Discovery of the Cross (Epitome)
Inventio crucis epitome
Constantine, Nicaea, and Helen sent to seek the life-giving Cross§1
1Invention of the Cross (epitome of the earlier little book).
A historical encomium of Alexander the Monk, the historiographer, concerning the finding of the precious and life-giving Cross.
At that time the bishop of Aelia was Macarius, true to his name, who had succeeded Hermon. And the Great Constantine, having become sole ruler, transferred all his care to divine things. He was rebuilding the churches, since he was ambitious in spending freely from the public treasury, in money, expenses, and every kind of precious treasure.
And first he wrote a law that the temples of the idols be handed over to those consecrated to Christ, and that those still practicing idolatry be punished with capital penalties. Second, he wrote a law that only orthodox Christians serve in the army, and that these govern the nations and the camps. Third, he wrote a law that two Paschal weeks be kept free from public business — one before and one after. And thereafter there was deep peace and joy in the whole inhabited world, all the nations day by day running to the faith, being baptized, and with their own hands crushing their ancestral gods.
But these things were not bearable to the destructive demon; again he plotted within himself how he might cut off so great a rejoicing of human beings. He was no longer able to persuade people to deify the creation, for his deceit had been exposed. But he tried to persuade the unstable to rank the Creator with the creatures. And again there was no small disturbance in the churches of God, as a certain Arius of Alexandria went up and down and troubled the inhabited world. A few bishops in number were carried away with him, of whom the first was Eusebius of Nicomedia, and Eusebius son of Pamphilus, and others with them.
Seeing the great contentiousness, the Great Constantine was grieved in soul; and first he tried, through hortatory letters to both sides, to quench the strife. But when he saw the evil becoming incurable, he ordered an ecumenical synod to be held in the city of the Nicaeans, and bishops came together to the number of three hundred and eighteen. Of these the greater part were confessors, bearing the marks of Jesus in the body. And with them also was the all-famed Constantine; and when the matter was set in motion, they put forth a written exposition of the faith, the one now proclaimed throughout every church of the orthodox. But those around Arius and Eusebius of Nicomedia who persisted in the bad doctrine they denounced, and they were banished, and others were ordained in their place. And the emperor, having honored the bishops and embraced them, dismissed them in peace to their own dioceses, rejoicing at the concord of the churches.
He also charged Macarius, the bishop of Aelia, who was present at the synod and fought for the apostolic doctrines, to seek out the life-giving Cross and the God-receiving tomb and all the holy places; and he likewise urged the other bishops to ask, if each saw anything toward the completion of his own church. It was the nineteenth year of his reign when the synod took place at Nicaea.
After these things the emperor sent his own mother Helen — praiseworthy and God-loving — to Jerusalem, with letters and an abundance of money, to Macarius, true to his name, bishop of Aelia, for the search of the life-giving wood of the glorious Cross and for the building of the holy places; for the empress herself had asked this, saying she had seen a certain divine vision commanding her to reach Jerusalem and bring to light the holy places that had been heaped over by the winds and had become unseen for so long a time.
When the bishop learned that the empress had arrived, gathering the bishops of the province he met her with due honor. And at once she urged the bishops to make the search
Greek · §1
