| Feast Of The Cross |
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In the Christian Liturgical Calendar , there are several different feasts known as Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the Cross used in the Crucifixion of Jesus . While Good Friday is dedicated to the Passion Of Christ and the Crucifixion, these days celebrate the cross itself, as the instrument of Salvation . SEPTEMBER 14 The original name of this feast was the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, by which name it is still known by the Orthodox Church and the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church. Since 1970 , it has been officially called the ''' Triumph Of The Cross ''' by the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church . In some parts of the Anglican Communion it is called '''Holy Cross Day''', a name also used by Lutheran s. In Jewish folklore the feast was established by Saint Peter for converted Jews to observe instead of Rosh Hashana. The feast commemorates the finding of the True Cross in 325 during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem by St. Helena , the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine I . The Church Of The Holy Sepulchre was then built at the site of the discovery, by order of Helena and Constantine. The church was dedicated nine years later, with a portion One-third remained in Jerusalem, one-third was brought to Rome and deposited in the Sessorian basilica Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Holy Cross in Jerusalem), and one-third was taken back to Constantinople. of the cross placed inside it. In 614 , that portion of the cross was carried away from the church by the Persians , and remained missing until it was recaptured by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius in 628 . The cross was returned to the church the following year after initially having been taken to Constantinople by Heraclius. The date used for the feast marks the dedication of the of the church was on September 13 , the cross itself was brought outside the church on September 14 so that the clergy and faithful could pray before it. Western practices '' ( Musée Condé , Chantilly )]] In Roman Catholic liturgical observance, red Vestments are worn at church services conducted on this day, and if the day falls on a Sunday, its Mass is used instead of that for the occurring Sunday in Ordinary Time or after Pentecost which would otherwise fall thereon. Until 1962 , the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of the calendar week after the one in which September 14 falls were designated as one of each year's four sets of Ember Days by the church in the West. In more recent years, there have been permissions to move these observances for local reasons. September 14 is the titular feast of the Congregation Of Holy Cross . Eastern practices In Eastern Orthodox practice, the Exaltation of the Cross commemorates both the finding of the Cross in 326 and its recovery from the Persians in 628, and is considered to be one of the Great Feasts of the church year. One of the high points of the celebration is when the priest or bishop brings the Cross out of the sanctuary, where it has been reposing on the Holy Table (altar). The cross is lying on a tray that has been covered with an Aër (liturgical veil) and decorated with Basil leaves and flowers. He sets the cross on a table in the center of the church as the choir sings of the festal Troparion of the Cross: "Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance, granting unto Orthodox Christians victory over enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross, do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth." Then, all the members of the congregation prostrate themselves on the ground as all sing, "Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify" three times (at the words "Thy holy Resurrection" all stand up again on their feet). Then all come forward to venerate the cross and receive the priest's blessing.
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