Recently becoming more popular feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, because it is considered one of the most important among the twelve main holidays of the Orthodox Church.Celebrating its 27-September.Ancient traditions are revered younger generation more and more, so this article will address not only the main signs of this holiday, but also its history and significance.In any case, before anything to celebrate, it is necessary to understand where it has come to us and how this applies throughout antiquity.
first memories of holiday
Day of the Holy Cross on the tradition originated at a time when ravnoapostol'noy queen Helen Cross was found.On it Jesus Christ was crucified.All this happened at the request of Apostolic Emperor Constantine, who was planning to do the construction of the temples of God in various Christian holy places in Palestine.The site was chosen sovesem not surprising, as it is here that was born, suffered and risen Lord Jesus Christ.
search for the Cross of Christ
Find Cross by Queen Helena (and it accounted for Emperor Constantine's mother) it was not so easy as it may seem.For a start, she went up to Jerusalem.Since the enemies of Christ's cross was buried in the ground, it will put a lot of work to find someone who could tell her where he is buried.I did it just an old Jew, Judah.
turned out that the cross was thrown into the cave, littered with various rubbish, and the place was built a pagan temple.So Elena ordered that the temple had been destroyed and that she opened the access to the cave.
After her order fulfilled, it turned out that the cave is three crosses, and it is unknown which of them is the one that is needed.
how to identify the true cross?
Orthodox feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross today would not be possible if the queen Helen was not a wise woman, and did not take advantage of the Jerusalem council Macarius.
To determine which cross is the Cross of the Savior, they brought every man turns to a terminally ill woman.When you are laying the first two crosses, that there has been no miracle, but after the third she became completely healthy.
Around the same time, past the place where these events unfolded, there was a funeral procession.In order to finally make the right choice, Empress Helen ordered to lay on the line crosses and dead.Miracle again - after the third cross, the dead come to life.
this way all learned about what it is the cross of the Holy Cross, and regained in 326.
reaction of people to the Cross of the Lord
After all convinced of the life-giving power of the Cross, Queen Helena, and the Patriarch Macarius bowed to him and kissed her, immediately after them is done around them.
This is where the story originates feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.At the scene came a lot of Christians, each of them wanted to venerate the relic, but physically it was impossible, as it would take too much time.That is why the Patriarch of Jerusalem, stood on a small hill, and several times raised the Cross, that is erected it.When the people saw the Cross of the Saviour, then immediately everyone bowed and exclaimed: "Lord, have mercy!»
It is due to a kind of wit part of the Cross Queen Helena still gave Emperor Constantine and the other part of it was decided to leavein Jerusalem.
Later it in place of these events was built a very extensive Cathedral of Exaltation of the Holy Cross, where until today kept the second part of the precious Cross.They also built churches in Bethlehem, on the Mount of Olives, in Fevroniya oak Mamriyskogo.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - especially
Its main feature is that it is very different in nature from the rest of the celebration of such orthodox celebrations.Typically, the holy and great holidays are days of mourning over the Divine Sufferer, and this is considered to be a day of joy.That is the joy of all the result of his suffering, and the fruits of redemption.
It is in honor of redemption, which manifests itself in the face of the main instrument, the conductor, as well as signs, celebrated Exaltation of the Cross.What date it happens, everyone should remember - September 27.
believed that the Cross of the Lord is the glory of Jesus Christ.Therefore it is not Christ himself stands to famous Cross, but Cross in order to glorify Christ.
value Cross for Christians
Many argue that through the Cross we have a number of different benefits.We were able to learn and comprehend all piety virtue of chastity.Also, we know the power of nature and the truth of the Lord, through the same cross that we may know the power of love, and do not refuse to die for one another.Thanks to the Cross, we were able to disregard all the good things of the world, while waiting for them in the future, taking all imagined as visible.That's what keeps saying "Word on the Exaltation of the Cross", authored by Basil of Seleucia, or John Chrysostom.
From the very beginning, after the cross found he displayed his miraculous power, helping to heal serious diseases, deadly bites of poisonous animals and neutralize poisons.
If you do not take into account the mysterious and mystical significance of the Cross for the true Christian, he also has a purely moral significance.When we look at the suffering of our Savior, our krestonoshenie seems to not be so heavy.That is, the cross serves as a support in difficult situations, helping to show their courage and not be afraid of close proximity with death.
This Orthodox feast (Exaltation of the Cross) is of great importance for Christians because of what was in their hearts for a long time prepared the ground for this.This celebration is only multiplied many times people love the Cross, becoming gradually more and more solemn.It becomes a symbol of the Cross, which allows you to deal with a variety of invisible enemies and thereby save his immortal soul.
importance to take Exaltation
As you have probably guessed, there are many sorts of interesting facts that are directly related to the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.Signs in the celebration are essential.They were so many that some of them did not come until today, and forever forgotten.But there are some practices that even now continue to carry out and give it a lot of time and attention.
