bringing out of the cross and the exaltation ceremony occur at matins. The cross remains in the centre of the temple throughout the afterfeast, and the faithful venerate it whenever they enter or leave the church. On March 6, the liturgical calendar of the Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates the Uncovering of the Precious Cross and the Precious Nails by Empress Saint Helen—that is to say, the anniversary of the actual discovery; the date for the September 14 feast was determined by the consecration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In the Russian Orthodox Church, October 12 is the commemoration of the Translation of a Portion of the Life-Giving Cross from Malta to Gatchina. A portion of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, as well as the Philermos icon of the Mother of God and the right hand of John the Baptist were preserved on the island of Malta by the Knights of the Catholic Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who controlled the island. In 1798, when the French seized the island, the Maltese Knights turned to the Russian Empire for defense and protection. To this end, they elected Paul I, the Tsar of Russia, as Grand Master of the Order. The Tsar accepted his election. On October 12, 1799, Maltese knights came to their new Priory Palace, just built for them by Paul in Gatchina (45  km. [27 miles] south of St.  Petersburg), and offered these ancient and holy treasures to their new Grand Master, the tsar. The feast for this event was established in 1800. The Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Catholics commemorate the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of Jesus Christ on August 1, which is also the first day of the Dormition Fast. The propers of the feast are combined with those of the Holy Maccabean Martyrs, the commemoration of whose endurance is deemed appropriate for the first day of a fast. The history of this feast begins in Constantinople where it was the custom to carry the relic of the True Cross through the streets and squares of the city to ask for God's blessing and for relief from sickness. It was taken in procession daily throughout the city, offering it to the people to venerate. In commemoration of this tradition, it is customary to have an outdoor procession with the Lesser Blessing of Water on August 1. Eastern Christians celebrate an additional Veneration of the Cross on the third Sunday of Great Lent. The services for this day are modeled on the Feast of the Exaltation (September 14), and include bringing the cross to the holy table at little vespers and with solemnity out into the center of church at matins, albeit without the ceremony of the Exaltation of the Cross, for veneration by the faithful. It remains in the centre of the church for nearly a week (the Fourth Week of Great Lent). On the Monday and Wednesday of that week, a veneration of the Cross takes place at the First Hour (repeating a portion of the service from matins of the previous Sunday). On Friday of that week, the veneration takes place after the Ninth Hour, after which the priest and deacons return the cross to the sanctuary. Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church, and some Anglican churches have a formal Adoration of the Cross during the services on Good Friday. In the Roman Breviary before the 1961 reform, a Commemoration of the Cross is made during Eastertide except when the office or commemoration of a double or octave occurs, replacing the suffrage of the Saints said outside Eastertide. In addition to all of the above commemorations, Orthodox also hold Wednesday and Friday throughout the year as a commemoration of the Cross. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, on several of the feast days mentioned above, there is a public veneration of the cross. It may take place at matins, after the cross is brought out, at the end of the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, or at the end of one of the Little Hours, depending upon the particular feast and local custom. The faithful come forward and make two prostrations, make the sign of the cross on themselves, and kiss the feet of Christ on the cross, and then make a third prostration. After this, they will often receive a blessing from the priest and bow towards their fellow worshippers on each side of the church (this latter practice is most commonly observed in monasteries). At the end of the Divine Liturgy, and at some other services as well, it is customary for the faithful to come forward and venerate the "Blessing Cross" (hand-cross) which is held by the bishop

