THE FEAST OF THE UNIVERSAL EXALTATION OF THE VENERABLE AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS
On Friday, the 14th/27th of September 2013, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated in great magnificence and glory the Exaltation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross, in remembrance of the fact that after it was found on the hill of the Horrendous Golgotha, and at the conclusion of the construction of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection, on the day of its dedication, it was elevated by Archbishop Makarios of Jerusalem and St Helena so that it would be visible to the great crowd of pious pilgrims who had gathered there from afar.
I: On the Eve of the Feast
On the evening of Thursday, the 9th Hour was read out in the monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helena, followed by the official transfer of the Cross amid ringing bells (as shown in the highlight from the Eve of the feast) through Christian Street to the All-holy Church of the Resurrection, its reception by His Beatitude Theophilos at the Apokathelosis [Removal of Christ from the Cross] the Incensing and the veneration at the Holy Sepulcher; the veneration by Prelates and members of the Synod at the Horrendous Golgotha, the ringing of the bells and incensing with myrrh of all sites of pilgrimage by deacons.
The rest of the Vespers Procession followed, with the Great Entrance and the Breaking of the Bread.
II On the day of the feast
On the morning of Friday the 14th/27th of September 2013, at 7:00 am, the official transfer took place from the Central Monastery to the All-Holy Church of the Resurrection.
Upon entrance to the Church, His Beatitude Theophilos who led the rite, venerated the Holy Apokathelosis and the All-Holy Sepulcher; then, entering the katholikon, he gave blessings and rose to the Throne.
The divine Liturgy followed at the katholikon, led by His Beatitude Theophilos. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Prelates and the Most Reverend Panteleimon, Metropolitan of Xanthe, Hagiotaphite Priests and visiting Priests and Presbyters of other Orthodox Churches, as well as hierodeacons, in the presence of the Consul-General of Greece to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis. Several pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Cyprus and faithful from the Church of Jerusalem participated in piety.
At the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, the rite of the Elevation of the Holy Cross began from the solea (passageway before the Holy Doors) of the katholikon.
Exiting the katholikon, the litany proceeded to the site of the discovery of the Holy Cross by St Helena.
There, His Beatitude elevated the Holy Cross to the four points of the horizon in order to sanctify the entire universe.
At the conclusion of the litany, participants proceeded, amid ringing bells, to the Patriarchate.
There, His Beatitude made an address in Greek, which may be found here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/gr/2013/09/27/9473
Spoken in Arabic by f. Charalambos, the speech may be read here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2013/09/21/2722
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/XaKZx2ex2QE