The Exaltation of the Holy Cross-is the major feast celebrated in honor of the Holy Cross-. Other churches commemorate this feast on September 14: in the Armenian tradition it is celebrated on the closest Sunday to the 14th making it variable between September 11-17.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, one of the Five Tabernacle (Daghavar) Feasts of the Armenian Church, is preceded by a fast (Monday through Friday) as precedes the feasts of the Transfiguration and Assumption. In connection with this feast are also celebrated the Eve of the Feast (Navagadik), Day of Remembrance (Merelotz), and post-festive celebration (7 days) of which and aside from the Eve of the Feast, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are feast days dedicated to the Holy Church. Theologically, Feasts of the Holy Cross-and the Holy Church differ only slightly since both are related to our Lord's redemptive economy.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is based on two glorious historical events.
Recorded in ecclesiastical chronicles and in accordance with Holy Tradition, the Holy Cross-was ceremoniously elevated only on three occasions before the faithful for veneration. The first Bishop of Jerusalem, St. James the Apostle, elevated a cross, blessing the faithful and according to tradition sang for the first time, "We bow before thy Cross, O Christ..." (This dagh or treasure is sung frequently in our Church, especially during Holy Week.) Reference was made to a Cross instead of the Holy Cross since at the time of St. James-- because of the pressure employed by the Jews and the subsequent Roman persecutions-- the name of Christ was still being whispered with much trepidation. Therefore, it was quite impossible to go to the dung-heap on Golgotha in which the Holy Cross-had been discarded after the crucifixion and rightfully display it for the veneration of the faithful. This tradition, established by St. James, points out that even in the earliest times of Christianity the Holy Cross, because of the Great Mystery it represents, was an article of devotion for Christians.
The second occasion when the Holy Cross-was elevated ceremoniously before the faithful for veneration was when it was 'discovered,' by Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine in 326. According to ecclesiastical chronicles, an informed Jew from Jerusalem by the name of Juda was forced to disclose the place where the Cross-was buried. Three crosses were found, one of them being our Lord's, the others belonging to the two criminals crucified with Him. In order to authenticate the true cross, the body of a youth who had recently died was placed on each. When he was placed on the third cross he was resurrected and thus the true and Holy Cross-was discovered. At that time, Bishop Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem elevated the Holy Cross-before the faithful who, having witnessed the miracle, were awe-inspired and venerated it. The commemoration of this historical event is celebrated on the closest Sunday to October 26 (variable from October 23-29), and is called Discovery of the Holy Cross.
In our church, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross takes place with great ceremony and includes the ritual of the Procession and Rogation, which is performed that day. This particular ritual reminds us of the deep feeling and emotion aroused in Armenia when the Holy Cross was elevated and brought through on its return to Jerusalem from Persian captivity.
In the southeastern section of the Valley of Garine lies a group of hills; its tallest peak, until recently, was known as Khachapayd (Wooden Cross). On a small plateau of that mountain, which has an elevation of 9000 feet, is a spring of fresh cold water, which has become a place of pilgrimage. According to tradition, the Persians had a change of heart after relinquishing the Holy Cross and tried to attack and regain it. The Armenians left the Holy Cross-at that place and repelled the attack with all their strength. Upon their return they saw the pure spring water flowing from the place they left the Holy Cross and thus it became a place of pilgrimage. At the foot of that same mountain is the Monastery of the Holy Cross-to, which the faithful go on pilgrimage on the Feast of the Holy Cross.[i]
[i] According to Ormanian, The Feast of the Exaltation is related to all three of these events, among which, the tradition related to St. James, the Brother of our Lord is preeminent. Adapted from Saints and Feasts. Koushagian.
Also, it is interesting to note that Egeria, writing at the end of the fourth century, is the first to mention the Cross as an object of veneration. She reports the veneration of the Cross at the Liturgy for Great Friday in Jerusalem.
Excerpt from: Samoorian, V. Rev. Fr. Ghevont. DOMAR: A Compendium of Directorium and Calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church according to the traditions of the Apostolic See of Jerusalem. Armenian Orthodox Theological Research Institute [AOTRI], 2006.
