This holiday was originally established in memory of the discovery of the honorable and life-giving Cross of the Lord (in 326) by Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles, the mother of the first Christian emperor Constantine the Great, and from the 7th century the memory of the return of the life-giving Cross from Persia by the Greek Emperor Heraclius (in 624) began to be connected with this day. Both during the acquisition and during the installation of the Cross returned from Persia, the patriarch, in order to give everyone who had gathered for the celebration the opportunity to see the shrine, erected, that is, raised the Cross, turning it to all four sides, and each time the people reverently bowed, crying out: “Lord, have mercy!”
From this raising of the Cross the holiday received its name: the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord.
Since the power of the Cross was revealed in the victories of the blessed sovereigns over their enemies and in the triumph of Christianity over paganism, the main hymn of the day of the Exaltation is a prayer for the blessed king and the Christian people.
Troparion.
Save, O Lord, Thy people... (See above).
Kontakion.
Ascended to the cross by your will, grant to your namesake new residence your bounty, O Christ God: by your power we made our blessed emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich glad, giving him victories as companions, your help to those who have it, a weapon of peace, an invincible victory.
Greatness.
We magnify You, life-giving Christ, and honor Your holy cross, with which You saved us from the work of the enemy.
Prokeimenon.
You have seen all the ends of the earth the salvation of our God. (Ps.97:3)
Stichera.
The Cross of Christ, hope for Christians, guide for the lost, refuge for the overwhelmed, victory in battle, affirmation of the universe, doctor for the sick, resurrection of the dead, have mercy on us.
Irmosy.
1. Having drawn the cross, Moses, directly with the rod, cut off Israel walking on foot, also striking back at Pharaoh’s chariots in spite of them, writing an invincible weapon. By this we praise Christ our God, for he is glorified.
3. The rod is accepted as an image of the mystery, because by vegetation it prejudges the priest: but the previously barren Church, now the tree of the cross has blossomed into power and affirmation.
4. I have heard, O Lord, Your vision of Mystery, I have understood Your works, and I have glorified Your Divinity.
5. O blessed tree, on which Christ, the King and Lord, was crucified, by which the deceiving tree fell, deceived by you, and nailed to God in the flesh, who gives peace to our souls.
6. Jonah spread out the watery beast in the womb, holding the hand of the cross in the shape of a cross, prefiguring the saving passion of reality: having thus passed away from the third day, the supermundane resurrection was registered in the flesh of the nailed Christ of God, and by the three-day resurrection the world was enlightened.
7. The insane command of the wicked tormentor shook people, the breathing reproach and the godless slander: neither the three youths were afraid of the brutal rage, nor the consuming fire, but the counter-breathing dew-bearing spirit, with fire existing at the waist: O O Lord of the fathers and us, blessed art thou.
8. Bless, O youths, the Trinity of equal number, the Co-creator of the Father God, sing the Word that descended and the fire that turned into dew, and extol to all the life of the giving Spirit of the All-Holy for ever.
9. Thou art the Mystery, O Theotokos, paradise, who increased Christ uncultivated, through whom the life-giving tree of the cross was planted on the earth. Thus, now we exalt, worshiping him, we magnify You.
Moses drew a cross on the Red Sea: striking straight with his rod, he divided the sea for Israel on foot, and striking across, he again united the waters above Pharaoh’s chariots and thus fully depicted an invincible weapon (the cross). Therefore let us sing praises to Christ our God, for He is glorified.
The rod (of Aaron) is taken to depict the mystery, for it predicts the prosperity of Aaron as the priest chosen by God; and in the Church, previously barren, the tree of the cross has now blossomed for its strength and confirmation.
I heard the mystery of Your economy, O Lord, I understood Your works and glorified Your Divinity.
Oh, blessed are you, tree on which Christ, the King and Lord, was crucified, through which he who seduced (Eve) fell with the tree, being himself caught by the God nailed to your flesh, who gives peace to our souls.
Jonah, spreading his arms crosswise in the womb of the sea beast, clearly represented the saving suffering (of Christ); and having left there after three days, he prefigured the supernatural resurrection of Christ God, nailed to the flesh and enlightening the world with a three-day resurrection.
The insane command of the wicked ruler, breathing threat and vile blasphemy, confused the people; However, the three youths were not frightened by either brutal wrath or destructive fire, but, being in the midst of the flames, against which the dew-bearing spirit blew, they sang: Blessed are You, glorified of the fathers and our God.
Youths equal to the Trinity! Bless God the Creator Father, sing the Word that descended and turned fire into dew, and extol the All-Holy Spirit who gives life to all forever.
You are a mysterious paradise, Mother of God, the uncultivated growth of Christ, by whom the life-giving tree of the cross was planted on earth. Therefore, at the erection of it now, worshiping it, we magnify You.
We bow to Your Cross, Master, and we glorify Your holy resurrection.