The Week of Holy Cross

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, September 14, is found in the calendars of churches East and West. I don't know about the texts for this week in the Western traditions, but I do have access to various texts used during services throughout the week following September 14 in the Orthodox Church, so I thought I would share a few of them in honor of the Cross this week.

A comparison is often made between the tree of paradise which was used by the serpent to deceive man and bring death, and the Tree of Cross through which the serpent, the deceiver, was deceived and death was slain. Thus the refrence to setting a "tree against a tree" and many references to the deceiver. From Vespers for September 16:

Thou didst take the straying sheep, O Christ, on Thy shoulders, and Thou didst bring it unto Thy Father on high through Thy precious, life-creating Cross, to number it with the Angels by Thy Divine and All-Holy Spirit; for, O Savior, Thou didst set a tree against a tree. Now with fervent faith we exalt it, glorifying Thee Who upon it was exalted, mightly exalting us.

Since Thou didst will to ransom all from out of the deceiver's hand, Thou didst suffer smiting, insult, and reproach, and even crucifixion, O only Life-Bestower, long-suffering Friend of man most merciful.

Thy Cross, the spear, the piercing nails, I honor; for by them hast Thou ransomed all men from corruption, since Thou art the only Life-bestower, the whole world's Benefactor, O our good Savior, only Friend of man.

My Savior, Who art more than good, Thou wast nailed to the Cross for me; Thou wast smitten, given vinegar to drink, affronted, O Redeemer, and with a spear wast wounded; and Thou dost bear all things, O Sinless One.

Though I in Paradise had terribly fallen through the manslayer's bitter counsel, O Savior, yet Thou on Calvary didst raise me up of old, healing by Thy Tree that curse of the tree; and Thou slewest the accursed serpent who through beguilement had slain me, and Thou didst grant divine life unto me. To Thy divine Crucifixion be glory, O Lord.

Good things to bear in mind as Christians living in the midst of the world's empty promises. There is only One true Friend of Man. (Translation from the Greek, in The Menaion of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Boston, Mass.. 2005)

Comments

[Stuart Koehl]

From Vespers of the Feast:

By its elevation, the Cross is an appeal to all creation
To adore the blessed Passion of Christ our God,
Who was suspended upon it,
For Christ destroyed by this Cross
The one who destroyed us.
In his great goodness,
He brought us back to life
After we had been dead,
And he beatified us
And made us worthy of heaven,
For he is merciful
And we exalt his Name with great rejoicing,
And glorify his infinite condescension.

O precious Cross of the Lord,
Moses prefigured thee
When he stretched out his arms to heaven
And thus defeated the haughty Amelek.
Thou art the pride of the faithful,
The strength of those who struggle.
Thou art the beauty of the Apostles,
The courage of the just,
And the salvation of all the saints.
Wherefore, at the sight of thy elevation
The whole creation rejoices
And exults and glorifies Christ,
Whose goodness bound all things together.

[Bill R]

We Lutherans also observe Holy Cross Day:

Sing, my tongue,
the Savior's glory;
tell His triumph far and wide;
tell aloud the famous story
of His body crucified;
how upon the cross a victim,
vanquishing in death, He died.

Eating of the tree forbidden,
man had sunk in Satan's snare,
when our pitying Creator did
this second tree prepare;
destined, many ages later,
that first evil to repair.

Such the order God appointed
when for sin He would atone;
to the serpent thus opposing
schemes yet deeper than his own;
thence the remedy procuring,
whence the fatal wound had come.

So when now at length the fullness
of the sacred time drew nigh,
then the Son, the world's Creator,
left his Father's throne on high;
from a virgin's womb appearing,
clothed in our mortality.

All within a lowly manger,
lo, a tender babe He lies!
see his gentle Virgin Mother
lull to sleep his infant cries!
while the limbs of God incarnate
round with swathing bands she ties.

Thus did Christ to perfect manhood
in our mortal flesh attain:
then of His free choice He goeth
to a death of bitter pain;
and as a lamb, upon the altar of the cross,
for us is slain.

Lo, with gall His thirst He quenches!
see the thorns upon His brow!
nails His tender flesh are rending!
see His side is opened now!
whence, to cleanse the whole creation,
streams of blood and water flow.

Faithful Cross!
above all other,
one and only noble Tree!

None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peers may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron!
Sweetest Weight is hung on thee!

Lofty tree, bend down thy branches,
to embrace thy sacred load;
oh, relax the native tension
of that all too rigid wood;
gently, gently bear the members
of thy dying King and God.

Tree, which solely wast found worthy
the world's Victim to sustain.
harbor from the raging tempest!
ark, that saved the world again!

Tree, with sacred blood anointed
of the Lamb for sinners slain.
Blessing, honor, everlasting,
to the immortal Trinity;
to the Father, Son, and Spirit,
equal praises ever be;
glory through the earth and heaven
to Trinity in Unity. Amen.

Venantius Fortunatus, "Sing My Tongue"
(HT: Cyberbrethren: Rev. Paul McCain)

[Stuart Koehl]

Bill,

A good example of the complementary nature of Western and Eastern theology.