The Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Viennatranslated

The Most Reverend Metropolitan of Austria, Mr. Arsenios, celebrated the High Priestly Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of St. George in Vienna on the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy and Living Cross, September 20, 2026. Collaborating with him were Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Ioannis Nikolitsis, Cross Steward Aristides Ganosis, Elder Radu Trandafir and Archdeacon of the Holy Metropolis George Meleshko.

In his sermon, His Holiness referred to the feast of the Holy Cross and the Gospel passage of the day, pointing out that the Cross of Christ becomes for each person a personal question, calling, path and way of life.

It remains at the center of the believer's existence and illuminates the path of his discipleship. In the Lord's "Whoever wants to follow me will follow" the respect for human freedom is revealed. Christ offers life and extends the invitation of discipleship. The first word of discipleship is "will." Salvation becomes a meeting of two freedoms: divine love, which comes down to man, and human will, which responds to God's call. This free sequence presupposes "renouncing...