The holiday is dedicated to the Cross of the Savior, on which He was crucified, and symbolizes the raising of the Cross from the earth after its acquisition.
The pagans, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, covered Golgotha and the Holy Sepulcher with earth, and erected a temple on top, in which they worshiped their idols. So the pagans tried to erase the memories of this event from human memory.
The greatest Shrine of Christianity was found again only 300 years later, under Emperor Constantine the Great.
Where did they find the Cross of the Lord
Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine (306-337), found the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified in a cave near Jerusalem in 326. The cave under the temple of the Gentiles was found with the help of an elderly Jew named Judas, who knew where the Cross of the Lord was.
In the cave, when it was dug up, they found three crosses and a tablet lying separately from them with the inscription: "Jesus of Nazarene, King of the Jews." To find out which of them was the Cross of the Savior, they began to bring the crosses one by one to a seriously ill woman. Two crosses did not work a miracle, and after the third cross was laid on her, she recovered.
© photo: Sputnik / Sergey Subbotin
According to legend, at this time the deceased was carried past for burial. Then the crosses began to be placed one by one on the deceased. And when the third cross was laid, the deceased revived. Thus, they recognized the Cross of the Savior, through which the Lord performed miracles and showed his life-giving power.
Saint Helena, Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem and the people around them with joy and reverence bowed to the Cross of Christ and kissed it. Christians, having learned about this great event, gathered to the place where the Cross of the Lord was found (found).
Everyone wanted to venerate the Holy Life-Giving Cross, but since it was impossible to do this because of the multitude of people, everyone began to ask at least to show it. Then Patriarch Macarius stood on an elevated place and, so that everyone could see, he erected (raised) it several times. The people, seeing the Cross of the Savior, bowed and exclaimed: "Lord, have mercy!"
Empress Elena brought part of the Cross of the Lord to her son, and left the other part in Jerusalem.
By order of Emperor Constantine, a temple was built in Jerusalem in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, the construction of which went on for almost ten years. Temples were also built on the Mount of Olives, in Bethlehem and in Fevron near the Oak of Mamri.
Return from captivity
In the 7th century, with the memory of finding the Cross of the Lord, another thing was connected - about the return of the Tree of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord from Persian captivity.
The Persian king in 614 conquered and sacked Jerusalem and took the Tree of the Holy Cross to Persia, among other treasures. The Holy Relic remained with the foreigners for fourteen years - Emperor Heraclius in 628 defeated the Persians, made peace with them and returned the Cross to Jerusalem.
© photo: Sputnik / Alexey Malgavko
The further fate of the Shrine is not exactly known to historians - someone says that the Cross was in Jerusalem until 1245, and someone that it was divided into parts and smashed around the world.
A part of the Cross of the Lord to this day rests in an ark in the altar of the Greek Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.
Traditions and customs
As on any great church holiday, the All-Night Vigil and Liturgy are laid on the day of the Exaltation. holiday services on this day pass in all Orthodox churches- The cross for worship is solemnly carried out from the altar to the middle of the temple.
This is the only holiday that began simultaneously with the event to which it is dedicated.
The holiday has one day of forefeast and seven days of afterfeast. In addition, the Feast of the Exaltation is preceded by a Saturday and a Week (Sunday), called Saturday and the Week before the Exaltation.
On this holiday, the Orthodox go to church, read prayers, listen to a sermon telling about the history of the return of the Holy Cross. Believers of the Orthodox Church worship the Cross. Traditionally, detours are made or religious processions with icons and prayers.
On this day, people pray for health, well-being and happiness in the family.
Do's and Don'ts
On the Exaltation, a strict fast must be observed - neither meat nor dairy products can be eaten, even if the holiday falls on Sunday. There were proverbs among the people: "Whoever fasts on the Exaltation, seven sins will be forgiven" or "Whoever does not fast on the Exaltation, seven sins will be forgiven."
Accordingly, only lenten dishes were served on the festive table, which the housewives most often prepared from cabbage of the new crop - stewed, fried, baked pies, made various salads. Therefore, this day was also called "Cabbage" by the people.
The house needs to be sprinkled with water consecrated in the church - this will help not only protect the home from evil spirits, but also protect it from people with bad thoughts.
On this day, when you see birds flying south, you can make a cherished wish, which, according to the people, will certainly come true.
You cannot start a new business on Exaltation, as it is believed that everything will go to waste.
It was forbidden to go into the forest, because the goblin goes around his possessions and rereads the animals, and if a person catches his eye, then he will not return from the forest.
On the holiday, it is forbidden to engage in hard work - to make repairs, clean or chop wood. At the same time, it was believed that by cleaning the house on the Exaltation, one could expel evil spirits.
You can’t swear at the Exaltation, especially with loved ones - it was believed that all negative energy would return three times.
Also, you can’t keep the door open - in the old days, people believed that on this day, snakes are looking for places to winter and can crawl into any house.
On a holiday, crosses were drawn in houses with chalk, soot, coal, garlic or the blood of an animal, so the people also called the holiday Stavrov's day - from the Greek "stavros" - a cross.
Small crosses made of wood were placed in the bins and mangers of animals - the cross was supposed to protect the house, barn and cattle from evil spirits. In the absence of crosses, they were made from rowan twigs.
Signs
The peasants perceived the Feast of the Exaltation as the final onset of autumn and the change of seasons, with which most are associated. folk signs. On this day, people used to say: “A fur coat stretches for a caftan on the Exaltation” or “Exaltation is in the yard, the last mop is moving from the field, the last cart is in a hurry to the threshing floor.”
