Orthodox Church along with the greats Christian holidays especially celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. On this day, church services take on a special triumph with the hymns of the Akathist to the Cross of the Lord. The tradition of honoring this holiday is rooted in the ancient times of the struggle between Christianity and paganism. As a result of the fall of man, enmity began between people, which led to death and decay. The cross was as an instrument of redemption for a world corrupted by sin. Strong prayer recognized as a troparion to the life-giving Cross, which is permeated with a plea for salvation.

History of the Akathist to the Cross of the Lord

IN ancient rome pagan emperors tried to completely and completely destroy in Orthodox Christians the memories of the sacred places where the Lord suffered and rose again. No matter how the ancient emperor Adrian tried to eradicate sacred memories, centuries later, by the Providence of God, the great shrines - the tomb of the Lord and the Life-Giving Cross were acquired by the Christian people and are available for worship. When in 313 Emperor Constantine sent an expedition to Jerusalem to find the Cross of the Lord there, it turned out that there were three crosses. Then, having attached each of the three, the servants discovered, after a while, under one of the crosses of the revived dead man, they realized that in front of them was the Life-Giving Cross. Today on Orthodox services Troparion to the Life-Giving Cross is one of the main prayer works taken as a basis.

Akathist Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Great joy and spiritual uplift for Orthodox Christians is the celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Divine services with the singing of an akathist to the Cross of the Lord and special traditions associated with this holiday are especially revered by Christians around the world. With their prayers, believers praise the Cross of the Lord and ask, by the power of the Life-Giving Cross, to grant them salvation from all sorts of troubles. In the church rite, liturgical traditions, the Exaltation is not only a celebration of the finding of the Cross, but also its glorification as saving. In the akathist to the Life-Giving Cross, the cross itself symbolizes the power of God, which contains the whole world.

Akathist text to the honest and life-giving cross of the Lord

Kondak №1

Come, people of Christ, let us praise the Holy Cross,
on it Christ, the King of Glory, spread his hand, raise us to the first blessedness,
out of worthless serpent's charms. But you, O Holy Cross, as if you have the power of the Crucified Christ inherent in you, save and save from all troubles lovingly calling you:

Angelic faces, like God's ministry, the Cross is present,
the free passion of Christ the Life-giver is glorified. We, having escaped the suffering of That eternal death, imitating the Higher Forces, joyfully cry out:
Rejoice, O Cross, as Christ our God is upon you, by the will of his hand he has spread, our salvation has been done;
Rejoice, for the crime of Adam and Eve is prostrate,
who stretched out their hands to the forbidden tree, be abolished.
Rejoice, as I have raised up the former on you, like a criminal, the Lawgiver,
the ancient oath, which was already on us, is required;
Rejoice, as if by a strange mystery, the human race has been freed from mortal aphids by a strange mystery.
Rejoice, for the sting of death is crushed on you by those who suffered and died;
Rejoice, for the sake of suffering, God is reconciled with people.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №2

Seeing fallen people, Lord, you became human,
You suffered the cross and death freely in the flesh for our kind,
Yes, from eternal death deliver those who confess Thee, the Son of God and cry out to Thee: Alleluia.

The human mind is exhausted in comprehending the great mystery of Thy, Christ, incarnation
and free suffering for us: what are you, this impassible God, the passion of the cross, like a man,
thou hast endured, and thou hast made this instrument of thy death a source of life and salvation
to all pious in Thee who believe and laudatoryly sing:
Rejoice, Cross, on which the sacrament was performed, predetermined from the ages;
Rejoice, for our redemption has been accomplished on you, in many forms in images and senech presented.
Rejoice, as the Life-giver who died on you, exude blood and water, in the image of our sins are washed away;
Rejoice, as the sinful scabs of our souls are cleansed by drops of His Most Holy Blood.
Rejoice, Cross, like an animal tree, hedgehog is in the midst of God's paradise, desired by Christians;
Rejoice, thou who wisely nourishes us with the fruits of immortality and encourages our cowardice with the hope of Eternal Life.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №3

Your Cross, even if the tree is apparently a being, but the Divine robe is a power,
and the sensible world is revealed, our salvation cleverly works miracles, sings to Thee:
Alleluia.

