The Feast Of The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross

On Sunday, September 17, 2017, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the last of the five Tabernacle Feasts in the Church calendar. At St. Leon Armenian Cathedral, Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was the day’s celebrant and homilist.

He was assisted at the Holy Altar by Archpriest Fr. Manoug Markarian, the Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian and the Cathedral’s deacons. His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian and the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan participated in the service.

During the service, Archbishop Derderian acknowledged the presence of Eleni Kounalakis, former United States Ambassador to Hungary.

“Today the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Through this celebration, we, as Christians, renew our faith in Christ, for the Cross itself symbolizes the presence of Christ and His sacrificial life for the salvation of humanity. We celebrate and acknowledge the power of the Holy Cross in Christendom,” said Archbishop Derderian in part in his sermon.

The traditional Blessing of the Four Corners of the World (Andastan) was held during the service.

In recognition of his 35th anniversary of ordination and consecration into Priesthood, the Primate congratulated the Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian and commended his decades of dedicated pastoral service to the Armenian Apostolic Church. An icon was presented to the merited priest by the Primate as a token of his gratitude.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Primate, with the assistance of the reverend clergy, performed the blessing of the harissa in the Turpanjian Plaza, which was followed by the traditional harissa festival.

About the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the last one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is the most important feast among the feasts dedicated to the Holy Cross, as it is dedicated to the history of the return of the Holy Cross from imprisonment, its elevation and glorification. In the Armenian Apostolic Church the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on Sunday during the period between September 11-17. This year that date is September 17, and the Monday following the Feast is a Memorial Day.

In 610 A. D, the Persian King Khosrov with a large army attacks the Byzantine Empire. Enthusiastic about the initial victory, in 614 A. D. the Persian army enters Jerusalem. Many people are killed and many are imprisoned. Pontiff Zakaria, the Patriarch of Jerusalem is imprisoned, too. However, the Persians are not satisfied and enter the Church of Holy Sepulcher and take the Holy Cross kept in the Church. The Holy Cross had been found and installed in the Church for the Christians to worship by Heghineh, the mother of the King Costandianos, in the beginning of the 4th century.

In 628 A. D., the Byzantine army led by the King Herakles fight against the Persians to return the Holy Cross. The Armenian army regiment, led by Mzhezh Gnounie, supported the Persian army. With the Lord’s help the Byzantine army wins the battle.

The Holy Cross is solemnly brought to the Armenian town Karin, from where it is carried to Constantinople, and then - to Jerusalem. On the way the Holy Cross was raised for the people to see and worship.

For Christians the Cross is God’s power and strength and pride of all prides, on which Christ’s innocent blood was shed. By means of the Cross Jesus proved His love towards mankind, and the Cross became for us the symbol of hope, love and saving.