On this day, bears hibernate, snakes hide in holes until spring, the last migratory birds fly away.
If there is frost on Exaltation, spring will be early.
Icon of the Exaltation of the Cross
Known for its miraculous abilities - it helps to recover even from chronic or incurable diseases.
© photo: Sputnik / Pavel Balabanov
Reproduction of the icon "Exaltation of the Cross". XV-XVI centuries
In particular, sincere prayers before the Holy image, they treat infertility, diseased bones and joints, chronic migraines, toothache, and so on.
Prayers
Prayer one
O Honest Cross, guardian of soul and body, wake up: casting down demons in your own way, driving away enemies, exercising passions and giving us reverence, both life and strength, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and honest prayers of the Most Pure Theotokos. Amen.
Prayer two
O Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Of old, you were a shameful instrument of execution, now the sign of our salvation is forever revered and glorified! How worthily I can, unworthy, sing to Thee, and how dare I bow the knee of my heart before my Redeemer, confessing my sins! But the mercy and inexpressible philanthropy of the humble Boldness, Spread on you, gives me, let me open my mouth to glorify Thee; For this reason, I cry to You: Rejoice, Cross, the Church of Christ's beauty and foundation, the whole universe - affirmation, Christians of all - hope, kings - power, faithful - refuge, Angels - glory and chanting, demons - fear, destruction and driving away, wicked and unfaithful - shame, the righteous - delight, the burdened - weakened, overwhelmed - a haven, the lost - a mentor, obsessed with passions - repentance, the poor - enrichment, floating - helmsmen, the weak - strength, in battles - victory and overcoming, orphans - true protection, widows - intercessor, virgins - protection of chastity, hopeless - hope, sick - doctor and the dead - resurrection! You, foreshadowed by the miraculous rod of Moses, a life-giving source, soldering those who are thirsty for spiritual life and delighting our sorrows; You are a bed, on which the Resurrected Conqueror of Hell rested royally for three days. For this sake, morning, and evening, and noon, I glorify Thee, the blessed Tree, and I pray by the will of Him who has blossomed on Thee, may He enlighten and strengthen my mind with Thee, may He open in my heart a source of perfect love and all my deeds and my paths will overshadow Thee May I magnify Him who is nailed to Thee, for the sake of my sin, the Lord my Savior. Amen.
Material prepared on the basis of open sources
September 27 is one of the great Orthodox holidays- Exaltation of the Holy Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. The historical event of this ancient twelfth holiday is explained differently. It is based on three events that took place at different times, but connected by one shrine - the cross.
The first event is connected with the struggle of the Roman emperor Constantine with his co-ruler Maxentius, whose forces outnumbered the emperor's army. Before the decisive battle, Konstantin and his army saw a radiant cross in the sun with the inscription: “Sim win!”.
At night, Christ appeared to the emperor and ordered to make a military banner with a cross. After awakening, Constantine did just that, which allowed him to win. After that, the emperor ordered to place this banner in the hand of his statue, located in the main square in Rome. Constantine converted to Christianity and declared this faith state religion Roman Empire. He issued laws in favor of the Church of Christ and abolished the death penalty by crucifixion.
The second event is the main one. It is associated with the acquisition of the Holy Life-Giving Cross. It is his church tradition accept the basis of the holiday Exaltation. It also happened during the reign of Constantine the Great.
After the Crucifixion, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, the holy Cross on which He was executed was lost. In the 70s, Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman troops, and the Holy places associated with earthly life Christ, were in oblivion, in some places pagan temples were built. Equal-to-the-Apostles Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, was very worried that the Holy Places were in oblivion. She, despite her advanced age (at that time she was 80 years old), with the consent of her son, went to Jerusalem to find places associated with the earthly life of the Savior, as well as the Life-Giving Cross, the miraculous appearance of which became a sign of victory over the enemy for her son.
There are several versions of finding the Holy Cross. According to the most ancient, it was found under the pagan sanctuary of Venus. Three crosses were found here, a tablet from the Cross of the Savior and the nails with which he was nailed to it. In order to understand on which particular instrument of execution Christ was crucified, Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem proposed to attach each cross separately to a seriously ill woman. After touching one of them, the woman was healed, then all those gathered glorified the Lord, who pointed to the great shrine of the Tree of the Cross of the Lord. Then Bishop Macarius raised Honest Cross for public viewing. This event took place in 326.
After finding the Cross of the Lord, churches began to be built in honor of it in different places. One of the temples was founded by the Equal-to-the-Apostles Helena at the place where the shrine was found in Jerusalem. The temple (large basilica Martyrium) was built near Golgotha and the cave of the Holy Sepulcher. Its construction was completed in 335. They consecrated the temple on September 13, and the next day (September 14, according to the old style) they established the celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord.
The third event took place in the 7th century. It is connected with the long struggle of Byzantium with Persia. In 614, the Persian army attacked Palestine, which belongs to Byzantium, sacked Jerusalem and, together with the looted goods, took away the Cross of the Lord. The shrine spent 14 years in captivity. Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persians in 628 and returned the cross. He was brought to Jerusalem, and the emperor himself carried him into the temple. On the occasion of the return, a solemn prayer service was held, and the patriarch again raised the Cross to the people. Today, parts of the tree are found in various cathedrals around the world.