The property before our eyes is the Most Holy Cross,
with a holy worship of that we honor the one who has spread out on him for the sake of the Savior of Christ,
and, kissing, we cry out:
Rejoice, Cross, glorified by the obedience and suffering of Christ;
rejoice, exalted by the exaltation of the Son of God upon you,
Even the whole world is raised up from the fall of Adaml.
Rejoice, for the terrible mystery of the earth that has come true on you is horrified and trembling, as if you want to swallow the criminals;
Rejoice, as if the veil of the temple that laid on you the Lamb of God was torn apart and the sacrifice of the Old Testament was abolished.
Rejoice, Cross, like a stone disintegrated under you, give birth to Jews with a stone heart
you have fallen away from God by unbelief, you have been deprived of the grace of the priesthood and the kingdom;
Rejoice, as if I have darkened the sun in the passion of Christ, the night of polytheism has passed away and the light of faith has ascended.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №4

Breathing storm of malice and moving envy,
the high priests of Judaism, hiding Your Cross in the ground, O Christ God,
let not their foolishness be a rebuke;
but that one, like a precious treasure, ascended from the bowels of the earth,
acquired by the diligence of the pious Empress Helena and manifested to the joy of the whole world,
with a God-beautiful song: Alleluia.

Seeing then that Christianity and the people of the Holy Cross were gaining,
glorifying Christ God, who unfolded on him, "Lord, have mercy," - appealingly.
Now, imitating them, we glorify His holy Cross with laudatory chintz:
Rejoice, O Cross, sanctifying our earthly nature, hidden and defiled by sins, into the earth;
Rejoice, having put to shame with your appearance from the bowels of the earthly detractors of the incarnation and the Divinity of Christ.
Rejoice, as if He suffered on you in the flesh, having received all power in Heaven and on earth,
Yes, everyone and everything will lead to God the Father;
rejoice, for he died on you, as a man by the power of his divinity
break the rivets of hell and bring out the souls of the righteous from there.
Rejoice, Cross, like a prudent thief, crucified to Christ, confessing Him,
you, like a ladder, ascend to Heaven;
Rejoice, as if by cutting off the passions of Christ who are crucified, you elevate them to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №5

Lord, under Moses, sometimes we prophesy the exact image of Your Cross, we show Your victory in defeat,
now the very Cross of your property, we ask for help:
strengthen your Church and grant her victories against enemies,
let all your enemies be scattered, you who do not cry out:
Alleluia.

The Holy Cross, Christ, representing Amalek in the desert of Sinaiste:
when you stretch out your hand, creating an image of the cross, people are strengthened;
now all things are fulfilled in us: today the cross is erected, and the demons run,
today the whole creature is freed from aphids, as if the whole Cross for the sake of exalting gifts to us.
The same, rejoicing, we cry out:
Rejoice, Cross, the terrible weapon of Christ, whose demons tremble;
Rejoice, as by the power of the Crucified Christ on you, demonic hordes are driven far away.
Rejoice, as by the power of Divine grace acting in you
Christ-loving people are granted victories against the opposition;
Rejoice, as from you, as a tall and prolific tree of Christ suffering on you,
the fruits of life and salvation grow for us.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №6

Sometimes the life-giving tree of the Cross appears as a preacher of the power and divinity of Christ,
when you raise the dead with your touch and raise him to life,
having seen, many from the Jews and the Gentiles, knowing the great piety of the mystery:
as if for the sake of human salvation, God appeared in the flesh and endured the passion of the cross,
May those who cry to Him save: Alleluia.

