Showing posts with label
Subdeacon Damascene the Studite.
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Showing posts with label
Subdeacon Damascene the Studite.
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Thus, it is proper and worthy to venerate the Cross, as the Prophets themselves instruct us to do. The prophet David says,
"Let us worship at the place where His feet have stood" (Ps. 131:7). Elsewhere he commands, "Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet"(Ps. 98:5). And once more he remarks, "Thou hast given a sign unto them that fear Thee, that they may flee from before the face of the bow" (Ps. 59:6). In other words, David, as if speaking to Christ, says: "You gave to the
Christians who fear You a sign to flee from the arrow." The sign is the Venerable Cross; for we make the sign of the Cross on our body.
The arrow symbolizes the devil, who is our enemy and who desires to assassinate our soul. And then he repeats, "Work in me a sign unto good, and let them that hate me behold and be put to shame" (Ps. 85:17). That is, David pleads and asks Christ, "Give me the sign of the Cross that will be beneficial for me, which will put all my adversaries (i.e., the demons) to shame when they see it. Similarly, the prophet Ezekiel instructs,
"Put a mark on their foreheads" (Ezk. 9:4).
Whereas, the wise Solomon states, "For a wood was blessed, through which righteousness comes" (WSol.14:7). That is, the Cross through which
salvation was given is honored and venerated. The prophet Isaiah even specifies the type of wood the Cross was made of: "With the cypress, the pine, and the cedar together, to glorify My holy place" (Isa. 60:13).
Rejoice O Cross! You are the boast and glory of the entire world.
Rejoice O Cross! You are the strength of the weak and the support of the faithful. Rejoice O Cross! You are the companion of travelers, the victory of
those in battle, the salvation of them in danger. Rejoice O Cross! You are the teaching of the Apostles, the prophecy of the Prophets, the aid of the preachers, the boast of the martyrs, the delight of the ascetics, the venerable and honorable adornment of all the Saints. Rejoice O Cross!
You are the protector of all pious Christians. You are our guardian and weapon. You are our helper. With Your power and energy we put our enemies to shame, we overcome the demons, and we vanquish the pride of the Devil. Let us worship the Holy Cross my beloved Christians. Let us
venerate it and wholeheartedly adore it. Let us gaze at it with fear and joy: with fear on account of our sinfulness and unworthiness; with joy on
account of the grace that it bestows to us.
Subdeacon Damascene the Studite
This present Sunday of the Holy Cross is a day of preparation, similar to the one that takes place
when a nation prepares to welcome back its king who is returning victorious from war. Just as a king who has vanquished his enemies sends heralds to inform his people and announce to
them the joyous news of his victory, prior to
returning to his homeland, similarly our Lord Jesus Christ, the Great King, has sent us the Venerable and Holy Cross today as a herald
instructing us to prepare to receive Him— because
shortly He will come to show us how He
conquered the devil through His death and His
Holy Resurrection.
Today the Orthodox Church of Christ resembles
Paradise. Just as in the middle of the Garden of Eden there was the tree of knowledge, which put Adam to death through his disobedience, similarly our Holy Church sets forth the Cross, the tree of life, which resurrected Adam through the death of Christ. Christ presents the Venerable Cross to us today so that we may cheerfully adore it as the cause of the resurrection for the entire human race.
Today, the following prophecy of the Prophet David was fulfilled:
“Let us worship at the place where His feet have stood” (Ps. 131:7).We have made an effort to fast
thus far through Great Lent; now, the day has come for us to rejoice.
People who travel by foot on a far journey
oftentimes begin to grow weary, especially in times when the hot sun is beating down on them.
If, however, they encounter a tree with dense
foliage along the way, they find solace, they rest and recuperate under its shade, and then continue their journey with renewed strength.
Similarly, since we have struggled to observe
this arduous fast, as we encounter the Venerable Cross today midway through Great Lent, we rejoice in this divine celebration, we find
consolation, we are fortified, and thus eagerly
proceed on the remainder of our journey through the fast. The Venerable Cross is an invincible weapon for every Christian. It is the victory for kings, the honor of the Church, the persecutor
of the demons, and the guard of the faithful.
Blessed are they who venerate the Cross with a pure heart. Fortunate are the people who the Lord speaks of in His Holy Gospel, who are worthy of following Him:
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mt. 16:24)
