With splendor the High Priest Vespers at the celebrating Holy Parish Church of the Holy Cross Ierapetratranslated

With particular splendor, holy rapture and a large participation of pious Christians, the Vespers of the feast of the universal Exaltation of the Holy and Life-giving Cross was celebrated on the afternoon of Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Holy Parish Church of the Holy Cross in the city of Ierapetra. The service was officiated by Rev. Metropolitan of Ierapytni and Sitia Mr. Kyrillos, who blessed the breads and at the end preached the divine word on time, while the Holy Clergy of the city participated and the representatives of the local authorities were present.

In his inspiring sermon Rev. Metropolitan Mr. Kyrillos referred in simple words and in a clear way to the deeper meaning of the Despotic feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

His Eminence noted that as we sing in the ceremony of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross which takes place at the end of the Orthro of the feast in the middle of the holy church: "Your Cross, Christ, we worship and Your Holy Resurrection we praise and glorify". We worship the sign of the Cross, because on it Christ stretched out His hands and was soaked in His honest Blood for the salvation of all mankind, and thus from being an instrument of dishonorable death and condemnation, the cross was transformed into...