On the day of the feast, the Orthodox Church invites the faithful to venerate the Holy Life-Giving Cross, on which our Lord and Savior endured great suffering for the salvation of mankind. Believers should perceive this holiday not only as a memory of the greatest historical event, which occurred almost two thousand years ago, but also as a providential phenomenon in relation to all mankind.
First of all, the appearance of the Cross symbolizes the subjugation of sin and the victory of good over evil. Through the suffering of the Savior on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, the doors of paradise were opened and new life was given to people.
Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord: rites, rituals and conspiracies
The celebration of the Exaltation lasts nine days: from the evening of September 27 to October 5. Fasting is observed on the day of the holiday: food with vegetable oil is allowed (meat, dairy products, fish and eggs cannot be eaten). They believed that whoever fasts on the Exaltation, seven sins will be forgiven.
In ancient chronicles, this date was called "Stavrov's Day", which comes from the Latin word stauros - cross. On this day, our ancestors carried out ancient rite- cross. Since prehistoric times, the sign of the cross has been a symbol of the sun, life and warmth. They believed that a protective force radiated from him on the Exaltation. The peasants carved crosses out of wood, crossed rowan branches, which symbolize a bright light that scares away evil spirits. Crosses were painted in places that they wanted to protect from evil spirits: in barns, bins, on doors and lintels. Crosses were made with garlic, chalk, coal, and even the blood of a sacrificial animal. They were carved on household utensils.
From that day on, the girls organized cabbage parties, during which they harvested cabbage for the winter. Such fees could last for two weeks.
There is a belief that snakes, birds and insects go to the fabulous country of Iriy or Vyriy, which is located in the west or south-west of the earth on the warm sea. In the popular mind, the sea is associated with death. The concept of the west was also associated with death, where every day in the evening the sun sets, “dies”.
From time immemorial, on the Exaltation, girls read special conspiracies in order to forever bind their loved ones to themselves. For example, from the evening dawn until midnight, the following love words were read on the smoke from the stove or fire:
“In a dry forest there is a dry forest.
In this forest, all the foliage is dry,
Dry wind drives this grass,
On the servant of God (name) catches up with melancholy and maeta
For me, the servant of God (name).
Without me dry his water,
Don't put any food in your mouth
Sleep around him
Find melancholy-dryness on him
For me, the servant of God (name).
In the evening, the girls went out into the street and, looking at the sunset, said:
"Dawn-lightning, red maiden,
You walk high, you fly far.
Find the servant of God (name),
Get close to him
And fill his heart to the brim with love for me.
Dry, bake, bring to my doorstep,
Bless us for a legal marriage.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Now and forever and forever and ever. Amen".
They also opened the cellar lid and said nine times:
“The owner of the yard, become a matchmaker for me. Marry me, the servant of God (name), into faithful husbands, God's servant (name). Hear my request, help arrange my fate. All my life I will thank you for the service, regularly bring gifts and treats.
Before reading the plot, a treat was always left in the cellar for the courtyard.
It is believed that a dream that occurred on the night of September 26-27 is very important. Therefore, be sure to remember what you dreamed about and look into the dream book to decipher what you saw. A dream that occurred on the afternoon of September 27 will tell you which of your friends is your enemy.
Video: Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord
So. 326 AD. Rome has been ruled for generations by Christian emperors, Christian culture becomes dominant in Europe, and literally last year ended the First Ecumenical Council(Nicaean), on which the main dogmas and provisions of Christianity were formed - "The Creed". But each “symbol” needs some kind of material confirmation, so Empress Elena, the mother of the future great Emperor Constantine I, equips an expedition to Palestine. Just like the places mentioned in the Bible.
You do not need to be seven spans in the forehead to draw a logical parallel. And to think that wood, albeit quite strong, cannot lie in the ground without damage for 300 years. More precisely, maybe, but subject to a number of specific conditions that the emperors and priests of those times hardly knew. But the fact remains that the crosses were discovered. At least, when in the Middle Ages the commission of the Jesuits studied the authenticity of historical and religious events, no one even doubted the affairs preceding the founding of the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord.
The problem was small - to understand what kind of cross is "the same one!". We found out experimentally - touching one of the crosses healed some lady. So there was no doubt about the authenticity of the cross. And what did they do with it? They dismantled it for “spare parts” - chips and nails, and in this form they transported it to Constantinople, where they placed it in the huge and majestic Church of the Resurrection of Christ. However, not for long.
Further History of the Cross of the Lord
In the very early VII century, Constantinople was besieged by the army of the Persian king Khosrov II. A Zoroastrian, therefore, absolutely no reverence for Abrahamic relics. But understanding their significance for the entire population of Christian Europe. And decided that The best way to additionally humiliate the Byzantines and those who joined them - to deprive them of a couple of sacred relics.
For 14 years, the remains of the Cross of the Lord were kept somewhere in Persia. And only the successful military campaign of Emperor Heraclius I allowed him to return back to Constantinople. This event, by the way, also fell on September 27, therefore, along with the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, they also celebrate its “acquisition” or “return”.
We also believe that you would be interested in learning more about the small church of the Holy Sepulcher mentioned above. This is an extremely interesting place from a cultural, historical, religious and even mystical point of view.
The meaning of the holiday.
In some places, the hard-working inhabitants of Israel had already managed to establish churches on their own - yet the Bible was read not only by emperors and high priests, but some places that were extremely important from a historical and religious point of view were undeservedly forgotten. In total, Elena, who after her death was called “equal to the apostles”, found and updated something about 8 similar places. And a small cave on the slopes of Golgotha occupied a special place among them. Cave of the Holy Sepulcher. Near it, by a happy "accident", 3 crosses were found.