Like a tree of paradise, the Holy Cross of Christ rises on Golgotha,
From then on, the mental branches of grace spread throughout the entire universe and Spread on it:
under its canopy, those who want to live piously in Christ Jesus find coolness in the heat of passions.
In the same way, we, the grace of that communicant, cheerfully cry out:
Rejoice, holy Cross, the tree of life, planted in Eden for Adam's sake, transfigured;
Rejoice, new Adam, with outstretched hands on you, revealed to the world.
Rejoice, for under the shadow of your grace-filled protection all the faithful come running;
Rejoice, for by the mercy of Him who bestowed upon you the repentant sinners avoid the fire of Gehenna.
Rejoice, Cross, our consolation in sorrows and sorrows;
Rejoice, life-giving joy and help to the exhausted in the struggle against the attachments of the passions, the world and the devil.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №7

Although reveal to the human race of His goodness and mercy an unsearchable abyss,
Thy Cross, O Lord, hast given us the firm guardian and exorcist of demons.
All the same, we all, who believe in You, glorify the greatness of Your passion, gratefully singing to You:
Alleluia.

Thou hast shown marvelous deeds, O Lord, by Thy Honorable Cross:
I will burst open on that flesh, the whole creation will change: the sun's rays are hidden,
the foundations of the earth will be shaken, hell will be broken by the power of your power and bring out the tyrants,
even from the century kept to eat.
For this sake, we link these songs with flowers:
Rejoice, O Cross, as if all creation had compassion on You, as if it were its Creator and Master;
Rejoice, for the power of That and the Divinity bear witness to the sun by darkening and the earth by trembling.
Rejoice, for the one who died on you was not kept in the dead, but, having destroyed the power of death,
resurrected on the third day;
Rejoice, as if I have risen to Tom, the gospel sermon, which began from the face of the apostle,
went out to all the ends of the earth.
Rejoice, O Cross, for by you the worship of idols and pagan polytheism have been abolished;
Rejoice, for for your sake is the right faith in the One God, glorified in the Trinity,
be established throughout the earth.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №8

Strangely, incarnating God and on the Cross, the former mentally seeing was crucified,
Let's get rid of the vain world, the mind is turned to Heaven.
For this sake, God descends to the earth and ascends to the Cross, and to those, like a ladder,
He will raise up to Heaven those who cry to Him: Alleluia.

Today, Adam and Eve are having fun, the Cross that is present is seeing, and the adversary was struck by it,
even of old in paradise by eating the forbidden fruit of those deceitful and captives he created for himself.
In the same way, we, rejoicing at our forefather for deliverance from the captivity of our souls, reverently sing:
Rejoice, Cross, for on you the good Shepherd lay down His soul for His sheep, and even down to hell, looking for the lost;
Rejoice, for He did not despise the work of His hand, Adam and Eve, but with the other, the righteous, I was rescued from hell,
like from the jaws of a mighty beast, and they put them into paradise.
Rejoice, as Dada and Cherubim splash a fiery weapon on you, nailed to Christ,
Let's go keeping, step back from the Tree of Life;
Rejoice, for we, now reborn by baptism, are new people in Christ,
we unrestrictedly partake of heavenly food.
Rejoice, Cross, rod of the power of Christ, sent from Zion,
where we feed on the pasture of gospel teachings;
Rejoice, for by you we are preserved unharmed from soul-destroying wolves,
like lions roaring and looking for someone to devour.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №9

Deliver us from all troubles and wiles of the enemy, O blessed Cross,
as if receiving grace and strength from Christ nailed to you,
To him, as our God and Savior, we sing thanksgiving and laudatory: Alleluia.

All earthly vetoism does not suffice for the glorification of Thy Cross, Lord,
on it thou hast made our salvation; the same, perplexedly praise that according to her heritage,
we call sitse:
Rejoice, Cross, as if the Savior of the world ascended on you, many people in the knowledge of His call and still calls;
Rejoice, as if shining on you, like on a candlestick, the true Light illuminates all the ends of the earth with the light of the knowledge of God.
Rejoice, for now the East and the West glorify the One who suffered on you;
rejoice, as thee, as the footstool of Christ, all the faithful, uplifting, glorify.
Rejoice, as from you, as from an inexhaustible source, the name of Christ, people will draw an abundance of eternal blessings.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №10

To those who want to save us and those who come running under the shade of your protection, be an assistant, the Most Holy Cross, preserving us from all evils with the power of the Crucified Christ on you, to Him, as our God and Savior, we thankfully and laudatoryly sing: Alleluia.

