The Elevation of the Cross Sep 14

St. Makarios, Bishop of Jerusalem, is holding the Cross high above the crowd for veneration. Pictured in the crowd are St. Helen and her son, St. Constantine the Great, along with scores of saintly bishops, priests and deacons, and leading citizens of Jerusalem.

Troparion of the Holy Cross

O Lord save thy people, and bless Thine inheritance, And to the faithful people, grant victory over their enemies, And by the power of the Cross, protect all those who follow Thee.

Choir Directors: Download the Liturgical Music :: Kont - Elevation of Cross

Church School Teachers: Download Teaching Material Here for the Feast

Articles on the Elevation of the Cross

September 14, Feast Of the Holy Cross

Each year on September 14 the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of “The Elevation of the Honorable and Life-giving Cross.” This is one of the great feasts of the Church year, and one which has an important historical background. Although one or two of the hymns for the day refer obliquely to the vision of the cross in the heavens, the actual commemoration is not that of Constantine’s vision before his battle with Maxentius on October 28, 312. On that occasion, while he was in doubt about the outcome of the impending battle for Italy, he saw in the heavens the arms of the cross stretching far and wide, and the words. “In This Conquer.”