Sunday of the Exaltation of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today we celebrate the Universal Exaltation of the Cross. The origin of this feast goes back to the time of the discovery of the true Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine.
But it was Saint Constantine who first encountered the mystery of the Cross the day before the famous battle at the Milvian Bridge. Saint Constantine was opposite the city of Rome, on the other side of the bank of the Tiber river, considering his prospects for the battle the next day and saw a vision of the Cross. He then also saw a dream that night wherein Christ appeared unto him. Afterwards he asked Christian clergy in his entourage what this vision might mean, they affirmed “...They affirmed that He was God, the only begotten Son of the one and only God: that the sign which had appeared was the symbol of immortality, and the trophy of that victory over death which He had gained in time past when sojourning on earth.” As we all know, Saint Constantine became a worshiper of Christ and won the battle the next day and freed Rome from the tyrant Maxentius.
Later, after peace was afforded to the Roman Empire through the efforts of Saint Constantine, Saint Helen was inspired to make pilgrimage to the land sanctified by the footsteps of our Savior. Saint Helen sought out the Cross of our Savior, When the proper cite was located, as the story goes, she would throw pieces of gold down to where they were digging in order to inspire them. Their efforts were not fruitless, but they discovered not one but three crosses. How to identify the Cross of Christ? The crosses were placed one by one upon a woman that was nigh unto death and when the True Cross touched her she was completely healed. It is also said that the touch of the Cross raised a dead man.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem at that time, Saint Makarios, solemnly took the Cross in his hands and the enthusiastic crowd called out that they could not see the great object of their desire, The Cross, because of the multitude. Then Saint Makarios lifted the Cross on high and blessed the multitude.
On this day, we also celebrate the appearance of the Cross in 1925 in the area of Mount Hymettos, outside of Athens. The Traditionalist Orthodox who refused to accept the Papal calendar that was imposed on the State Church of Greece were being persecuted for their faith. For the feast of the Exaltation in 1925, many of the faithful planned to attend the service at a small chapel outside of the city, in order to be left alone. The police heard of the plan to hold services there, but by the time they arrived there were so many people present they dared not attempt to break up the service. Late into the night an enormous Cross was seen in the sky, not just two intersecting lines, but a three bar Cross. The Cross was lifted up and exalted for all to see for a long time. All traditionalists refer to this miraculous Exaltation of the Cross in the sky on the very feast day of the Exaltation of the Cross as a Divine confirmation of our sacred calendar.
The Cross which is lifted up on high today is a spiritual ladder which leads to heaven just as that ladder the Patriarch Jacob saw. How, it may be asked, is it that in some commentaries of the Fathers the ladder which Jacob saw is interpreted as a symbol of the Theotokos? Clearly it is both. Our Savior, moved by love for lowly man, clothed Himself in humility and took on our lowly nature, being born of the Holy Theotokos, thus putting on our flesh. By this singular and unique deed the Most Holy Theotokos became the ladder by which our Savior came down. He took on all that pertains to our nature, save sin, toiled and sweated for our sake, and at the last, mounted the Cross and was slain, Thus leading us up unto the heavens. We ascend by no other way, except the Cross. The Cross is the source of all good things. Without the Cross, there is no resurrection.
Today we celebrate the great mystery of the Cross, the essence of Christianity. The tree of disobedience that slew Adam is nullified by the Cross. Wood is healed by wood, the wood of obedience, the wood of humility, the wood of co-suffering love. As Metropolitan Anthony once wrote:
“The essence of Christianity is the renunciation of life’s pleasures; it is to be found in striving for purity; in the readiness to suffer for the Truth; in the acquisition of the feeling of constant love for God and men, and in the forgiveness of the offenses of enemies.”
It is necessary to deny ourselves in a heroic spirit. We are to be crucified through the cutting off of our will in obedience to the rules of the Church, in our efforts of self-sacrificing love, in patience and long-suffering. It is easy for a man to be deceived into making what appears to be a sacrifice, but as it turns out, is in reality for vainglory or an investment for some kind of return. True self-sacrificing love looks only to God and is ready to give up something for His sake.
In our “post-Christian era” there are many concepts proffered in the market place of ideas, quasi religious writers express their ideas on the power of myth and that religion is a consequence of a human need and that all religion is essentially the same, etc., etc.
Long ago, Saint Justin demonstrated that Christianity is unique and not similar to pagan myth. At best, mythologies borrow bits and pieces from the truth and make parodies of spiritual reality. As Saint Justin proclaimed in his Apology to the pagans in defense of Christianity, the one thing the pagans do not have is the mystery of the Cross.
And rightly so, what mortal man or sinful demon could ever fathom the depth of the love of God! The idea that our omnipotent God Who dwells in Unapproachable light would take on the form of a servant and not only that, but also tread the path of humility and death is beyond what any man could conceive of. A stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, but unto them that believe, the mystery of Co-suffering, self-sacrificing love. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have life everlasting.”
Let us exalt the Cross in our love for the truth and the love that we have, one for another. Amen.
____________________
EUSEBIUS’ HISTORY
CHAPTER XXVII. That after reflecting on the Dawn fall of those who had worshiped Idols, he [Saint Constantine] made Choice of Christianity.
