Third Week of Lent is called Veneration of the Cross week.Photos of her main character - a cross decorated with flowers - you can see on this page.Veneration of the Cross week as it concludes the first half of a difficult path.On Friday evening service of the altar, solemnly endure to the public worship of the festively decorated cross.He will be in the middle of the temple on the lectern before next Friday, the 4th week of Lent, recalling the upcoming Holy Week and Easter.
Cross - a symbol of the atoning sacrifice
Starting a conversation about what the value is for the Orthodox Christians of the Cross Week, it is necessary to answer the question why the cross is an instrument of torture is selected as an object of worship.
answer derives from the very meaning of the Savior's suffering on the Cross.On it he was brought His atoning sacrifice, which opened the faulty human sin the gates of eternal life.Since then, Christians all over the world see the cross, above all, a symbol of heroism saving the Son of God.
Christian doctrine of salvation
Christian teaching suggests that to save the damaged original sin human nature the Son of God incarnate of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I have found all the elements inherent in it.Among them, the passion (the ability to feel pain), perishability and mortality.Sinless, he and all the consequences in the original sin that in agony on the cross to heal them.
Suffering and death were the price of such treatment.However, due to the fact that in him without confusion and inseparably combined two natures - divine and human - Savior was resurrected to life, revealing the image of the new man, free from suffering, disease, and death.Consequently, the cross - is not only suffering and death, but that is very important, resurrection and eternal life for all who are willing to follow Christ.Veneration of the Cross week of Lent is just intended to guide the consciousness of the faithful to reflect on this achievement.
history holiday worship the cross
This tradition was born fourteen centuries ago.In 614 Jerusalem was besieged by the Persian king Khosrow II.After a long siege, the Persians seized the city.Among other trophies they have taken out the Tree of the Holy Cross, which was stored in the city since it was found Elena Equal to the Apostles.The war continued for many years.Combined forces with the Avars and Slavs, the Persian king was almost captured Constantinople.Saved Byzantine capital is only the intercession of the Mother of God.Finally, the tide of war changed, and the Persians were defeated.This war lasted for 26 years.At the end of its main Christian relic - the True Cross of the Lord - he has been returned to Jerusalem.The Emperor himself has made it into the hands of the city.Since then, each year celebrate this joyous event.
Timing celebration
At that time, the order of Lenten church services has not yet been installed in its final form, and it is constantly making some changes.
In particular, the practice of transfer entered holidays falling on weekdays of Lent, on Saturday and Sunday.This made it possible not to disturb the severity of fasting weekdays.The same thing happened on the occasion of the Holy Cross.He decided to celebrate the third Sunday of Lent.The tradition, according to which of the Cross week was the third week in a row post, survived to our time.
In those days it was decided to start preparing catechumens, that is, converts the sacrament of baptism which was scheduled for Easter.It was considered highly desirable to begin their instruction in the faith from the worship of the cross.This lasted until the XIII century, when Jerusalem was conquered by the Crusaders.Since then the fate of the shrine is unknown.Only a few particles are found in some of his small chest.
Features church service during the holiday
of the Cross Week of Lent has a special feature, inherent only to it.At the church services of the Week recalls the events, which has yet to happen.In everyday life, one can only remember what has happened, but God has no concept of time, and therefore in his service verge of past and future are erased.
third week of Great Lent - Veneration of the Cross - the memory of the coming Easter.The uniqueness of the Sunday church service is that it combines the drama of prayer and full of Holy Week and Easter hymns of joy.
logic of such a construction is simple.This order of the rite came to us from the first centuries of Christianity.In those days, in the minds of the suffering and resurrection we were together, and were inseparable links of the same chain.One logical consequence of the other.Cross and suffering lose all meaning without the resurrection from the dead.
week of the Cross - a kind of "predprazdnstvenny" holiday.It serves as a reward for all those who passed the first half worthy of Lent.The situation in this day, although less solemn than the Passover service, but the general mood is the same.
holiday special significance today
third week of Great Lent - Veneration of the Cross - acquired particular importance today.The evangelical times when the penalty is on the cross was considered shameful, and it subjected to a runaway slaves, not all were able to take a man as the Messiah, who came in such humble guise, who shared a meal with tax collectors and sinners and executed on the cross between two thieves.The concept of sacrifice for others does not fit in the mind.
Madman they named the Savior.And not the same madness nowadays seems preaching self-sacrifice for the sake of neighbors?It does not put at the heart of the slogan calling for the enrichment and achievement of personal well-being in every possible ways?Despite the professed religion now enrichment, 3rd Week of Lent - Veneration of the Cross - reminds everyone that the greatest virtue is the sacrifice brought by others.Holy Gospel teaches us that what we do for our neighbor we do for God.