Inventio crucis (epitome prioris libelli) ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ ΜΟΝΑΧΟΥ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΟΓΡΑΦΟΥ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΟΝ ΕΓΚΩΜΙΟΝ ΠΕΡΙ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΡΕΣΕΩΣ ΤΟΥ ΤΙΜΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΖΩΟΠΟΙΟΥ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ. 4077Κατ' ἐκεῖνον τὸν χρόνον ὁ τῆς Αἰλίας ἐπίσκοποςΜακάριος ὁ φερώνυμος ἦν Ἑρμονᾶν διαδεξάμενος. Ὁ δὲ Μέγας Κωνσταντῖνος μονοκράτωρ γενόμενος πᾶσαν τὴν φροντίδα εἰς τὰ θεῖα μετήνεγκεν. Ἀνοικο ομῶν τὰς ἐκκλησίας, ἐπεὶ φιλοτίμως πλουτῶν [ἦν] ἐκ τοῦ δημοσίου λόγου, ἔν τε χρήμασι καὶ ἀναλώμασι, καὶ παντοίοις κειμηλίοις. Καὶ πρῶτον νόμον ἔγρα ψεν ἀποδίδοσθαι τοὺς τῶν εἰδώλων ναοὺς τοῖς τῷΧριστῷ ἀφιερωμένοις, καὶ τοὺς ἕτι εἰδωλολατροῦν τας, κεφαλικαῖς ἐπιτιμᾶσθαι τιμωρίαις. ∆εύτερον νόμον ἔγραψεν, Χριστιανοὺς μόνους ὀρθοδοξοῦντας στρατεύεσθαι, ἐθνῶν τε καὶ στρατοπέδων τούτους ἄρχειν. Τρίτον νόμον ἔγραψεν, ἀπράκτους εἶναι τὰς πασχαλίας ἑβδομάδας δύο, μίαν πρὸ, καὶ μίαν μετά. Καὶ ἦν λοιπὸν εἰρήνη βαθεῖα, καὶ χαρὰ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν ὁσημέραι προστρε χόντων τῇ πίστει, καὶ βαπτιζομένων, καὶ ἰδίαις χερσὶ τοὺς πατρῴους θεοὺς συντριβόντων.Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα οὐκ ἦν φορητὰ τῷ ἀλάστορι δαίμονι, ἀλλὰ πάλιν εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἐδραματούργει, πῶς ἂν ἐκκό ψει τὴν τοσαύτην τῶν ἀνθρώπων χαρμονήν. Καὶ πεῖσαι μὲν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους θεοποιεῖσθαι τὴν κτίσιν οὐκέτι οἷός τε ἦν· ἐφωράθη γὰρ ἡ ἀπάτη αὐτοῦ. Τὸν δὲ Κτίστην συντάξαι τοῖς κτίσμασι παραπεῖσαι ἐπει ράθη τοὺς ἀστηρίκτους. Καὶ ἦν πάλιν τάραχος οὐκ ὀλίγος ἐν ταῖς Ἐκκλησίαις τοῦ Θεοῦ, Ἀρείου τινὸς Ἀλεξανδρέως ἄνω καὶ κάτω κυκλοῦντος, καὶ τὴν οἰκουμένην ταράττοντος. Συναπήχθησαν δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπίσκοποί τινες ὀλίγοι τὸν ἀριθμὸν, ὧν πρῶτος Εὐ σέβιος ὁ Νικομηδείας, καὶ Εὐσέβιος ὁ Παμφίλου, καὶ ἕτεροι σὺν αὐτοῖς. Θεωρῶν δὲ τὴν μεγάλην φιλο νεικίαν ὁ Μέγας Κωνσταντῖνος, ἠνιᾶτο τὴν ψυχήν· καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ἐπειρᾶτο διὰ παραινετικῶν γραμμά των τῶν ἑκατέρων μερῶν κατασβέσαι τὴν ἔριν. Ὡς δὲ ἴδεν ἀνήκεστον γινόμενον τὸ κακὸν, προσέταξε γενέσθαι οἰκουμενικὴν σύνοδον ἐν τῇ Νικαέων πόλει, καὶ συνῆλθον ἐπίσκοποι τὸν ἀριθμὸν τριακόσιοι δέκα καὶ ὀκτώ. Ὧν οἱ πλεῖστοι ἦσαν ὁμολογηταὶ, τὰ στί γματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι βαστάζοντες. Ἦν δὲ σὺν αὐτοῖς καὶ ὁ πανεύφημος Κωνσταντῖνος, καὶ δὴ τῆς ὑποθέσεως κινηθείσης, ἔκθεσιν πίστεως ἔγ γραφον ἐξήνεγκαν, τὴν κατὰ πᾶσαν Ἐκκλησίαν ὀρθοδόξων νῦν ἀπαγγελλομένην. Τοὺς δὲ περὶ Ἄρειον καὶ Εὐσέβιον τὸν Νικομηδέα ἐπιμένοντας τῇ κακοδοξίᾳ ἀνεκήρυξαν, καὶ ἐξωρίσθησαν, καὶ ἐχειροτονήθησαν ἕτεροι ἀντ' αὐτῶν. Φιλοτιμησάμενος δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοὺς ἐπισκόπους, καὶ ἀσπασάμενος ἀπέλυσε μετ' εἰρήνης εἰς τὰς ἰδίας παροικίας, χαί ρων ἐπὶ τῇ συμφωνίᾳ τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν.Παρεκελεύσατο δὲ τῷ τῆς Αἰλίας ἐπισκόπῳ Μα καρίῳ παρόντι ἐν τῇ συνόδῳ, καὶ τῶν ἀποστολικῶν δογμάτων ὑπερμαχοῦντι ἀναζητῆσαι τὸν ζωοποιὸν σταυρόν, καὶ τὸ θεοδόχον μνῆμα, καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους τόπους, καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους δὲ ἐπισκόπους ὁμοίως 4080 προετρέψατο, αἰτήσασθαι, εἴ τι συνορᾷ εἰς ἀπαρτι σμὸν ἔκαστος τῆς ἰδίας Ἐκκλησίας. Ἦν δὲ ἐννεακαιδέκατον ἔτος τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ, ὅτε ἐγένετο κατὰ Νίκαιαν σύνοδος.Μετὰ ταῦτα ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ μητέρα Ἑλένην, τὴν ἀξιέπαινον καὶ θεοφιλῆ, εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, μετὰ γραμμάτων καὶ χρημάτων ἀφθονίας, πρὸς τὸν φερώνυμον Μακάριον τῆς Αἰλίας ἐπίσκοπον ἐπὶ ἀναζητήσει τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ ξύλου τοῦ ἐνδόξου σταυροῦ καὶ οἰκοδομῇ τῶν ἁγίων τόπων· αὐτῆς τοῦτο αἰτησάσης τῆς βασιλίδος, φασκούσης ὀπτασίαν τινὰ θείαν ἑωρακέναι κελεύουσαν αὐτῇ τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα καταλαβεῖν, καὶ τοὺς ἁγίους τόπους εἰς φῶς ἀγαγεῖν χωσθέντας ὑπὸ 1 τῶν ἀνέμων, καὶ ἀφανεῖς γεγονότας ἐπὶ τοσούτους χρόνους.Μαθὼν δὲ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος ἀφικομένην τὴν βασιλίδα, συναγαγὼν τοὺς τῆς ἐπαρχίας ἐπισκόπους, μετὰ τῆς δε ούσης τιμῆς ἀπήντησεν αὐτῇ. Εὐθέως δὲ παρεκέλευσε τοὺς ἐπισκόπους τὴν ζήτησιν
Helen finds the Cross; nails, churches, and Constantine’s memorial§2
2…to make of the longed-for wood. And while all were at a loss about the place, and one was telling one suspicion and another another, the bishop of the city exhorted all to keep quiet and to offer a more earnest prayer to God concerning this. When this was done, the place was at once shown from God to the bishop, in which stood the temple and the statue of the unclean demon.
