Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
🕀 Sunday, September 14, 2025
Holy Day of Obligation | Feast of the Lord | Day of Strict Fast
(Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat)
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of the most solemn and profound celebrations in the Byzantine liturgical year. It commemorates both the discovery of the True Cross by St. Helena (in the 4th century) and the public veneration of the Cross in Jerusalem after its recovery from the Persians in the 7th century.
Yet more deeply, this feast exalts the Cross itself—not as a symbol of defeat, but as the instrument of Christ’s victory over sin, death, and hell. On this day, the Church lifts high the Cross of Christ and proclaims to the world:
“We bow in veneration to Your Cross, O Master, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection.”
In the Epistle (1 Corinthians 1:18–24), St. Paul calls the Cross both foolishness and power:
“The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
The world sees the Cross as weakness, but through it, God conquers death by dying. This paradox lies at the heart of Christian faith. The Cross is not simply a relic of Christ’s suffering, but the Tree of Life planted in a world of death.
The feast begins with the bold refrain sung throughout the Liturgy:
“To Your Cross, O Master, we bow in veneration, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection.”
This replaces the Trisagion (the “Holy God” hymn), a rare and solemn shift in the Divine Liturgy, emphasizing the centrality of the Cross in Christian life.
The Troparion is a triumphant invocation:
“Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.
Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,
and protect Your community by Your Cross.”
It is a plea for divine protection and a reminder that it is the Cross—not politics, not power, not ideology—that upholds and defends the Church.
The Gospel on this feast recounts Christ’s Crucifixion, not in summary but in full. We stand in reverence as the Church reads of Christ’s trial, His condemnation, His suffering, and His death. The climax comes as we hear:
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’
Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
This moment is not just the end of Jesus’ earthly life—it is the fulfillment of God’s plan, the beginning of salvation, and the birth of the Church from His pierced side, flowing with blood and water.
Though most feast days are celebratory, the Exaltation of the Cross is unique: it is also a day of strict fasting, even when it falls on a Sunday (as it does in 2025). This fast is a sign of solemn awe before the Cross. It reflects the truth that resurrection comes only after crucifixion, and glory follows suffering.
This tension between joy and sorrow is mirrored in the hymnography:
“You were lifted on the Cross by Your own will, O Christ our God…
Grant victory through Your Cross, the invincible sign of peace.”
In the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, this feast is celebrated with particular solemnity:
The Cross is brought out in procession and placed in the center of the church, often adorned with flowers and venerated by the faithful with prostrations.
The “Veneration of the Cross” service may follow the Divine Liturgy.
Fasting is observed rigorously despite the festal nature of the day, a rare liturgical paradox.
This is a day of public remembrance and intercession, often invoking Christ’s victory for peace in times of conflict and strength for the Church.
“O my soul, magnify the most precious cross of the Lord.”
“You are a mystical Paradise, O Mother of God…
Christ has planted the Tree of Life upon the earth: the Cross.”
Mary, the Mother of God, who stood faithfully by the Cross, is invoked here as the Mystical Paradise, for from her womb came the Fruit of salvation—Jesus Christ—who would hang upon the Tree of the Cross to heal the world.
“Let the light of Your countenance, O Lord, shine upon us.”
(Psalm 4:7)
Even at the Table of the Lord, we are mindful that it is through the Cross we are brought to communion. The final hymn echoes the theme again:
“To Your Cross, O Master, we bow in veneration, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection.”
On this holy and solemn day, the Church lifts high the Sign of the Son of Man—the Cross—to proclaim that true glory comes through self-giving love, and that eternal life is born from sacrificial death.
Let us not shy away from our own crosses. Let us carry them in faith, in silence, and in hope, for by them we, too, are being conformed to Christ.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
You freely ascended the Cross for the life of the world.
May we never be ashamed of Your Cross,
but glorify it as the sign of Your love,
the throne of Your victory,
and the hope of our salvation.
Amen.
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
One of the most vivid and solemn features of the feast is the procession of the Cross into the center of the church:
The Cross is adorned with fresh flowers, herbs (especially basil), and candles.
It is carried solemnly during the Liturgy or during the Matins service, accompanied by incense and hymns such as:
“To Your Cross, O Master, we bow in veneration, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection.”
The priest or bishop then elevates the Cross high, turning to the four corners of the church, blessing the people in each direction.
Sometimes this rite is accompanied by prostrations or deep bows from the faithful, emphasizing reverence and repentance.
This action reflects the historical event of the recovery of the True Cross in Jerusalem (AD 628) and its public exaltation by Patriarch Zacharias.
The Cross is beautifully adorned, not as a symbol of cruelty, but as the Tree of Life, now victorious.
In some traditions, basil (Greek: vasilikon, “royal”) is used, which according to legend was found growing at the site where St. Helena discovered the True Cross in the 4th century.
Flowers are placed not just for beauty, but to show that death has been transformed into life.
After the elevation, the faithful approach the Cross on their knees or with prostrations, to kiss and venerate it in silence.
It is a deeply moving moment of personal devotion and reflection, often accompanied by the singing of:
“We venerate Your Cross, O Christ, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection.”