You are the wall that protects us from troubles and misfortunes, O all-honourable Cross,
and a strong pillar against the face of the enemy, the fighters do not dare to approach him,
afraid to look at your power.
For this sake, with faith, we are protected by your holy sign and merrily sing:
Rejoice, most honorable Cross of Christ, protect us from the attack of the spirits of malice;
Rejoice, keep us safe from various arrows.
Rejoice, as if from your sign, with faith piously done,
all the forces of hell, like smoke from the wind, disappear;
Rejoice, as through you all their strength, like wax from the face of fire, melts.
Rejoice, as holy martyrs, shielded by your sign and calling on the name of Christ,
everyone who bravely endures the form of torment;
Rejoice, as reverend fathers with the help of the power of the Divine, inherent in your sign,
demonic insurance and passions of rebellion are victorious.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №11

We bring the most tender singing to Thee, all-honourable Cross,
and we humbly pray to Christ our God crucified on you,
Even as a gift to you for joy and consolation in sorrows,
May His passion deliver us from soul-damaging passions and teach us to faithfully sing to Him:
Alleluia.

The light of the grace of God, mysteriously inherent in you,
Enlighten our spiritual feelings, Holy Cross, let us illuminate and instruct with that,
let's not stumble on the stone of temptation,
but let us be able, by the commandments of God, to be right in our whole life, singing to thee:
Rejoice, messenger of the unceasing miracles of Christ and His mercy to the human race;
Rejoice. Cross, the renewal of the human race and the New Testament of Christ, the seal and confirmation.
Rejoice, triumph of the Christian faith and trustworthy anchor of our hope;
Rejoice, adornment of the holy temples of God and protection of pious houses.
Rejoice, blessing of fields and gardens;
Rejoice in all the elements of sanctification.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №12

Grant Thy almighty grace to us, O Lord, that we may follow Thee, our Lord,
take up our cross, not nailed to it with nails, but by labors, abstinence and humility,
Yes, let us be taco partakers of Your suffering, from them the sweats of Eternal Life flow,
soldering all the faithful, piously singing Ty: Alleluia.

Singing your greatness, all-honorable Cross, we all praise you,
like the victorious scepter of the King of Heaven, our salvation is a joyful sign,
the same and cry:
Rejoice, Cross, the power of Orthodox Christians and their indestructible fence;
Rejoice, adornment of the saints and strength and reinforcement of all ascetics of faith and piety.
Rejoice, O Cross, protect us from the cradle to the grave on all paths of life
and after death on air ordeals, protect us from the spirits of malice;
Rejoice, for under your sign you rest, who died in faith and piety,
on the last day they will rise to Eternal Life.
Rejoice, O Cross, foreshadowing the glorious Second Coming of Christ with your appearance in Heaven;
Rejoice, for the crucified Christ and all unbelievers will then see thee and the mountaineer will weep,
but those who love the Lord, seeing you, will greatly rejoice.
Rejoice, Honest Cross, joyful sign of our redemption.

Kondak №13

O Most Honorable, Divine and Life-Giving Tree of the Cross of the Lord! By your miraculous power, protect me, a sinner, who overshadows with faith my brow and my Persian and all my compositions and my souls with your holy sign in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to the glory of the Holy Trinity, glorified in Unity, and gratefully singing the song of victory: Alleluia .