Then the empress, using imperial authority, gathering a great multitude of craftsmen and laborers, ordered the foul building to be overturned from its foundations, and the rubble to be thrown away somewhere far off. When this was done, the divine tomb appeared, and the place of the Skull, and not far off three crosses lying apart; and searching carefully they found the nails also. From that point helplessness and distress seized the empress, as she sought which then might be the Master’s Cross. But the bishop resolved the discernment through faith. For bringing each of the crosses to a woman of the notable people who was sick, given up by all, and breathing her last, he found the one sought; for as soon as the shadow of the saving Cross drew near the sick woman, she who was breathless and motionless at once sprang up by divine power and cried with a great voice, glorifying God.
And the empress Helen, crying with her voice and glorifying God, taking up the life-giving Cross with great joy and fear, brought a certain part together with the nails back to her son. For the remainder she made a silver casket and handed it to the bishop of the city as a memorial for all generations; and she ordained that a church be made at the life-giving tomb and at holy Golgotha, and at Bethlehem in the cave where our Lord Jesus Christ underwent birth according to the flesh, and on the Mount of Olives where the Lord, having blessed the disciples, was taken up. And having done many other things in Jerusalem, she returned to her son.
And he, receiving her with joy, laying the portion of the precious Cross in a golden case, handed it to the bishop for keeping, ordering that the manifestation of the precious Cross be celebrated in yearly commemorations. Of the nails, some he forged into his own helmet, and others he mixed into the bit of his horse, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: “In that day that which is upon the bit of the horse shall be holy to the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 14:20).
And the emperor wrote to bishop Macarius to hasten the building, and he sent a superintendent of the work with a lavish supply of money, charging him that the holy places be built ambitiously, so that there should be no such beauty in all the earth. He also wrote to the governors of the province to join the work in every way from the public treasury, in money and outlays and materials. And the emperor was keeping brightly the feast of his twentieth year, giving thanks to God for all the good things he had done in the times of his reign.
The years from Christ’s coming to the finding of the Cross add up to three hundred and fifty-two years. From Adam to Christ’s coming, five thousand five hundred years; according to others, five thousand four hundred seventy-five. And in Aelia Maximonas succeeded Macarius, true to his name. This man was gentle and very distinguished; for in the persecution he endured many tortures for God, and having lost his right eye he was released upon the confession of the faith.
At that time the blessed Helen the empress reached the end of life, being eighty years old, having charged her son much concerning piety toward Christ. Let the history concerning the finding of the life-giving Cross stand thus far. And let no one deceive himself, talking vanity that is of no use and bringing in myth-makings through strange names into the subject. For neither has another bishop of Jerusalem
Greek · §2
τοῦ ποθουμένου ξύλου ποιήσασθαι. Ἀπορούντων δὲ πάντων ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου, καὶ ἄλλου ἄλλο ὑποψίας διηγουμένου, ὁ τῆς πόλεως ἐπίσκοπος πάντας παρεκάλει ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν, καὶ σπου δαιοτέραν εὐχὴν ὑπὲρ τούτου τῷ Θεῷ προσφέρειν.Τούτου δὲ γενομένου, εὐθέως ἐδείχθη θεόθεν ὁ τόπος τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ, ἐν ᾧ ἵδρυτο τοῦ ἀκαθάρτου δαίμονος ὁ ναὸς καὶ τὸ ἄγαλμα. Τότε ἡ βασίλισσα, τῇ βασιλικῇ αὐθεντίᾳ χρωμένη, συναγαγοῦσα πλῆθος πολὺ τεχνιτῶν καὶ ἐργατῶν, ἐκέλευσεν ἐκ βάθρων ἀνατραπῆναι τὸ μυσαρὸν οἰκο δόμημα, καὶ τὸν χοῦν πόῤῥω που ἀποῤῥιφῆναι. Τούτου δὲ γενομένου, ἀνεφάνη τὸ θεῖον μνῆμα, καὶ ὁ τόπος τοῦ Κρανίου, καὶ οὐ μήκοθεν τρεῖς σταυροὶ κεχωρισμένοι· ἐπιμελῶς δὲ ἐρευνήσαντες εὗρον καὶ τοὺς ἥλους.