The Exaltation is considered one of the most important Orthodox holidays and is celebrated annually on September 27th. Its history reaches the 4th century, when the Cross of the Lord was discovered in Palestine. It is one of the Twelve Feasts. The people also call this day the Third Osenins, which have their own traditions and signs.
The main symbol of this day is the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Once, Empress Elena went in search of the burial place of the Savior, but there were three crosses in front of her. Initially, no one could pinpoint exactly on which of them the Son of God was crucified, but the clue came by itself. One of the women who helped excavate the burial site was suddenly healed of a serious illness after touching one of the crosses. The legend also tells that one day the cross resurrected a dead person.
Each of these events is now carefully recorded in the history of Christianity, therefore, around the year 335, the church decided to celebrate this event with the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. Empress Elena, who managed to find the cross, founded a temple in honor of the Cross of the Lord, and was later canonized.
IN modern world many fragments of the sacred Cross are kept. Of course, most of them are fake. The largest fragment is located in Jerusalem. Previously, several parts were stored in Russia, but now they have not been preserved.
How to celebrate.
On the day of the holiday, it is customary to arrange dinner parties for the whole family and relatives, which always include pies with cabbage. The tradition has gone since ancient times, when our ancestors harvested a new crop.
It is worth sprinkling the house with holy water to cleanse it of any evil and ward off people with bad thoughts.
Our ancestors believed that on this day you can make a wish that will surely come true. They guess it at a flock of migratory birds flying by.
In the old days, on the day of the Exaltation, crosses were drawn with chalk on the front doors and on the back to protect themselves and animals from unclean spirits and diseases. In the sheds where livestock lived, they did the same. In addition, they used amulets that protect against evil.
You can do the necessary household chores: laundry, cooking, cleaning, washing dishes and bathing. The Church does not prohibit such events if they are really necessary. For example, there are sick relatives in the house who need care, or small children.
On the day of the holiday, it is customary to bring three candles from the church, go around the corners of the house, connecting the candles together, and read a protective prayer.
On Exaltation, holy water has strong healing properties. You can wash your face with it and give seriously ill people to drink so that they go to the Orthodox. The Exaltation is considered the day of the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness. In this struggle, in the end, God's cross wins.
Regardless of the day of the week, the church calls on this day to adhere to strict fast. It is no coincidence that the Exaltation is still popularly called cabbage. It is this product that is most often prepared for the holiday. Housewives manage to cook a lot of delicious dishes containing cabbage on a fast day, such as: borscht, cabbage soup, pies, dumplings, pies, all kinds of salads, etc.
In some regions, the Exaltation is called Stavrov Day. This name comes from the ancient Greek word "stavros", which means cross.
On this day, one should not start new cases that may turn out to be losing or cannot be completed for various reasons.
It is forbidden to eat products of animal origin.
According to the precepts of the ancestors, on this day there was no way into the forest - the animals were preparing for hibernation, and they could not be disturbed.
You can not scold, indulge negative emotions and get into conflict.
It is worth giving up needlework and working with the earth.
Eremenko A.G.
Candidate of Cultural Studies, Associate Professor,
Head of the Department of History, Ethnography and Nature, KGIAMZ named after E.D. Felitsyna
World Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord- one of the master's (from the Slavic " twelve ten"- twelve), that is, the largest, installed in remembrance of how Queen Equal to the Apostles Elena mother of the emperor Constantine, found the cross on which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. This event, according to church tradition, took place in the year 326 in Jerusalem near Mount Golgotha - the place of the crucifixion of Christ. Holiday Exaltation of the Holy Cross is non-transitive, always noted September 27(September 14, old style). It has one day of pre-feast (September 26) and seven days of after-feast (September 28 to October 4). Giving a holiday - The 4th of October. In addition, the Feast of the Exaltation is preceded by a Saturday and a Week (Sunday), called Saturday and the Week before the Exaltation.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross. History and event of the holiday
Day Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord- one of the oldest Orthodox holidays. It is performed in memory of two events from the history of the Cross of the Lord: in memory of its acquisition in the 4th century and in memory of its return from the Persians in the 7th century. The Holy Cross of the Lord, shortly after the removal of the Savior from it, was buried in the ground by the Jews, along with the crosses of two robbers. This place was subsequently built up with a pagan temple. The acquisition of the Cross took place in 325 or 326. According to church historians of the 4th century, the mother of the emperor Constantine, equal to the apostles Elena, went to Jerusalem to find places associated with the events of the earthly life of Christ, as well as the holy Cross. According to legend, Saint Helen tried to find out the place where the Cross was buried from the Jews of Jerusalem. She was pointed to the place where the pagan temple of Venus was located. The building was demolished and excavations began. Finally, they found three crosses, a sign with the inscription " Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews and nails. To find out on which of the three crosses the Lord was crucified, they were applied in turn to a seriously ill woman. When she was healed after touching one of the crosses, all those gathered glorified God, who pointed to the greatest shrine of the true Cross of the Lord, which was raised by the bishop for all to see. Tradition also speaks of the miracle of the resurrection of the dead, who was carried to burial, through touching the Cross.