/This kontakion is read 3 times, then ikos #1 and kontakion #1/

Orthodox prayer to the honest and life-giving Cross of the Lord

O Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Of old, you were a shameful instrument of execution, now the sign of our salvation is forever revered and glorified! How worthily I can, unworthy, sing to Thee, and how dare I bow the knee of my heart before my Redeemer, confessing my sins! But the mercy and inexpressible philanthropy of the humble Boldness, Spread on you, gives me, let me open my mouth to glorify Thee; for this reason I cry to Ty: rejoice, Cross, the Church of Christ's beauty and foundation, the whole universe - affirmation, Christians of all - hope, kings - power, faithful - refuge, Angels - glory and chanting, demons - fear, destruction and driving away, wicked and unfaithful - shame, the righteous - delight, the burdened - weak, overwhelmed - a haven, the lost - a mentor, obsessed with passions - repentance, the poor - enrichment, floating - helmsmen, the weak - strength, in battles - victory and overcoming, orphans - true protection, widows - intercessor, virgins - protection of chastity, hopeless - hope, sick - doctor and the dead - resurrection! You, foreshadowed by the miraculous rod of Moses, a life-giving source, soldering those who are thirsty for spiritual life and delighting our sorrows; You are a bed, on it regally rested three days of hell. For this sake, and in the morning, and in the evening, and at noon, I glorify Thee, the blessed Tree, and I pray, by the will of the One who has blossomed on Thee, may He enlighten and strengthen my mind with Thee, may He open in my heart a source of perfect love and all my deeds and my paths will overshadow Thee May I magnify Him who is nailed to Thee, for the sake of my sin, the Lord my Savior.

Troparion to the Cross of the Lord

Troparion, tone 4 (For the Feast)

The life-giving Cross of Thy goodness, Thou hast bestowed upon us unworthy Lord, we bring Thee in prayer, save the people and Thy praying city, the Theotokos, the One Lover of mankind.

Troparion, tone 1

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thy inheritance, victories Orthodox Christian bestowing upon the opposition, and keeping Thy residence by Thy cross.

Kontakion, tone 4

Ascended to the Cross by your will, to your namesake Your new residence, grant Your bounty, Christ God, rejoice with Your power Your faithful people, giving them victories to adversaries, allowance to those who have Your weapons of the world, an invincible victory.

magnificence

We magnify Thee, Life-Giver Christ, and honor Your Holy Cross, by which Thou hast saved us from the work of the enemy.

"My soul sings, lifted by you!" [Prayers of the Hieromartyr Seraphim (Zvezdinsky), compiled in conclusion] Dmitrov Hieromartyr Seraphim (Zvezdinsky), Bishop

Akathist to the Life-Giving Cross

Akathist to the Life-Giving Cross

Kondak 1

Chosen as the King of Glory and consecrated by the death of the Redeemer of the world, we will compose the miraculous power of the possessing Tree, faithfully, praise and joyfully cry out: Rejoice, Honest Tree, for the mystery of the world redemption has been performed on it.

Ikos 1

The angelic forces, like God's servants around the Cross of the Lord, are invisibly forthcoming, horrified and reproached on earth by the death of Jesus in Heaven, chanting. We, unworthy, sanctified by the sign of the Holy Cross of the Lord, joyfully cry out:

Rejoice, Honest Tree, sanctified by the Blood of the God-man. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, glorified by the obedience of Christ. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, who freed us from hell. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, deposition of demonic regiments. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, proclaiming the power of Jesus. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 2

Seeing You hanging on the Cross, all the Powers of the Heavenly face are closed, praising, singing Your greatness, Life-giving Christ. We on earth with fear and trembling before Your holy Cross are coming, we sing joyfully the song: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

The unreasonable mind, miraculously enlightened by the knowledge of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, bows to the Holy Tree with fear and love and incessantly sings to the sitz:

Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, resurrecting the dead. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, manifesting the truth. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, for on it Jesus was crucified by will and nailed with nails. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, Omnipotent Tree. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 3

By the power of the Holy Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, demons are cast down, our unclean life is cleansed. For this reason, making the sign of the cross with faith and looking with reverence at the image of the Passion of Christ, we sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

We always have the Holy Cross before our eyes, overshadowing and sanctifying the holy Christian churches, guarding the Holy Place of the Lord, with tears of thanksgiving we sing to this:

Rejoice, Honest Tree, source of eternal blessings. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, sanctified by the Flesh and Blood of the God-man. /

Rejoice, Honest Tree, Miraculous Tree. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, Trebulous Tree. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, Tree of Life and Salvation. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 4

