May 7 - Showing the Sign of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem


After the death of the first among Christians, the good-faithful and righteous emperor, the Holy Great Constantine, his son Constantius took the kingdom and turned to the wicked heresy of Arius, who blasphemed the Son of God. A wonderful sign was performed in the Holy City of Jerusalem, on Pentecost Sunday, when the Descent of the Holy Spirit is celebrated.

And it happened then that it was Sunday, on the seventh day of the month of May, and at the third hour the image of the honorable Cross of the Lord appeared in the sky, which shone with an indescribable light, more than the rays of the sun, at which all the people, looking at it, marveled with great fear. That sign of the Holy Cross stood above the holy mountain of Golgotha, on which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified; and it extended in its length, reaching as far as the Mount of Olives, which is about fifteen stadia away from Golgotha; and the width of the Cross matched its length. And its beauty was so adorned that it resembled the face of the rainbow, thus attracting the gaze of all to it. So all who had things in their hands and those who were in the houses, leaving all their affairs, came out and looked with fear at that most wonderful sign. Then, the whole multitude of the people of Jerusalem, filled with fear and joy for the divine sight, ran to the holy church with great humility and warmth of spirit, old and young, men and women with suckling infants, as well as virgins who were not tempted by marriage, who were guarding themselves in the chambers, coming out of their chambers, ran there again. And people of all ages and orders, foreigners and scoundrels, Christians and those of other faiths, and all with one mouth and with a loud voice glorified Jesus Christ our Lord, the Son of God, the Only Begotten True God from the True God, the Doer of great miracles.

Then the unbelievers and heretics, the enemies and blasphemers of the divinity of Christ, were filled with shame, seeing how great is the glory and power of Christ the Lord, in the manifestation of the divine Cross; and it was then proved by the deed that the Christian faith is just, true and saving, and not from the proof of the words of those who come from the wisdom of men from without, but from the Holy Spirit by revelation and strengthened power, being testified from heaven with signs and wonders.

Of this wonderful sign, the Most Holy Kyrie, the patriarch of Jerusalem, informed the emperor Constantine by letter, advising him towards the right faith. And Hermias Sozomen wrote that, through that appearance in heaven of the Holy Cross, very many of the Jews and pagans were convinced; and, approaching Christ our God with repentance, they received Holy Baptism and glorified Christ, Who is of one being with the Father and the Holy Spirit, with good faith. And we, confessing His ineffable power, shown through the Cross, exalt Him with our praises, that He is the Lord our God, and we worship His footstool, that is, the Holy Cross, praying the goodness of the Lord, that at His second and fearful coming, He may make us worthy to see in joy and in the hope of salvation the sign of the Son of Man - the Holy Cross - which will appear in heaven; and with that, as with a key, may He open to us the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven, as He once opened Paradise to the thief, and, together with the blessed sheep, may He ordain us forever. Amen.

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