Sts. Konstantin and Elena. Theophanes of Crete. Fresco. Meteora (Nikolai Anapafsa). 1527 When the reverent worship of the Cross and kissing it began, due to the crowd, many could not only kiss the holy Cross, but even see it, therefore the Patriarch of Jerusalem Macarius showed the newfound Cross to the people. To do this, he stood on a dais and raised (" erected") Cross. People worshiped the Cross and prayed: Lord have mercy!» The acquisition of the Cross took place around , so the initial honoring of the Cross took place on the second day of Easter. After finding the Holy Cross, Emperor Constantine began the construction of temples on Golgotha. A large basilica was built directly near Golgotha and the cave of the Holy Sepulcher martyrium and rotunda Sunday(Holy Sepulcher). The consecration took place on September 13, 335. Interestingly, the consecration of the temple also influenced the date of the holiday. The bishops who were present at these celebrations decided to celebrate the finding and exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14, and not on May 3, as was the case in previous years. So, from the biography of the saint John Chrysostom it can be seen that in his time in Constantinople the celebration of the exaltation of the Cross took place on September 14th. In 614, under the Persian king Khozroe, the Persians took possession of Jerusalem and, together with other treasures of the temple, stole the holy Cross of the Lord. The shrine remained in the hands of the pagans for 14 years, and only in 628, under the Greek emperor Heraclius, The cross was returned to Jerusalem. Since the 7th century, the celebration Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord became especially solemn.
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Exaltation of the Holy Cross. worship
This holiday is both solemn and sad, it reminds not only of the greatness and triumph of the Lord's victory over death, but also of His suffering on the Cross. Main Feature services on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is removal at the end of the evening service of the Cross from the altar for reverent worship. After a great doxology, the priest lays the Cross on his head and in the presentation of lamps, incense and singing " Holy God”takes him out of the altar through the northern doors. Then, at the end of the singing, he proclaims: forgive wisdom". The singers sing: Save, O Lord, your people". The priest places the Holy Cross on the lectern prepared in the middle of the temple and performs incense before it. After this, there is a worship of the Cross when the clergy sing:
We worship Your Cross, Master, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection.
Vestments of the clergy on a holiday Exaltation of the Cross it is dark, mourning, and women put on dark scarves. In memory of the sufferings of the Lord on the Cross, fasting is established on this day - food is supplied only with vegetable oil. The verses of the feast reveal the doctrine of the meaning of the sufferings of Christ. The sufferings of Jesus Christ put to death the one who killed us, i.e. the devil, and revived people mortified by sin; the poison of the ancient serpent was washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. The verses and the canon of the Exaltation were compiled by well-known creators of church hymns - Feofan, Cosma and others. They showed the connection of the New Testament events with the Old Testament events, pointing out the types of the Cross of the Lord. So, in one of the verses on lithium we hear:
For example, krt your xrte, patriarch i3y1kov, vnykwm blessing of the gift, on the heads of the change, create the hand.
The stichera, which are sung during the veneration of the Cross at the end of the evening service, are filled with a high spiritual mood:
When you come, faithfully, bow to the life-giving tree, let us spread the glory of the king of glory, lift us up to the first bliss. Come, people, glorious chyu6to see krta sila bow down. Bring on the creatures, and 3 glory, on which it is nailed, and 3 in 8 the ribs are pierced. bile and 3 nets 8 eats, the sweetness of tsrk0 vnaz. ... and 3 hangs with a roaring hand, and with the same hand creating a bang. Even if there are not touchable beings, it happens to me. i3 suffers from the art, freedom from mz t strtє1y.
In proverbs for the holiday Exaltations contains such thoughts: in the first proverb (Ex. XV, 22-27; XVI, 1) it is told how Moses, during the wandering of the Jews in the wilderness, healed a spring with bitter water by investing a tree. This tree, which sweetened the bitter water, represented the power of the Cross of the Lord. In the second proverb (Prov. III, 11-18) a man is pleased who cares about acquiring the tree of wisdom, which is “ tree of life”For those who acquire it, our wisdom and our tree of life is the Cross of Christ. The third proverb (Isaiah LX, 11-16) contains the prophecy of Isaiah about the greatness and glory of the city of the Lord, holy Jerusalem, which the Lord will clothe with greatness forever and joy for generations of generations.
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The canon depicts the power of the Cross, which was revealed in the Old Testament prototypes of the cross (Moses, who raised his hands crosswise during the battle and thereby begged for victory; the tree that sweetened the waters of Merra, etc.), and in the New Testament miracles - through the very Cross of the Lord. The Apostle says (I Cor., I, 18-24) that the Cross, i.e. suffering of Jesus Christ, are God's power and God's Wisdom. The Gospel (John XIX, 6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30-35) contains the history of the suffering of Christ the Savior.
Troparion and Kontakion for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
Troparion to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Church Slavonic text:
With the help of 22 gD and people svoS, and 3 bless2 dignified svoE, victory to the power of the Russians on resistance, grant, and 3 svoS save krt0m people.
Russian text:
Save, Lord, your people and bless us, Your property, giving our country victory over the opponents, the enemies of His kingdom, and preserving our people by the power of Your Cross.
Kontakion holiday. Church Slavonic text:
In ozneshisz on whom I pour, the namesake 1 of that new residence of yours2. your generosity, grant xrte b9e. rejoice2 with the strength of your country, our country, victories and the 4th on the commensurate, help and support your arms, the world's invincible victory.
Russian text:
Ascended to the Cross voluntarily, to the people named after You, grant Your mercy, Christ God; exalt our country with your strength, giving it victory over enemies, may it have help from you, a weapon of peace, an invincible victory.