Ἐκεῖθεν λοιπὸν ἀμηχανία καὶ θλίψις κατέλαβε τὴν βασίλισσαν, ἐπιζητοῦσαν, ποῖος ἄρα εἴη ὁ ∆εσποτικὸς σταυρός. Ὁ δὲ ἐπίσκοπος διὰ πίστεως τὴν διάκρισιν ἔλυσεν. Γυναικὶ γὰρ ἀῤῥωστούσῃ τῶν ἐμφανῶν, καὶ ἀπεγνωσμένῃ ὑπὸ πάντων, καὶ τὰ τελευταῖα πνεούσῃ, προσαγαγὼν ἑκάτερον τῶν σταυρῶν, τὸν ζητούμενον ηὗρεν· μόνον γὰρ ἤγγισεν ἡ σκιὰ τοῦ σωτηρίου σταυ ροῦ τῇ ἀσθενούσῃ, εὐθὺς ἡ ἄπνους καὶ ἀκίνητος θείᾳ δυνάμει παραχρῆμα ἀνεπήδησεν καὶ μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ βοῶσα, καὶ δοξάζουσα τὸν Θεόν.Ἡ δὲ βασίλισσα Ἑλένη τῇ φωνῇ βοῶσα καὶ δοξά ζουσα τὸν Θεὸν, μετὰ χαρᾶς μεγάλης καὶ φόβου ἀν ελομένη τὸν ζωοποιὸν σταυρὸν, μέρος μέν τι σὺν τοῖς ἥλοις ἀνεκόμισε πρὸς τὸν παῖδα. Τῷ δὲ λοιπῷ γλωσ \σόκομον ἀργυροῦν ποιήσασα, παρέδωκε τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ τῆς πόλεως, εἰς μνημόσυνον πάσαις γενεαῖς, καὶ θεσπίσασα ἐκκλησίαν γενέσθαι ἐν τῷ ζωοποιῷ μνή ματι καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Γολγοθᾷ καὶ ἐν τῇ Βηθλεὲμ ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ, ἔνθα ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς τὴν κατὰ σάρκα γέννησιν ὑπέμεινε, καὶ ἐν ὄρει τῶν Ἐλαιῶν, ἔνθα ὁ Κύριος εὐλογήσας τοὺς μαθητὰς ἀν ελήφθη. Καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ ποιήσασα ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, ἀνέστρεψε πρὸς τὸν παῖδα.Ὁ δὲ μετὰ χαρᾶς αὐτὴν ὑποδεξάμενος, τὴν μὲν 4081 τοῦ τιμίου σταυροῦ μερίδα ἐν χρυσῇ θήκῃ ἀποθέμε νος, παρέδωκε τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ εἰς τήρησιν, ἐνιαυσίαις μνήμαις ἑορτάζειν τὴν ἀνάδειξιν τοῦ τιμίου σταυροῦ προστάξας. Τῶν δὲ ἤλων τοὺς μὲν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν περι κεφαλαίαν ἐχάλκευσεν, τοὺς δὲ ἀνέμιξε τῷ συμβα ρίῳ τοῦ ἵππου αὐτοῦ, ἴνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν τοῦ Κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος· «Ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ἔσται τὸ ἐπὶ τὸν χαλινὸν τοῦ ἵππου, ἅγιον Κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι.»Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ἔγραψε ἐπισκόπῳ Μακαρίῳ ἐπισπεύδειν τὴν οἰκοδομὴν, καὶ ἄρχοντα τοῦ ἔργου ἀπέστειλε μετὰ δαψιλείας χρημάτων, παραγγείλας αὐτῷ φιλοτίμως κτισθῆναι τοὺς ἁγίους τόπους, ὡς μὴ εἶναι τοιαύτην καλλονὴν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ. Ἔγραψε δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἡγεμόσι τῆς ἐπαρχίας παντοίως συνελθεῖν τῷ ἔργῳ ἐκ τοῦ δημοσίου λόγου, ἔν τε χρήμασι καὶ ἀναλώμασι καὶ ὕλαις. Ἦν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς φαιδρῶς ἄγων τῆς εἰκοσαετηρίδος τὴν ἑορτὴν, εὐχαριστῶν τῷ Θεῷ ὑπὲρ πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν, ὧν ἐποίησεν ἐν τοῖς χρόνοις τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ. Συνάγονται δὲ τὰ ἔτη ἀπὸ μὲν Χριστοῦ παρουσίας ἕως τῆς εὑρέσεως τοῦ σταυροῦ, τριακόσια πεντήκοντα δύο ἔτη. Ἀπὸ δὲ Ἀδὰμ ἕως παρουσίας Χριστοῦ, ἔτη πεντακισχίλια πεντακόσια. Καθ' ἑτέρους δὲ πεντακισχίλια τετρακόσια ἐβδομήκοντα πέντε.Ἐν δὲ Αἰλίᾳ τὸν φερώνυμον Μακάριον διεδέξατο Μαξιμωνᾶς. Οὗτος δὲ πρᾶος ἀνὴρ καὶ ἐπίσημος λίαν. Ἐν γὰρ τῷ διωγμῷ πολλὰς βασάνους ὑπέμεινε διὰ τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ τὸν δεξιὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἀπολέσας ἀπελύθη ἐπὶ τῇ ὁμολογίᾳ τῆς πίστεως. Κατ' ἐκεῖνον δὲ τὸν καιρὸν ἡ μακαρία Ἑλένη ἡ βασίλισσα τέλος τοῦ βίου ἐχρήσατο, ἐτῶν οὖσα ὀγδοήκοντα, πολλὰ ἐντειλαμένη τῷ παιδὶ περὶ τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν 2 εὐσεβείας.Ἕως ὧδε περὶ τῆς εὑρέσεως τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ ἡ ἱστορία ἔστω. Καὶ μηδεὶς ἑαυτὸν ἀπατάτω ματαιολογῶν ἀσύμφορα καὶ μυθοποιίας δι' ὀνομάτων παραξένων παρεισάγων τῇ ὑποθέσει. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐπί σκοπος ἕτερος Ἱεροσολύμων
No other finder; the September feast; hail to the precious Cross§3
3…ever been besides those written before, nor any other king of the Romans, nor indeed in any other way was the precious Cross found. For from Augustus the king, in whose time our Lord Jesus Christ was born according to the flesh, until the pious king Constantine, thirty-five kings have come about. Likewise also from James the apostle and first of the bishops until the same reign, thirty-five bishops of Jerusalem have come about.
