What is the meaning of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross?
Exaltation of the Holy Cross, also called Universal Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross or Holy Cross Day, liturgical feast celebrated on September 14 to honour the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The universal symbol of the Christian faith, the cross represents Christ’s victory over death.
How do you celebrate Holy Cross Day?
Celebrating Holy Cross Day It is usually celebrated with some form of religious service, prayer, and reflection but it can also be celebrated in other ways. Baked goods in the form of a cross can be made – this includes things such as Hot Cross Buns and cross-shaped cakes.
Why do we celebrate the triumph of the cross?
Unlike Good Friday, which is dedicated to the passion of Christ and the crucifixion, these feast days celebrate the cross itself, as the sign of salvation. In Roman Catholicism, Eastern Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheran and Anglicanism the most common day of commemoration is September 14.
How the Holy Cross was found?
According to legend, the True Cross was hidden following Jesus’ death but was eventually found by Empresss Helena during her fourth century C.E. travels to the Holy Land. The cross was then broken up into different shards and distributed across Christendom to be used as relics.
What does Jesus cross mean?
cross, the principal symbol of the Christian religion, recalling the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the redeeming benefits of his Passion and death. The cross is thus a sign both of Christ himself and of the faith of Christians.
Where was the true cross found?
Legend relates that the True Cross was found by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land about 326. Miracle of the True Cross at the Bridge of San Lorenzo, oil painting by Gentile Bellini, 1500; in the Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice.
What is adoration of the cross?
Adoration is a sign of devotion to and worship of Jesus Christ, who is believed by Catholics to be present in body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearance of the consecrated host, that is, sacramental bread.
Where is the True Cross of Jesus now?
Relics to fill a ship Part of the cross awarded to Helena’s mission was taken to Rome (the other remained in Jerusalem) and, according to tradition, a large part of the remains are preserved in the Basilica of the Holy Cross in the Italian capital.
Where is the True Cross of Jesus today?
Current relic Currently the Greek Orthodox church presents a small True Cross relic shown in the Greek Treasury at the foot of Golgotha, within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Syriac Orthodox Church also has a small relic of the True Cross in St Mark Monastery, Jerusalem.
What is the spiritual meaning of cross?
What does it mean to carry your own cross?
To carry your cross, means to fully put your trust in God amid the storms and battles in your life. It means that although you may be in an extremely difficult or painful situation, you always trust that God is with you in the midst of your suffering.
When to celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with kids?
When living the liturgical year at home, celebrating the exaltation of the holy cross with kids is a fun feast day to keep in mind! It comes around every year on September 14. You can find tons of feast days to celebrate with kids in September here.
When did the Feast of the Holy Cross start?
Those churches were dedicated on September 13 and 14, 335, and shortly thereafter the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross began to be celebrated on the latter date. The feast slowly spread from Jerusalem to other churches, until, by the year 720, the celebration was universal.
Why did Saint Helena go to Jerusalem to exalt the cross?
According to tradition, first mentioned by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem in 348, Saint Helena, nearing the end of her life, decided under divine inspiration to travel to Jerusalem in 326 to excavate the Holy Sepulchre and attempt to locate the True Cross.
Who was involved in the hiding of the cross?
A Jew by the name of Judas, aware of the tradition concerning the hiding of the Cross, led those excavating the Holy Sepulchre to the spot in which it was hidden. Three crosses were found on the spot.