Order of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
In Rus' rite of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross It has been known since the 13th century and is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. It has a long history. The earliest record of this rank has been preserved in the so-called Jerusalem canonar, dating back to 634-644 by the time of its origin. In different monuments we find diversity in the descriptions of this rite: some describe how the rite is performed during the service of the Patriarch with a host of clergy, others - only a priest with a deacon. Saint Cyprian of Moscow in his letter of 1395 to the Novgorod clergy, he wrote that on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Cross should be erected in every church, even if there is only one priest. In the old printed Moscow Typicon of 1641, an indication appeared that the Cross was erected only in cathedral churches and monasteries, and in ordinary parish churches, only worship of the Cross took place on the Exaltation of the Cross, according to the order of the Holy Week. This custom continues to this day: rite of the Exaltation of the Cross is performed only in cathedral churches where a metropolitan or bishop serves.
The bishop, taking the Cross and standing to the east (towards the altar), begins the first exaltation - raising the Cross up. In front of the Cross, at some distance, the deacon stands, holding a candle in his left hand, and a censer in his right, and proclaims: “ Have mercy on us God". The singers sing a hundred times: Lord have mercy". At the start of the chant Lord have mercy"The bishop thrice overshadows the Cross to the east and, while singing the first half of the centurion, slowly bows his head with the Cross as low as he can," a span from the ground". When singing the second half of the centurion, it slowly rises. While singing for the 97th time " Lord have mercy The bishop straightens up and, standing straight, again overshadows the Cross three times to the east. The second exaltation is performed by the bishop, turning to the west, the third - to the south, the fourth - to the north, the fifth - again to the east. The singers also sing at this time: Lord have mercy! Then the worship of the Cross begins, during which the singers sing the usual stichera.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Icons
In Byzantine art, the basis of the iconography of the holiday Exaltation of the Holy Cross originally, it was not a real historical episode of finding the Cross, but an image of the rite of the Exaltation of the Cross, which was performed annually in the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Therefore, the Cross on the icons was often depicted as an altar. The first such images belong to the end of the 9th - the beginning of the 11th century. This iconographic variant was also used by Russian icon painters.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross The most common plot Icons of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross developed in Russian icon painting in the 15th-16th centuries. The Cross of Christ is depicted already monumental. In the center, on a high stepped elevation, stands the Patriarch with the Cross raised above his head. The deacons support him by the arms. Sometimes the Cross is decorated with plant branches. Behind you can see a large single-domed temple. Often kneeling prayers and a large number of people who came to bow to the shrine were depicted in the foreground. The figures of Tsar Constantine and Empress Elena are on either side of the Patriarch, with outstretched hands in prayer, or on the right.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Folk traditions and beliefs in Rus'
holiday in Rus' Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord combined ecclesiastical and folk traditions. From ancient times there was a custom on the day of the Exaltation to erect chapels and small churches, as well as to erect crosses on temples under construction. Roadside votive crosses were also placed on the Feast of the Exaltation in gratitude for deliverance from misfortune and pestilence. On this day, icons were also raised to go around the fields, with a prayer for the future harvest.
September 27 was also called third Osenins or Stavrov day. It was the final day of Indian summer, the third and last meeting of autumn. In Rus', the Exaltation was also called By moving or shift- words denoting movement, change of state. It was believed, for example, that on this day the grain “moved” from the field to the threshing floor, since by mid-September the harvesting of bread usually ended and threshing began. They also said that the Exaltation move the zipun, pull the fur coat", or that on the Exaltation" caftan with a fur coat moved and the hat moved down».
The Feast of the Exaltation was Lenten. It was believed that " whoever fasts on Exaltation, seven sins will be forgiven". Most often, cabbage and dishes from it were eaten on this day. " On the Exaltation good fellow cabbage on the porch" or " Dare, woman, about cabbage - Exaltation has come", - said the people. Throughout Rus', the peasants believed that the day of the Exaltation was one of those on which no important and significant work should be started, since everything started on this day would either end in complete failure, or be unsuccessful and useless.
However, according to some folk beliefs, the peasants did not know at all what the true meaning and meaning of church holiday Exaltations of the honest and life-giving cross Lord's. The people firmly believed that on the day of the Exaltation, under no circumstances should one go to the forest, since devilry can beat, otherwise just send the peasant to the next world. According to the peasants, on the day of the Exaltation, all reptiles "shift", that is, crawl into one place, underground, to their mother, where they spend the whole winter, right up to the first spring thunder. On the Feast of the Exaltation, the peasants for the whole day carefully locked the gates, doors and gates, out of fear that reptiles would not crawl into their yard by mistake and hide there under manure, in straw and bunks. However, the peasants believed that from September 27, that is, from the Exaltation, snakes do not bite, since every reptile that stings a person at that time will be severely punished: all autumn, until the first snow and even through the snow, it will crawl in vain, not finding a place for herself until the frost kills her, or the man's pitchfork is pierced.
Temples in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
For a long time in Rus', churches were built in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. So, according to the testimony of the Suponevskaya chronicle, around 1283, a cathedral Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the city of Romanov-Borisoglebsk (now Tutaev) on the left bank of the river, " opposite Borisoglebskaya Sloboda". According to legend, the first builder of the Kremlin was the prince of Uglich, Roman Vladimirovich Saint(1261–1285). Detinets has suffered many attacks in its history. The last siege of the Romanov Kremlin took place during the events of the War of 1612. In battles and epidemics, one third of the townspeople died, but the spirit of the people remained alive. In Soviet times, the building of the temple housed a museum of local lore, later - a warehouse. In 1992 the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and since 2000 it has been an active temple.