And the Fathers, with an imperial command, appointed the revered day of the dedications of the holy places and of the elevation of the Cross that is worshiped to take place each year on the fourteenth of the month of September, which is the eighteenth day before the Kalends of October, to the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Since then by the grace of God we have come with the discourse to the well-marked day of our feast, which is the manifestation of the life-giving Cross, come, as far as is possible, having greeted it a little, let us bring this discourse to rest.
Hail, then, precious Cross; hail, because on you our Lord Jesus Christ was lifted up economically, in whom are all the treasures of joy and of grace. Hail, precious Cross; for through you everlasting joy is awarded in heaven and on earth. Hail, precious Cross, because from above and from the beginning the Creator painted your image in every creation. Hail, glorious Cross, because all the powers in heaven send up most awe-filled hymns to the Master equally for the salvation through you. Hail, glorious Cross; for through you churches of the orthodox have been founded in cities and on islands and in every nation. Hail, glorious Cross; for through you every mouth of the faithful has been opened toward theology. Hail, blessed Cross; for through you heavenly angels with humans on earth hymn Christ. Hail, blessed Cross; for through you earthly humans likewise stand before God in the heavens, glorifying the Maker with unspeakable joy. Hail, blessed Cross; for through you Adam, freed from the curse, leaping and rejoicing, has entered paradise, having received back the ancient dignity. Hail, holy Cross; for through you every diabolical power has been cast down, and every demonic working has been dissolved. Hail, holy Cross; for through you the thrice-holy and consubstantial Trinity is known and believed and glorified in every place. Hail, holy Cross; for through you the goods that cannot be taken away have been given to human beings.
And what shall we say, and what shall we leave out? How shall we hymn the power of the Master’s Cross? O name of the Cross, in which the greatnesses of the mysteries of God are hidden, revered by angels and venerable to humans! For what is more lovely than the name of the Cross, or sweeter to Christians? And what is more effective than this toward wonder-working? The Cross is the most effective sign of divine dominion. The Cross is angels’ joy and demons’ mourning. The Cross is the foundation of the Church. The Cross is the light of the whole world, ever-shining and shining everywhere. The Cross is an unshaken and unbreakable and unconquerable wall of the whole inhabited world. The Cross is priests’ glory, fitting for the sacred and unassailable. The Cross is kings’ strength and dominion, and a victorious weapon against enemies. The Cross is armies’ all-powerful full armor, and unfrightening to opponents. The Cross is cities’ guard, free from plot and from plunder. The Cross is peoples’ continual and unceasing gladness. The Cross is continual and unceasing total destruction of the devilish. The Cross is demons’ eternal and extraordinary downfall. The Cross is Christians’ hope, firm and unashamed and undiminished. The Cross is the most fitting healing of the sick, of souls and of bodies. The Cross is the unfailing health of those in good condition.