Being convinced, however, that he needed some more powerful aid than his military forces could afford him, on account of the wicked and magical enchantments which were so diligently practiced by the tyrant, he sought Divine assistance, deeming the possession of arms and a numerous soldiery of secondary importance, but believing the co-operating power of Deity invincible and not to be shaken. He considered, therefore, on what God he might rely for protection and assistance. While engaged in this enquiry, the thought occurred to him, that, of the many emperors who had preceded him, those who had rested their hopes in a multitude of gods, and served them with sacrifices and offerings, had in the first place been deceived by flattering predictions, and oracles which promised them all prosperity, and at last had met with an unhappy end, while not one of their gods had stood by to warn them of the impending wrath of heaven; while one alone who had pursued an entirely opposite course, who had condemned their error, and honored the one Supreme God during his whole life, had formal I him to be the Saviour and Protector of his empire, and the Giver of every good thing. Reflecting on this, and well weighing the fact that they who had trusted in many gods had also fallen by manifold forms of death, without leaving behind them either family or offspring, stock, name, or memorial among men: while the God of his father had given to him, on the other hand, manifestations of his power and very many tokens: and considering farther that those who had already taken arms against the tyrant, and had marched to the battle-field under the protection of a multitude of gods, had met with a dishonorable end (for one of them had shamefully retreated from the contest without a blow, and the other, being slain in the midst of his own troops, became, as it were, the mere sport of death ); reviewing, I say, all these considerations, he judged it to be folly indeed to join in the idle worship of those who were no gods, and, after such convincing evidence, to err from the truth; and therefore felt it incumbent on him to honor his father's God alone.
CHAPTER XXVIII. How, while he was praying, God sent him a Vision of a Cross of Light in the Heavens at Mid-day, with an Inscription admonishing him to conquer by that.
ACCORDINGLY he called on him with earnest prayer and supplications that he would reveal to him who he was, and stretch forth his right hand to help him in his present difficulties. And while he was thus praying with fervent entreaty, a most marvelous sign appeared to him from heaven, the account of which it might have been hard to believe had it been related by any other person. But since the victorious emperor himself long afterwards declared it to the writer of this history, when he was honored with his acquaintance and society, and confirmed his statement by an oath, who could hesitate to accredit the relation, especially since the testimony of after-time has established its truth? He said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, CONQUER BY THIS. At this sight he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed the miracle.
CHAPTER XXIX. How the Christ of God appeared to him in his Sleep, and commanded him to use in his Wars a Standard made in the Form of the Cross.
He said, moreover, that he doubted within himself what the import of this apparition could be. And while he continued to ponder and reason on its meaning, night suddenly came on ; then in his sleep the Christ of God appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens, and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies.
CHAPTER XXX. The Making of the Standard of the Cross.
AT dawn of day he arose, and communicated the marvel to his friends: and then, calling together the workers in gold and precious stones, he sat in the midst of them, and described to them the figure of the sign he had seen, bidding them represent it in gold and precious stones. And this representation I myself have had an opportunity of seeing.
CHAPTER XXXI. A Description of the Standard of the Cross, which the Romans now call the Labarum.
Now it was made in the following manner. A long spear, overlaid with gold, formed the figure of the cross by means of a transverse bar laid over it. On the top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and precious stones; and within this, the symbol of the Saviour's name, two letters indicating the name of Christ by means of its initial characters, the letter P being intersected by X in its centre: and these letters the emperor was in the habit of wearing on his helmet at a later period. From the cross-bar of the spear was suspended a cloth, a royal piece, covered with a profuse embroidery of most brilliant precious stones; and which, being also richly interlaced with gold, presented an indescribable degree of beauty to the beholder. This banner was of a square form, and the upright staff, whose lower section was of great length, bore a golden half-length portrait of the pious emperor and his children on its upper part, beneath the trophy of the cross, and immediately above the embroidered banner.
The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation as a safeguard against every adverse and hostile power, and commanded that others similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies.
CHAPTER XXXII. How Constantine received Instruction, and read the Sacred Scriptures.
These things were done shortly afterwards. But at the time above specified, being struck with amazement at the extraordinary vision, and resolving to worship no other God save Him who had appeared to him, he sent for those who were acquainted with the mysteries of His doctrines, and enquired who that God was, and what was intended by the sign of the vision he had seen. They affirmed that He was God, the only begotten Son of the one and only God: that the sign which had appeared was the symbol of immortality, and the trophy of that victory over death which He had gained in time past when sojourning on earth. They taught him also the causes of His advent, and explained to him the true account of His incarnation. Thus he was instructed in these matters, and was impressed with wonder at the divine manifestation which had been presented to his sight. Comparing, therefore, the heavenly vision with the interpretation given, he found his judgment confirmed; and, in the persuasion that the knowledge of these things had been imparted to him by Divine teaching, he determined thenceforth to devote himself to the reading of the Inspired writings.
Moreover, he made the priests of God his counselors, and deemed it incumbent on him to honor the God who had appeared to him with all devotion. And after this, being fortified by well-grounded hopes in Him, he hastened to quench the threatening fire of tyranny.