The storm of fierce passions is strong to quench the holy and all-honorable Cross of Christ, which is the spiritual sword, the shield of the faithful, the all-powerful weapon and the all-conquering sign. For this sake, we unworthy in joy cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing the teaching of Christ, we believe in the Mystery of the saving Atonement, we worship the Passion of Christ, we kiss the almighty Cross and joyfully cry out:

Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, who quenched the flame of rage. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, who struck the apostates. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, who defeated the hordes of the enemy. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, who cut off the head of the serpent. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, triumph of Christian faith and hope. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 5

The divine source of healing was to us the miraculous Cross, on it Christ, by his will, suffered for our salvation and spread His Divine hand, the love of the Father from Golgotha ​​embraced the whole universe. For this sake let us cry out to Him, our God, the song: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing all the nations the greatness of the glory of the Cross of the Lord and the miraculous power of the image and its sign, having believed in the Holy Life-Giving and inseparable Trinity and worshiping the Most Honorable Cross; For this reason we cry joyfully:

Rejoice, Honest Tree, admonishing us with its power for good. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, healing us from diseases with its power. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, with your glory turning all enemy forces to flight. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, glorifying crowned kings with its glory. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, who exalts their kingdom with its majesty. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 6

The Honest Tree appeared as a god-bearing preacher, the Cross of Christ, the four-pointed Cross, was built from worthless: its earth miraculously grows imperishable and fragrantly green. The cross appeared to be a cover for the helpless, on which Christ was slain by will. To Him, the Savior of the world, we bring the song: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Thou hast shone, like the sun of truth, the Most Honorable Cross of Christ, hidden in the bowels of the earth, saved with soulless stones like a treasure, and acquired for the joy of the whole world, we will loudly cry out to him:

Rejoice, O Honest Cross of Christ, found by the prayers and diligence of the pious Empress Helena. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, raised to a height by Patriarch Macarius for worship with all tongues. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, who has put idolatry and unbelief to shame. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, who called the blasphemers to repentance. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, for you are the miraculous and Christ-bearing Tree. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 7

Although the Savior of the world shows mercy to the human race, he willfully accepts reproach, is condemned to a shameful death, he is nailed to the Cross and tramples death on the cross, so we also sing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

A wondrous spectacle appears to the world: the God-Man is crucified, his hand and foot are nailed, His ribs are pierced, by His suffering and humiliation the wounds of sinful mankind are cleansed, and thus the Cross of Christ of the Glory of God shows triumph and victory a sign; for this sake we call out to the sice:

Rejoice, Honest Tree, form of humility. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, praise of the apostles. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, reverend affirmation. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, fortress of the martyrs. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, fence of desert dwellers. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 8

A strange miracle, a shameful cross turned into the Tree of Life and Salvation, that more admonishes, sanctifies and heals from diseases of the soul and body, with faith and love, incessantly crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

All our sinful life is cleansed by the miraculous Cross of the Savior of the world, which served to reconcile the Divinity with criminal humanity. For this we thankfully cry out:

Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, showing us the love and longsuffering of God. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, where the calling of tongues has been accomplished. / Rejoice, O Honest Cross of Christ, manifestation of goodness to the hopeful. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, depth of hope of souls who love the Lord. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, strength and joy of all Christians. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 9

Every worldly storm is crushed by the power of the sufferings of the Cross of the God-man Jesus, who redeemed the whole world, so we, honoring the Most Honorable Cross of the Lord with a holy sign, humbly bring to God love and glory a joyful song: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

An ornate tongue cannot utter praise worthy of the All-Honored Tree, the miraculous Cross of Christ, fragrant with the love of the Sufferer Jesus Christ, is made up of worthlessness. For this sake, we, perplexedly worthy of praising him, cry out with tears:

Rejoice, Honest Tree, triumph of the Church of Christ. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, sanctification of all the paths of our life. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, help to all Christians. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, strength and reinforcement for all the weak. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 10