ΕορτΕς με αναφορΑ στον ΤΙμιο ΣταυρΟ Υπό: Δόγμα, Πρακτορείο Εκκλησιαστικών Ειδήσεων (2016) http://www.dogma.gr/diafora/eortes-anafora-ston-timio-stavro/37948/ Η Αγία μας Εκκλησία έχει καθιερώσει πολλές εορτές με αναφορά στον Σταυρό τού Κυρίου, τις οποίες πανηγυρίζει με κατάνυξη και ευλάβεια ο χριστιανικός κόσμος. Έτσι, στη διάρκεια τού εκκλησιαστικού έτους πού αρχίζει την 1η Σεπτεμβρίου, εορτές με αναφορά στον Τίμιο Σταυρό είναι οι έξης: •4 Σεπτεμβρίου: Μωυσέως του προφήτου: Στην υμνολογία της ημέρας γίνεται συχνή μνεία του Σταυρού, επειδή πολλά γεγονότα της ζωής του μεγάλου αυτού προφήτη θεωρούνται προτύπωση του ζωοποιού Ξύλου. •13 Σεπτεμβρίου: Προεόρτια της Υψώσεως τού Τιμίου Σταυρού. •14 Σεπτεμβρίου: Η παγκόσμιος Ύψωσίς του Τιμίου Σταυρού •21 Σεπτεμβρίου: Η απόδοσις της εορτής της Υψώσεως. •7 Μαρτίου: «Του εν ουρανώ φανέντος σημείου τού Τιμίου Σταυρού, ώρα τρίτη της ημέρας…». •31 Ιουλίου: Προεόρτια της προελεύσεως τού Τιμίου και Ζωοποιού Σταυρού. •1 Αυγούστου: Η πρόοδος τού τιμίου και ζωοποιού Σταυρού. Ο ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΥΜΝΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ Υπό: Τάλας, Μπλόγκερ (2014) http://tribonio.blogspot.com/2014/09/blog-post_14.html Πολλές φορές στα Μηναία της αγίας Εκκλησίας μας, ύμνοι  αναφέρονται στον Σταυρό. Επί παραδείγματι την περίοδο του δεκαπενταύγουστου, που εορτάζεται και η πρόοδος του Τιμίου Σταυρού, ψάλλονται οι Καταβασίες : «Σταυρόν χαράξας Μωσής». Συνάμα, υπάρχουν τα λεγόμενα Σταυροθεοτοκία, τα οποία ψάλλονται αντί των θεοτοκίων, εφόσον οι ακολουθίες στις οποίες αναφέρονται συμπέσουν με τη Τετάρτη ή την Παρασκευή. Επιπλέον, έχουμε και την ακολουθία των 24 οίκων στον Τίμιο Σταυρό – «Εικοσιτέσσαρες οίκοι εις την νοητήν κλίμακα του Τιμίου Σταυρού», με τον αντίστοιχο κανόνα, όπως γίνεται με τον Ακάθιστο ύμνο. Στο βιβλίο της Παρακλητικής – Οκτωήχου ευρίσκονται 16 σταυρώσιμοι Κανόνες προς τον Τίμιο Σταυρό, έργο του Ιωσήφ του Υμνογράφου (9ος αιών). Ακόμη, στους Όρθρους απαντούμε σταυρώσιμα Καθίσματα, Εξαποστειλάρια, Απόστιχα Αίνων. Ακολούθως, έχουμε τα λεγόμενα Σταυροθεοτοκία, τα οποία είναι ύμνοι που ψάλλονται κατά τα Δοξαστικά των ακολουθιών της Τετάρτης ή της Πέμπτης. Σταυρώσιμο περιεχόμενο έχουν και τα Μαρτυρικά όλων των ημερών και των ήχων της εβδομάδος. Ενώ στις λειτουργίες έχουμε σταυρώσιμους μακαρισμούς. Και στο βιβλίο του Τριωδίου απαντούμε πολλούς σταυρώσιμους ύμνους. Ειδικότερα, Σταυροθεοτοκία στα Δοξαστικά των Εσπερινών και των Όρθρων της Τετάρτης και της Παρασκευής. Ακόμη, οι κανόνες του Τριωδίου αναφέρονται πολλαχού στον Σταυρό. Η Κυριακή της Τρίτης εβδομάδας των Νηστειών – της Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως – και η εβδομάδα που ακολουθεί, έχει υμνολογία αφιερωμένη στο Σταυρό. Οι Ακολουθίες της Μεγάλης Εβδομάδος αναφέρονται στο Σταυρό και το Πάθος, ιδία της Μεγάλης Παρασκευής. Τέλος, και από το Πεντηκοστάριο δεν απουσιάζουν ύμνοι που αναφέρονται στο Σταυρό, όπως αυτοί των αίνων της διακαινησίμου εβδομάδος. Χαρακτηρισμοί του Τιμίου Σταυρού στην υμνολογία Υπό: Ηλιάδης Σάββας, δάσκαλος (2015) http://aktines.blogspot.com/2015/09/blog-post_27.html Από το Μηναίο του Σεπτεμβρίου, επί τη εορτή της Υψώσεως (14 Σεπτεμβρίου). or priest, and to kiss his hand. This practice is also called the "Veneration of the Cross", though it does not involve making prostrations. The figure of Jesus on the Cross (the soma) is usually engraved, enameled, or painted on the cross, rather than being a separate three-dimensional figure as is found on a crucifix. This is due to the Orthodox practice of using icons rather than statues in church.

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