Greek · §3
γέγονε πώποτε παρὰ τοὺς προγεγραμμένους, οὐδὲ βασιλεὺς ἕτερος Ῥω μαίων, οὐδὲ μὴν ἑτέρῳ τρόπῳ ὁ τίμιος σταυρὸς εὑρέθη. Ἀπὸ γὰρ Αὐγούστου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἐφ' οὗ ἐγεννήθη ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, ἔως τοῦ εὐσεβοῦς βασιλέως Κωνστατίνου, τριάκοντα καὶ πέντε γεγόνασι βασιλεῖς. Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰακώβου τοῦ ἀποστόλου καὶ πρώτου τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἕως τῆς αὐτῆς βασιλείας, τριάκοντα καὶ πέντε Ἱεροσολύμων ἐπίσκοποι γεγόνασι. Τὴν δὲ σεβάσμιον ἡμέραν τῶν ἐγκαινίων τῶν ἁγίων τόπων, καὶ τῆς ὑψώσεως τοῦ προσκυνητοῦ σταυροῦ, ὡρίσαντο οἱ Πατέρες μετὰ βασιλικοῦ προστάγματος γίνεσθαι ἀνὰ ἔτος ἕκαστον τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ τοῦ Σεπτεμβρίου μηνὸς, ἤτις ἐστὶν ἡ πρὸ δεκαοκτὼ Καλανδῶν. Ὀκτωβρίων, εἰς δόξαν τοῦ Πατρὸς, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος.Ἐπειδὴ δὲ χάριτι τοῦ Θεοῦ κατηντήσαμεν τῷ λόγῳ εἰς τὴν εὔσημον ἡμέραν τῆς ἑορτῆς ἡμῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνάδειξις τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ, φέρε καθὼς οἷόν 4084 τέ ἐστι μικρὰ χαιρετήσαντες τοῦτον καταπαύσωμεν τὸν λόγον.Χαίροις τοίνυν, σταυρὲ τίμιε, χαίροις, ὅτι ἐν σοὶ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὑψώθη οἰκονομικῶς, ἐν ᾧ πάντες οἱ θησαυροὶ τῆς χαρᾶς καὶ τῆς χάριτος.Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ τίμιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἀένναος χαρὰ ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς βραβεύεται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ τίμιε, ὅτι ἄνωθεν καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὁ ∆ημιουργὸς ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τὴν εἰκόνα σου ἐζωγράφησεν. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε, ὅτι πᾶσαι αἱ κατ' οὐρανὸν δυνάμεις ἴσως τῇ διὰ σοῦ σωτηρίᾳ φρικωδεστάτους ὕμνους ἀναπέμ πουσι τῷ ∆εσπότῃ. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ καὶ ἐν πόλεσι, καὶ ἐν νήσοις, καὶ ἐν παντὶ ἔθνει Ἐκκλησίαι ὀρθοδόξων τεθεμελίωνται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ πᾶν στόμα πιστῶν εἰς θεολογίαν ἠνέῳκται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἄγγελοι οὐράνιοι σὺν ἀνθρώποις ἐπὶ γῆς Χριστὸν ὑμνοῦσι. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἐπίγειοι ἄνθρωποι ὁμοίως παρίστανται τῷΘεῷ, μετὰ ἀνεκλαλήτου χαρᾶς τὸν Ποιητὴν δοξάζον τες. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ τοῦ γὰρ ὁ Ἀδὰμ τῆς κατάρας ἐλευθερωθεὶς, σκιρτῶν καὶ ἀγαλλιώμε νος εἰς τὸν παράδεισον εἰσελήλυθεν ἀπολαβὼν τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἀξίωμα. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ πᾶσα διαβολικὴ δύναμις καταβέβληται, καὶ πᾶσα δαιμονικὴ ἐνέργεια κατελύθη. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἡ τρισαγία καὶ ὁμοούσιος Τριὰς παντὶ τόπῳ γνωρίζεται καὶ πιστεύεται καὶ δοξολογεῖται.Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ τὰ ἀναφαίρετα ἀγαθὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις δεδώρηται.Καὶ τί εἴπωμεν καὶ τί παραλείψωμεν; πῶς ἀν υμνήσωμεν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ∆εσποτικοῦ σταυροῦ; Ὦ ὄνομα σταυροῦ, ἐν ᾧ τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῶν μυστηρίων τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐγκέκρυπται, ἀγγέλοις αἰδέσιμον, καὶ ἀν θρώποις σεβάσμιον! Τί γὰρ ἐρασμιώτερον ὀνόμα τος σταυροῦ, ἢ ἡδύτερον Χριστιανοῖς; Τί δὲ τούτου ἐνεργέστερον εἰς θαυματουργίαν; Σταυρὸς, θείας δυναστείας ἐνεργέστατον σημεῖον.Σταυρὸς, ἀγγέλων χαρὰ καὶ δαιμόνων πένθος. Σταυρὸς, Ἐκκλησίας θεμέλιος. Σταυρὸς, τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου φωστὴρ ἀειφανὴς καὶ παντοφανής. Σταυρὸς, τεῖχος ἀκράδαντον καὶ ἀῤῥαγὲς καὶ ἀκαταπολέμητον πάσης τῆς οἰκουμένης. Σταυρὸς, ἱερέων δόξα ἱερο πρεπὴς καὶ ἀνεπηρέαστος. Σταυρὸς, βασιλέων κράτος καὶ δυναστεία, καὶ νικητικὸν ὅπλον κατὰ τῶν πολε μίων. Σταυρὸς, στρατοπέδων παντευχία παναλκε στάτη, καὶ ἀκατάπληκτος τοῖς ἐναντίοις. Σταυρὸς, πόλεων φυλακτήριον ἀνεπιβούλευτον καὶ ἀσκύλευτον.Σταυρὸς, λαῶν εὐφροσύνη διηνεκὴς καὶ ἀκατά ληκτος. Σταυρὸς, διαβόλων πανολεθρία διηνεκὴς καὶ ἀκατάπαυστος. Σταυρὸς, δαιμόνων κατάπτωμα αἰώνιόν τε καὶ ἐξαίσιον. Σταυρὸς, Χριστιανῶν ἐλπὶς βεβαία τε καὶ ἀνεπαίσχυντος καὶ ἀμείωτος. Σταυρὸς, ἀσθενούντων ἴασις 3 εὐπρεπεστάτη ψυχῶν τε καὶ σω μάτων. Σταυρὸς, εὐεκτούντων ἀδιάπτωτος ὑγίεια.