Holy Cross Cathedral, Tutaev (Romanov-Borisoglebsk) In 1640, at the beginning of a deep ravine on the left bank of the Moskva River, the Exaltation of the Cross Church was laid. It took 18 years to build a stone temple on the site of a wooden one. High altar consecrated in 1658. Over the course of two centuries, the temple was constantly rebuilt; it acquired its current appearance in 1894-1895. In 1918, the temple began to be looted. The authorities took out more than 400 pounds of silver utensils from here. In 1930, the temple was closed, the dome and the bell tower were broken, and a hostel was made in the temple premises. The wall painting was painted over, and when it began to show through the whitewash, it was knocked down. But 70% of the painting survived. By the end of 2000, after the return of the church of the Russian Orthodox Church and a long restoration, the building again took on its former architectural appearance.
Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Chisty Vrazhek. Moscow Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the city of Kolomna at the Pyatnitsky Gates of the Kolomna Kremlin arose in the 15th century. In 1764, on the site of a wooden building, a stone two-tier church with a bell tower was erected. In 1832–1837 the church was radically rebuilt at the expense of the sisters Sharapovs. In the 1980s the room was used as a workshop and warehouse of the Kolomna Museum of Local Lore. In 1994 the temple was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Kolomna Kremlin In the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a monastery was consecrated in the town of Belev, Tula Region. Female Crucifixion convent was built in 1625. “According to a petition about 1625, submitted to Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich by a certain old woman Marfa Palitsina, she was allowed to build a maiden monastery on the settlement with a church in the name of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross.” In the Belevskaya monastery from the very beginning there was only one church - a wooden one, in the name of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. This is evidenced by the inscriptions on the gospel and vessels that were donated to the monastery during the construction of the temple. There were also twelve wooden cells. At the very beginning of its existence, the monastery was very poor in funds and, despite the material support of the king, even needed candles, incense, and church wine. By 1680, 38 sisters and abbesses lived in the monastery, who received royal salaries. Having existed for one hundred and forty years after its foundation, the Holy Cross Convent was abolished in 1764. But the desolation of the monastery did not last long. In 1768, it was decided to renew the Exaltation of the Cross Convent. At the very beginning of the 19th century, in 1801, during a severe fire that raged in Belev, the buildings of the monastery were badly damaged. In 1869, the monastery church was re-erected, already made of stone, and had 5 aisles. On the first floor: in the center - in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on the right - in honor of the icon Mother of God"Three-handed", on the left - in the name of St. Nicholas. On the second floor: on the left - in the name of Andrei, Christ for the sake of the holy fool, on the right - in honor of the Tikhvin Icon Holy Mother of God. At the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery was abolished and for a long time was in disrepair. In the 1980s In the 20th century, restoration work began, but quickly ended.
Holy Cross Belevsky Monastery In the name of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, the temple of the Vvedensky Tolga Monastery in the village was consecrated. Tolga, Yaroslavl region. At present, the warm church in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the earliest surviving stone building of the monastery. In 1838, the church underwent alterations: windows were scattered, vaults were raised, internal pillars were removed, and the upper sections of the temple were decorated with wall writing. In 1892, the Vozdvizhenskaya Church was painted entirely with oil paints.
Temple in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of the Vvedensky Tolga Monastery in the village. Tolga, Yaroslavl region In the name of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, a temple was consecrated in the village. Kurgomen, Vinogradovsky district, Arkhangelsk region. The church was built in 1623. The Vozdvizhenskaya Church is interesting as one of the earliest wooden tented churches of the “octagon on a quadrangle” type with two piers (from the west and east) and a refectory. The church had a beautifully proportioned porch. The detached nine-pillar bell tower was built in 1605 and was one of the ancient buildings of this kind. Holy Cross Church burned in 1919.
Temple in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the village. Kurgomen, Vinogradovsky district, Arkhangelsk region. 1623 In the name of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, a temple was consecrated in the town of Starokonstantinov, Khmelnitsky region of Ukraine. The building dates from around 1570 and around 1570. Nearby stands a huge watchtower (XVI-XVII centuries). It adjoins the ruins of the Exaltation of the Cross Church and the male Orthodox monastery of the same name. Once the tower was part of the city fortifications. In 1852, a warm church was built in its first tier. And in Soviet times, local policemen used this first tier as a shooting range.
The ruins of the temple in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the tower in the city of Starokonstantinov, Khmelnytsky region, Ukraine In the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a temple was consecrated in the city of Drohobych, Lviv region of Ukraine. The church was built in 1613 and is considered a model of wooden architecture of the Ukrainian Renaissance. The temple was built at the expense of the owners of the Drohobych salt industry and is located not far from the buildings of the old salt plant. During its history, the church has experienced several fires, many rebuildings and reconstructions. At first it was a three-frame one-top, and later it was rebuilt into a two-top church and was used for defensive purposes. A wooden bell tower was erected next to this temple in 1661, so the church, together with the bell tower, forms a harmonious architectural ensemble.