This mirrors the veneration on Good Friday, but here, it is infused with triumph—the Cross is now a sign of victory, not defeat.
Though it’s a feast, September 14 is a strict fast day in the Byzantine tradition (even when it falls on a Sunday, as in 2025). This rare combination of feast and fast carries powerful meaning:
Just like Good Friday, we fast in awe and reverence before the mystery of the Cross.
The UGCC tradition observes abstinence from meat and animal products (dairy and eggs), and many faithful may fast from oil and wine as well.
The fast emphasizes that salvation came at a great cost, and it invites us to participate in Christ’s self-emptying love.
This is one of the very few Sundays in the year (besides possibly Great Lent and Holy Week Sundays) when strict fasting is retained despite the resurrectional character of the day.
The mood of the feast is both somber and triumphant:
In Byzantine churches, dark vestments may be worn (or sometimes red, symbolizing martyrdom).
The faithful remember the suffering of Christ, but also proclaim His resurrection and glorification.
This duality of grief and glory is unique to this feast and shapes how it’s observed in both public worship and private devotion.
In homes and parishes, people may also:
Prepare flower garlands for the Cross.
Read the Passion narratives or meditate on the Stations of the Cross.
Fast from social media, distractions, or luxury as a way of uniting more closely to Christ.
Decorate a home icon corner with a cross, candles, and flowers to remind the household of the feast’s solemnity.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is sometimes called a “Second Good Friday.” It reminds us that:
There is no Resurrection without the Cross.
There is no true life without self-sacrifice.
There is no glory without love laid down.
As the Cross is lifted high before our eyes, we are reminded that Christ’s love is not abstract—it is visible, tangible, and pierced. His suffering was real. His victory is real. And our participation in it—through fasting, veneration, and prayer—is our path to true life.
Here are some fun and fascinating facts about the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Holy Cross in Jerusalem) in Rome — perfect for sharing with younger generations!
The basilica stands on the Sessorian Palace, once belonging to Emperor Constantine’s mother, Empress Helena (early 300s AD) Moovit+14Wikipedia+14Flickr+14.
The floor was inlaid with actual soil from Jerusalem, making the site feel like a piece of the Holy City in the heart of Rome Rome Actually+2johnsanidopoulos.com+2Horarios de Misa+2.
Empress Helena returned from her pilgrimage with a stunning collection of Passion relics, many of which are still venerated today Flickr+2primematters.com+2The Catholic Traveler+2:
Fragments of the True Cross (three small pieces)
A Holy Nail from the Crucifixion
Two thorns from the Crown of Thorns
The Titulus Crucis – the INRI inscription board (“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”) Mapcarta+15Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15Lonely Planet+8Wikipedia+8primematters.com+8Horarios de Misa
A fragment of the penitent thief’s cross
Soil from Calvary, beneath the Chapel of St. Helena walksinrome.com+4The Catholic Traveler+4sightsofrome.blogspot.com+4
These relics are securely preserved behind glass in a dedicated modern Chapel of Relics Wikipediawalksinrome.com.
🧙♀️ Miracle test: To identify the True Cross, Helena touched three crosses to a dying woman. She was miraculously healed by one, confirming it was Christ’s cross evangelist.org+5primematters.com+5The Catholic Traveler+5.
🔎 Titulus puzzle: The inscription board in three languages (Hebrew, Latin, Greek) is written from right to left—a clue pointing to its authenticity johnsanidopoulos.comWikipedia.
⚒️ In the Middle Ages, a guardian (“staurophylax”) would watch pilgrims kissing the True Cross so they couldn’t chip off pieces to take home evangelist.org.
Originally built ca. 325, renovated in the 12th century (with medieval bell tower) and Baroque facade added in the 18th century by Pope Benedict XIV Turismo Roma+2Italia.it+2primematters.com+2.
The apse fresco cycle (1490s) by Antoniazzo Romano pictorially narrates the discovery and translation of the True Cross Lonely Planet+5walksinrome.com+5Turismo Roma+5.
Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome (rione Esquilino), near Porta Maggiore walksinrome.com+15Wikipedia+15romanchurches.fandom.com+15.
Accessible by bus (105, 51, 649, 792), metro A (Battistini line), light rail 14, or train FC1, all stopping near the basilica evangelist.org+13Moovit+13Moovit+13.
It’s one of Rome’s Seven Pilgrim Churches—a top stop on many spiritual & tourist routes Horarios de Misa+4Wikipedia+4Turismo Roma+4.
| Fun Element | Why It’s Cool |
|---|---|
| Real wooden relics | Bits from the Cross, nails, thorns—real artifacts you can actually see! |
| Legendary treasure hunt | Helena’s story reads like an archaeological adventure with miracles and puzzles. |
| Soil from Jerusalem | They’re literally standing on holy ground from another continent. |
| Beautiful art & history | Frescoes, Baroque facade, ancient palace stones—it’s a time machine! |
Next time you’re in Rome—or journeying there—plan a visit! Have some fun:
Spot the relics in the glass cases.
Look for the frescoes above the altar showing Helena’s discovery.
Trace your route on the map, using buses or metro lines listed above.
