In 1970 the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross has been renamed as Triumph of the Cross. It was Constantine I who, after defeating Maxensius on October 28, 312, at the Malvian Bridge of Rome under the banner of the Cross, legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire. His mother, St. Helen/a, proceeded to Jerusalem in 325 and had excavations made on Mt. Calvary to unearth the Cross of Christ. As per tradition, of the three crosses discovered there, the true one was identified when its touch miraculously healed a dying patient. On identifying the true Cross, Makarios, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, stood on an elevated platform and lifted high the holy Cross for all to see. The faithful sank to their knees, bowed down before the Cross and repeatedly cried: “Lord, have mercy.” To commemorate this, the Emperor Constantine and his queen mother St. Helen built at the site of the discovery a lovely Church and named it The Church of the Holy Sepulcher. A substantial portion of the true Cross was ceremoniously installed in that shrine for public veneration while pieces of the same were gifted away to friends, nobles and generals. This feast commemorates the discovery of the Cross of Christ on September 14, 326 by St.Helen.
In 614 the relics of the Cross that had been preserved in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at Jerusalem were carried away by Chosroas II, the Persian King. However, they were re-captured in 628 by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius and returned to Jerusalem the followingyear. Tradition has it that the devout Emperor, attired in costly garments studded with gold and precious stones, attempted to carry the Cross personally to the Church located on Mt. Calvary. Surprisingly, he couldn’t move forward even a foot. Then Zechariahs, the Bishop of Jerusalem, whispered to the bewildered Monarch: “Consider, O Emperor, with these triumphant ornaments you are far from Jesus carrying his Cross.” The message was crystal clear. Heraclius put on penitential robes and easily carried the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
At the time of Jesus Christ, cross was an object of shame and contempt as only slaves, criminals and outlaws were condemned to death by crucifixion. A Roman citizen was put to the sword, but never exposed to the indignity of the cross. But with the death and resurrection of Jesus, the cross has become an object of honour and a badge of triumph. In fact, of all the signs and symbols connected with Christianity the most visible one is the cross. It adorns homes and institutions, Churches and rectories, convents and hospitals, high ways and street corners. It is found atop cupolas of mighty Basilicas and towering Cathedrals and above all, continues to occupy a revered place on the crowns of Kings and Emperors. Crosses are suspended on the necks of millions of faithful with a chain or affixed on their coats with a pin. Moreover, Christians all over the world daily trace the sign of the cross over their foreheads, lips and chests. From the cradle to the grave, the sign of the cross follows them like their very shadow. At baptism they are blessed with the sign of the cross and so at every sacrament. At the tomb, the parting blessing is imparted to them in the form of a cross.
Reflection: The cross is the most eloquent and universal symbol of our Christian faith. It represents the instrument of our salvation and stands out as a uniquely silent but meaningful compendium of the drama of our redemption – passion, crucifixion, death and resurrection, all embedded in one image. Moreover, the cross represents Christ’s supreme sacrifice offered to his heavenly Father and witnesses to his ultimate triumph over sin and death.
May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal. 6:14)
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. (Way of the Cross)