September 27 is the third Oseninami, so in ancient times to this day, all painted crosses on the doors of their homes to Matica, or on the lintel.Matica is a thick beam in the form of logs, which cut one across the building.Crosses were drawn garlic, charcoal, used for these purposes and chalk.More surprisingly, that sometimes crosses the blood drawing animals sacrificed.Some simply cut out the cross with a knife on a suitable surface.
Security pets especially
Many also tried to protect their cows or horses from the various machinations of evil forces.To do this special wooden crosses and small underlay them to the nursery.Those who do not have such an opportunity, they acted a little differently.They crisscross rowan twigs and put them in a nursery.Rowan since ancient times was considered a symbol of bright light, which is able to scare away all evil.
Such Orthodox holiday (Exaltation of the Cross) by itself is considered the final day of the Indian summer.This is the third and most recent meeting of the autumn.
approaching winter
It is a day of celebration all reminded of his winter.Autumn became a full-fledged mistress, so the villagers are increasingly looking to the upcoming cold weather, on snow-storms and frosts that they are waiting for.That's why were so many popular sayings of the type "to putting up a coat for caftan stretches!" Or "Vozdvizhenie coat symet, coat put on!»
also ought to remember that the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a lean, so it was important to observe all necessary restrictionsfood.Those who are properly carried out, will be forgiven all the seven sins.
surprising that for their faults this day were paid even animals.For example, it was thought, if a snake bites someone, it will not survive the winter.This belief was based on the fact that all were convinced of the existence of a mysterious place Irij where experienced winter not only birds but also snakes.That is, the offending snake will not be able to crawl and simply freeze soon.
cabbage - what is it?
Exaltation of the Cross used to be called even a "cabbage".That is evidenced by the many different quite popular once sayings that have not forgotten to this day.In particular, it concerns such proverbs as "Vozdvizhenie - cabbage, cabbage chop time!" Or no less eloquent "Without bread man fed will not, without the cabbage - the cabbage soup not live!" Such expressions testify that cabbage enjoyed enoughvery popular in terms of the preparation of various dishes from it.
also called cabbage and fun parties, which were held not only in villages but also in the big cities.On this day all dress up in festive clothes and went to each other's homes.Then it was called "chop cabbage."
Features of cabbage
This autumn a number of major parties was especially loved the youth, because they are waiting for is not less than the carnival, and dragged it all the celebration about a week or two.When the house came to visit, they certainly fed beer and sweet honey and all sorts of treats.What kind of snacks are available, it's up in accordance with the income of owners.
It was celebrated as Exaltation of the Cross.Signs also asserted that during the celebration of the young men picked a bride.By the way, the party at the idle boys were called "kapustenskie Vecherki" and tried to get all the girls knew that there they will be waiting groom.It is also called the bride and "cabbage".It's late in the evening festivities were organized general, which are then often led to the wedding on the Veil.That is the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross for some young people is the beginning of family life.
How to please the bride and more - to putting up signs
most important sign, which enjoyed everything girls - is that necessarily before the evening should be seven times to read a special spell.This spell will make a girl as attractive as possible in the eyes of a guy that she likes.Only if such signs it will be able to succeed in celebration.
On the day of the celebration can not walk in the woods, because then the bear must equip itself a den, but the legendary devil mandatory inspects his kingdom, and they can not be this way.Due to the fact that the devil said animals, man, accidentally fell into his eyes, can also be counted.But after that I will never be able to get out of the woods and back home.
That September 27 bird fly away to the south, and those who see them will be able to think of any desire, which then will come true.Among other things, the true hostess always clean the house for the holiday, because in this way they drove all evil and damage.
interesting fact is also that you can not start putting up no new cases, because they are doomed to failure.
Speaking of cabbage also originated a few signs.For example, it refers to the fact that before it was to sow the seeds should be required to hold in your hand a little bit, instead of cabbage do not freak rutabaga.At the same time it was believed that if you put the cabbage on Thursday, it all potochat worms, and it will be unfit for consumption.
Weather sings on the Exaltation
On small or else the high tide shows a flight of geese.That is, if they fly low, we are waiting for low tide and if it's high - high.
Signs of the holiday as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and suggest that if you saw the crane, then pay attention to their flight.If they fly slowly, with high enough and kurlykayut, then we will have to wait for warm autumn.
If the celebration of the north wind blows, the next year will be a warm summer.West also indicates bad weather.
If you notice a kind of circle around the moon, which has a red color, then it is a sign of a dry and clear weather.
As you can see, the history of the holiday and the most important signs of it quite interesting.Some of them you can observe even today, especially the weather.In connection with the restoration of many of the ancient traditions of our ancestors in many cities can be seen such a structure, as the Cathedral of the Holy Cross (Omsk, Moscow, Moscow region, Nizhny Novgorod, and many others).
