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August 1: The Progress of the Holy Crosstranslated

August 1, 2026 · 1 min read

We celebrate the Progress of the Holy Cross today, August 1st. It is about his tour from the Palace to the districts of Constantinople for the blessing of the faithful and the certainty that he frees us from epidemics and diseases. "Today the Cross is raised and the world is freed from error. On this day of Christ, the Resurrection is inaugurated, and the ends of the earth rejoice."

The Cross emerges through the Crucified Jesus as a symbol of blessing and a measure of love and forgiveness. The Animal Cross indicates the path of the faithful towards the Resurrection and the redemption of humanity from the sufferings of corruption.

"The cross of all the good ones, all-embracing is defined, worshipped; and all creation celebrates in joy, illuminated by the grace of the will of our exalted God". (Canon 1, ᾨὴ 3', of the Holy Cross ᮮchos pl. 4'. The fixer).

We also honor the memory of the Seven Child Martyrs, the Maccabees (Abeim, Antonius, Acheim, Gouri, Eleazar, Eusevona and Markellus), their mother Solomon and Eleazar (†166 BC) their teacher, as well as the Nine Martyrs in Perga (Alexander, Attus, Eucleus, Katunou, Kindeu, Kyriakou, Leontiou, Minaios and Mnisitheou),...

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Jakub Svoboda

Today, during the service, I noticed how the troparion "Σήμερον Σταυρός υπσούται" sounds simple and strong. Here in Liberec, we sing it the same way as in Constantinople centuries ago, and it still applies - the cross protects against diseases. It is interesting that the Maccabean boys and their mother Solomoni are remembered at the same time, it reminded me how strong faith endures even in difficult times.

Michal Černý

You're right, the troper really sounds just as strong here in Olomouc. When we sing it at the beginning of August, I always remember my grandmother telling us that the cross protected people from the plague in the old days. And the Maccabees - their mother Solomoni also touches me, how she was able to stand by her faith, even if it cost the lives of her sons. Did you sing it this year in Liberec with the whole choir?