Though save the world, His most pure Christ raised His hands on the tree, and the tree of disobedience was replaced by the Tree of the Son of God the Father of obedience. The hand of intemperance is overthrown by Adam, by the hands of the God-man, outstretched on the Cross, the Heavenly Father unites with His love all the ends of the world. In the same way, we solemnly cry out the song of victory: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

You are the wall that protects us from all troubles and misfortunes, the Most Honorable Cross, the wholesome source of salvation with all tongues, overshadowing everyone with your holy sign in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. For this reason, we call out with joy:

Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, stained with the Blood of the God-man. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, fragrant with the flowers of paradise. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, illuminating us with rays of faith. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, strengthening us with rays of hope. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, warming us with rays of love. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 11

We bring laudatory singing to you, the Divine Life-Giving Tree of the Cross of the Lord, overshadowing the faithful and protecting us all from every enemy and adversary. For this reason, we cry out a song: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Singing your miracles, almighty Cross of Christ, with faith and thanksgiving we bow the knees of our hearts, with tears we kiss the holy feet of the Sufferer, we bow down to Christ's growth and so we cry:

Rejoice, Honest Tree, scepter of Christian kings. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, power of the entire universe. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, foundation of piety. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, sanctification of the waters. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, fruitful fields and gardens. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 12

Your all-powerful grace, O Lord, reveals to us the Tree of the Blessed, for it will illuminate our minds, admonish and teach us to sing an unceasingly victorious song: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

The Honest Cross was erected on Mount Golgotha, and You, the Creator of the world, were lifted up on it, as if to the shame of the world. But we, the faithful, kiss Your most pure ulcers, we bow to Your Honorable Cross, crying out:

Rejoice, Holy Cross of Christ, ordained by God for the Sacrament of Redemption. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, for you are the joyful sign of our salvation. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, a sign of our liberation. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, the mortification of our passions. / Rejoice, Honest Cross of Christ, our conscience is peace of mind. / Rejoice, Honest Tree, on which the sacrament of the world redemption was performed.

Kondak 13

O Most Pure, Divine and Life-Giving Tree of the Cross of the Lord! By your miraculous power, protect me, a sinner, overshadowing my brow with faith, my perse and all my compositions and my blessings with your holy sign, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to the glory of the Holy Trinity in Unity glorified, gratefully singing the victorious song: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the first ikos and the first kontakion.

Prayer to the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord

Marvelous miraculous power four-pointed and three-pointed Cross of Christ! At your foot, in the dust, prostrate, I worship you, the Honest Tree, driving away from us all demonic desire and freeing us from all troubles, sorrows and misfortunes. You are the Tree of Life, you are the purification of the air, the consecration of the holy temple, the protection of our dwelling, the protection of my bed, the enlightenment of my mind, heart and all my feelings. Your holy sign protects me from the day of my birth, enlightens me from the day of my baptism. It is with me and on me all the days of my life, on land and on waters, it will accompany me to the grave, it will overshadow my ashes. The holy sign will announce to the whole universe about the hour of the general resurrection of the dead and the last terrible and righteous Judgment of God.

Oh, all-honourable Cross, enlighten me with your shadow, teach and bless me unworthy, always undoubtedly believing in your invincible power, protect me from every enemy and adversary and heal all my ailments, spiritual and bodily. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, by the power of Your Honorable and Life-Giving Cross, have mercy on me and save me a sinner. Amen.

Prayer to the Archangel of God Michael

Oh, wonderful light Michael, the ethereal Archangel of the Heavenly Host! In an unfamiliar height, among angelic lordships, like a shining sun, a faithful servant of the mystery of the Trinity destinies, a vigilant guardian of the Christian world! Keep me complacent and submissive to God until my last breath in the midst of heavy temptations in a vain and many-troubled life. Do not leave my stomach helpless in all ways and grant help to preserve the memory of repentance, the last hour of death, the Last Judgment and eternal torment awaiting unrepentant sinners in hell, and the blessedness of the righteous in the Kingdom of Heaven. At the hour of my death, come with the face of angels to the exodus of my soul.

Canon to the Holy and Life-Giving Cross