Cross named for every need; prophets, apostles, martyrs; closing prayer§4
4The Cross is a most calm harbor for those storm-tossed. The Cross is unfactioned peace for those under war. The Cross is the boast of boasts for the orthodox, and an unresting condemnation for heretics. The Cross is the dissolution of idolatry and the setting-up of piety. The Cross is teacher of virginity and guardian of temperance. The Cross is security for the righteous and repentance for sinners. The Cross is the adornment of monastics and the good order of those living reverently. The Cross is guardian of infants, chastener of the young, and staff of support for the old. The Cross is an unspent treasure for the poor, and teacher of self-sufficiency for the rich. The Cross is a road for the wandered, and an unerring guide for the perishing. The Cross is rest in daily labors, and help in night fears. The Cross is good order of the nations, and deepest calm of the whole world.
And what shall we say, or what leave out, or how hymn you, all-glorious Cross? — because the King of glory alone from all creation showed you forth as an unconquered weapon against the devil and sin and death. Therefore we are blessed, all who have been counted worthy to see the holy day of your manifestation. You are the preaching of the prophets; for concerning you they cry out day by day with rejoicing, saying to God: “You have given a sign to those who fear you, to flee from before the bow” (Psalm 60:4). You are the boast of the apostles. For they cry without ceasing in the holy Church through one of them, a sacred herald: “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). You are also the crown of the martyrs; since they too, taking up the cross, followed the Lord. You are the boast and the exultation of those dwelling in mountains and caves and the holes of the earth for the name of the Lord; because they also crucified the flesh with the passions and the desires (cf. Galatians 5:24; Hebrews 11:38). You are refreshment and rest for those near and those far. O the unspeakable grace of the Master’s Cross! O the unspeakable and incomprehensible mysteries in it!
And that I too may say something ecstatic with the sacred trumpet: “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments!” (Romans 11:33). For beside the tree of life we were put to death; beside the tree of condemnation we were made alive. Because of the measureless grace of the Master who has saved us, we ought to keep this all-festal day “among those who bind the feast even to the horns of the altar” (Psalm 118:27). And “those who bind,” as those skilled in these matters say, are things soiled from neglect or age, then by care and zeal rearranged again toward what is more precious, for the gladness and delight of those to be feasted at weddings or in some other bright cheer.
Let us therefore be disposed as we have been commanded, and having put off the unseemliness that came upon our conscience from slackness, let us celebrate this bright and all-revered day of the memorial of the life-giving Cross, with almsgivings and with faith, as the divine Scripture says, taking up boldness adorned in reverence, and lifting upon our shoulders the victorious weapon of the life-giving Cross, let us cry as usual to God the angelic hymn given to us from heaven for the cessation of all wrath: “Holy God, holy Strong, holy Immortal, have mercy on us.” Holy Trinity, incomprehensible, unbounded, inseparable, consubstantial, and sharing one throne, and co-eternal, and co-glorious, have mercy on us, and be propitious to our sins for the sake of your holy name, and grant us to find mercy and compassions in the day of your just recompense. For you are our God, and to you — to the Father and to the Son and to the Spirit — belong glory, greatness, power, and authority before every age, and now, and unto all the ages of ages. Amen.
Greek · §4