Church in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the city of Drohobych, Lviv region of Ukraine In the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a temple was consecrated in the city of Lutsk, Volyn region of Ukraine. The temple was erected in 1619-1622 and had a pronounced defensive character. This is one of the early examples of the transformation of wooden architecture into stone architecture, in particular, the traditional type of wooden three-frame three-domed temple. The three-part axial composition of the temple was emphasized by three domes. The vestibule looked like a defense tower with a staircase leading to the vault. In 1803 the church was destroyed by fire. In 1888, a chapel was built on the site of the temple, and by 1890 the church was completely rebuilt, including the surviving ancient apse with a preserved 17th-century reinforcing frieze with keeled niches.
Temple in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the city of Lutsk, Volyn region of Ukraine In the name of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, a temple was consecrated in the city of Ternopil, Ternopil region of Ukraine. The temple was erected in 1570 or 1627. The first official mention of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was found in the charter of Prince Konstantin Ostrozhsky dated 1570. Initially, the church did not have a high tower; on a stone slab installed above the entrance, a exact date completion of the construction of this three-tier belfry - July 28, 1627. IN early XVIII centuries, during the oppression of Orthodoxy in the territory of the Commonwealth, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was closed and for quite a long time was used as a warehouse. And only in 1760 the revival of the church began. Later, a brick bell tower with a low decorative spire was built in the churchyard. In 1831, during a huge fire in the city, the roof of the temple was completely burned down, but it was quickly restored. In the first half of the 20th century, during the wars, the church was significantly destroyed and only in 1954-1959. overhauled.
Temple in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the city of Ternopil, Ternopil region of Ukraine Holy Cross Monastery in Moscow
Holy Cross Monastery it was first mentioned in chronicles in 1547. It was located in Moscow, in the White City, on Vozdvizhenka Street (the street between Mokhovaya and Arbat Gate Square). original name - Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, on the Island.
Orthodox church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Vozdvizhensky Monastery. 1882 During the invasion of Napoleon, the monastery was plundered by the invaders. In 1814, it was abolished, and the cathedral church was turned into a parish church. The Holy Cross Church was closed after 1929, and in 1934 it was demolished. The Metrostroy mine was built on the site of the church.
Old Believer churches in honor of the Feast of the Exaltation Odessa region (Ukraine). Sverdlovsk region.
Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Nevyansk
Also today is the patronal feast for the Moscow Transfiguration community (Fedoseevsky consent). Like the Rogozhskaya community, the Preobrazhenskaya community arose in 1771 in connection with the plague epidemic, when a cemetery was founded behind the Kamer-Kollezhsky Val and Catherine II received permission to build churches. Here the merchant played a special role. Ilya Kovylin who organized the almshouse and sponsored large-scale construction. And since Kovylin was a Fedoseyevite, the Preobrazhensky community became the center of this denomination.
Exaltation of the Cross Church of the Fedoseev Accord at the Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery At the beginning of the 19th century, the community was divided into two parts - the men's and women's courtyards. Each half was separated by a jagged stone wall with hipped towers. In fact, two monasteries appeared here. In 1811, a church was built in the women's courtyard in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in which the Fedoseyevites still pray. This temple does not have an altar apse, since the Liturgy is not currently served by the Old Believers of non-priestly consents.
By church calendar On September 27, believers celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation. On this day, the Orthodox commemorate the acquisition of the Cross of the Lord. In Rus', on this day they fasted and cooked cabbage dishes. About other traditions of the Exaltation - in the material "360".
History of the Exaltation
The full name of the holiday is the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. On September 27, the church celebrates the finding of the Cross. It happened in the IV century in Jerusalem. According to legend, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, Empress Helen, found the cross. She ordered to start excavations. They led to the cave of the Holy Sepulcher, near which there were three crosses. Christ was crucified on one of them. Touching him, the sick woman was immediately healed.
In Rus', the name of the holiday was reflected in sayings. The day was also called the Move or the Move. These words reflect a change of state or some kind of movement. “The Movement has come - the caftan with the fur coat has moved,” they said among the people. This meant that the cold was approaching, but summer and autumn were in the past.
Traditions September 27
The main festive events were held on September 27 in churches. After returning from the temple, the peasants went about their usual business.
On this day the peasants fasted. “Whoever fasts on Exaltation, seven sins will be forgiven,” adult children taught. In Rus', they preferred to eat cabbage and dishes from it. “Smart, woman, about cabbage - Exaltation has come,” people said. Three days before the holiday it was necessary to remove heads of cabbage from the garden. After that, the women harvested cabbage for the winter for several weeks.
The work was fun and fast. Peasant women gathered for cabbage evenings. They managed not only to prepare, but also to tell each other stories and jokes. In Rus', they believed that if a girl, going to gatherings, reads a special conspiracy seven times, then the guy she liked would love her.
What was forbidden to do on the Exaltation
On this day, September 27, it was impossible to start anything important and new. Otherwise, everything went to waste. They also advised not to go to the forest. The ancestors believed that at this time the bear arranges a lair for himself, and the goblin examines his kingdom. The snakes were getting ready for winter. They hid under rotten stumps and lay there motionless. It was believed that if a snake on the Exaltation stings someone, then it will not be able to hide from the frost.
Weather on Vozdvizheniye
At the end of September, the first frosts were already coming. But they weren't terrible. “Vozdvizhensky winters are not a problem, Pokrov-father will say something (the holiday of the Intercession is celebrated on October 14 - ed.),” the people said.
They believed that if the cranes slowly, but fly high and at the same time cooing, the autumn will be warm. It was also considered a good omen to see the rising moon with a reddish hoop. This meant that the weather would be dry and clear. But if the west wind blows for several days, the cold is not far off.