Σταυρὸς, χειμαζομένων λιμὴν εὐδιέστατος. Σταυρὸς, πολεμουμένων εἰρήνη ἀστασίαστος. Σταυρὸς, ὀρθο δόξων καύχημα καυχημάτων, καὶ αἱρετικῶν κατά κριμα ἀκατάπαυστον. 4085Σταυρὸς, εἰδωλολατρείας κατάλυσις καὶ εὐσεβείας ἀνόρθωσις. Σταυρὸς, παρθενίας διδάσκαλος καὶ σωφροσύνης φύλαξ. Σταυρὸς, δικαίων ἀσφάλεια καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν μετάνοια. Σταυρὸς, μοναζόντων ἐγκαλλώπισμα καὶ σεμνῶς βιούντων εὐκοσμία.Σταυρὸς, νηπίων φύλαξ, καὶ νέων σωφρονισμὸς, καὶ γερόντων στηριγμοῦ βακτηρία. Σταυρὸς, πτωχῶν ἀδαπάνητος θησαυρὸς, καὶ πλουσίων αὐταρκείας διδάσκαλος. Σταυρὸς, πεπλανημένων ὁδὸς, καὶ ἀπολλυμένων ἀπλανὴς ὁδηγός. Σταυρὸς, ἀνάπαυσις ἐν κόποις ἡμερινοῖς, καὶ βοήθεια ἐν φόβοις νυκτε ρινοῖς. Σταυρὸς, ἐθνῶν εὐταξία, καὶ παντὸς τοῦ κόσμου βαθυτάτη γαλήνη.Καὶ τί εἴπωμεν, ἢ τί παραλείψωμεν, ἢ πῶς σε ἀνυμνήσωμεν, πανένδοξε σταυρέ; ὅτι σὲ μόνον ἀπὸ πάσης τῆς κτίσεως ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης ἀνέδειξεν ὅπλον ἀήττητον κατὰ τοῦ διαβόλου, καὶ τῆς ἁμαρ τίας, καὶ τοῦ θανάτου. ∆ιὸ μακάριοί ἐσμεν πάντες οἱ καταξιωθέντες τὴν ἁγίαν ἰδεῖν ἡμέραν τῆς σῆς ἀναδείξεως. Σὺ εἶ τῶν προφητῶν τὸ κήρυγμα· περὶ σοῦ γὰρ ἀγαλλιώμενοι ὁσημέραι κελαδοῦσι λέγοντες πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· «Ἔδωκας τοῖς φοβουμένοις σε σημείωσιν τοῦ φυγεῖν ἀπὸ προσώπου τόξου.» Σὺ εἶ τὸ καύχημα τῶν ἀποστόλων. Ἀδιαλείπτως γὰρ βοῶσιν ἐν Ἐκκλησίᾳ ἁγίᾳ δι' ἑνὸς αὐτῶν ἱεροκήρυκος· «Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι, εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. «Σὺ εἶ καὶ τῶν μαρτύρων στέφανος· ἐπειδὴ καὶ αὐτοὶ τὸν σταυρὸν ἄραντες ἠκολούθησαν τῷ Κυρίῳ. Σὺ εἶ τὸ καύχημα καὶ τὸ ἀγαλλίαμα τῶν ἐν ὅρεσι καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς κατοικούντων διὰ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Κυρίου· ὅτι καὶ αὐτοὶ τὴν σάρκα ἐσταύρωσαν σὺν τοῖς παθήμασι καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις. Σὺ τῶν ἐγγὺς καὶ τῶν μακρὰν ἀναψυχὴ καὶ ἀνάπαυσις. Ὢ τῆς ἀνεκλαλήτου χάριτος τοῦ ∆εσποτικοῦ σταυροῦ! Ὢ τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ ἀνεκλαλήτων καὶ ἀκαταλήπτων μυστηρίων!Καὶ ἵν' εἴπω κἀγὼ ἐκστατικόν τι μετὰ τῆς ἱερᾶς σάλπιγγος· «Ὦ βάθος πλούτου καὶ σοφίας καὶ γνώσεως Θεοῦ, ὡς ἀνεξερεύνητα τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ!» Παρὰ γὰρ τῷ ξύλῳ τῆς ζωῆς νεκρωθέντες, παρὰ τῷ ξύλῳ τῆς κατακρίσεως ἐζωοποιήθημεν. ∆ιὰ τὴν ἄμετρον χάριν τοῦ σεσωκότος ∆εσπότου δέον ἡμᾶς τὴν πανέορτον ταύτην συστήσασθαι «ἐν τοῖς πυκάζουσιν ἕως τῶν κεράτων τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου.» Πυκάζοντα δέ εἰσιν, ὥς φασιν οἱ περὶ ταῦτα δεινοὶ, τὰ ἐξ ἀμελείας ἢ παλαιότητος ῥυπωθέντα, εἶτα ἐξ ἐπιμελείας καὶ σπουδῆς πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ τιμαλφέστερον μετακοσμούμενα εἰς εὐφροσύνην καὶ τέρψιν τῶν εὐωχηθησομένων ἐν γάμοις ἐν ἑτέρᾳ τινὶ φαιδρᾷ θυμηδίᾳ. ∆ιατεθῶμεν τοίνυν ὡς προτετάγμεθα, καὶ τὴν συμβᾶσαν ἡμῶν ἐκ ῥᾳθυμίας τῷ συνειδότι ἀπεκδυσάμενοι ἀειδίαν, τὴν φαιδρὰν ταύτην καὶ πάνσεπτον ἡμέραν τῆς τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ μνήμης ἐπιτελέσωμεν, ἐλεημοσύναις τε καὶ πίστει, καθώς φησιν ἡ θεία Γραφὴ, παῤῥησίαν ἐν εὐλαβείᾳ κεκοσμημένην4088 ἀναλαβόντες, καὶ ἄραντες ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων τὸ νικητικὸν ὅπλον τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ, τὸν δωρηθέντα ἡμῖν οὐρανόθεν εἰς παῦσιν πάσης ὀργῆς ἀγγελικὸν ὕμνον συνήθως πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν βοήσωμεν· «Ἅγιος ὁ Θεὸς, ἅγιος ἰσχυρὸς, ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς·» ἁγία Τριὰς, ἀκατάληπτε, ἀπεριόριστε, ἀνεκφοίτητε, ὁμοούσιε, καὶ ὁμόθρονε, καὶ ὁμόχρονε, καὶ ὁμόδοξε, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου τοῦ ἁγίου, καὶ δὸς ἡμῖν εὑρεῖν ἔλεος καὶ οἰκτιρμοὺς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς ἀνταποδόσεώς σου τῆς δικαίας. Σὺ γὰρ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ πρέπει σοι τῷ Πατρὶ, καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ, καὶ τῷ Πνεύματι δόξα, μεγαλοσύνη, κράτος καὶ ἐξουσία πρὸ παντὸς αἰῶνος, καὶ νῦν καὶ εἰς τοὺς σύμπαντας αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. 4