of piety.Thus far let the history be concerning the finding of the life-giving cross. And let no one deceive himself, speaking idly of unprofitable things and introducing fables with strange names into the account. For no other bishop of Jerusalem has ever existed besides those previously written, nor any other emperor of the Romans, nor indeed was the precious cross found in any other way. For from Augustus the emperor, in whose reign our Lord Jesus Christ was born according to the flesh, until the pious emperor Constantine, there have been thirty-five emperors. Likewise also from James the apostle and first of the bishops until the same reign, there have been thirty-five bishops of Jerusalem.

But the venerable day of the dedication of the holy places, and of the exaltation of the adorable cross, the Fathers decreed by royal command to be held each year on the fourteenth of the month of September, which is the eighteenth before the Kalends of October, to the glory of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Since by the grace of God we have arrived in our discourse at the auspicious day of our feast, which is the showing forth of the life-giving cross, come, as far as 4084 is possible, let us greet it briefly and bring this discourse to a close.Hail therefore, precious cross, hail, for on you our Lord Jesus Christ was raised according to the divine economy, in whom are all the treasures of joy and of grace.Hail, precious cross; for through you eternal joy is awarded in heaven and on earth. Hail, precious cross, for from above and from the beginning the Creator depicted your image in all creation. Hail, glorious cross, for all the powers in heaven, perhaps because of the salvation through you, send up most awesome hymns to the Master. Hail, glorious cross; for through you, both in cities, and in islands, and in every nation, the Churches of the orthodox have been founded. Hail, glorious cross; for through you every mouth of the faithful has been opened to theology. Hail, blessed cross; for through you heavenly angels with men on earth hymn Christ. Hail, blessed cross; for through you earthly men likewise stand before God in the heavens, with unspeakable joy glorifying the Maker. Hail, blessed cross; for through you Adam, freed from the curse, leaping and exulting, has entered into paradise, having received his ancient dignity. Hail, holy cross; for through you every diabolical power has been cast down, and every demonic energy has been destroyed. Hail, holy cross; for through you the thrice-holy and consubstantial Trinity is known and believed and glorified in every place.Hail, holy cross; for through you inalienable good things have been given to men.And what shall we say and what shall we leave out? How shall we praise the power of the Lord's cross? O name of the cross, in which the greatness of the mysteries of God is hidden, revered by angels, and venerable to men! For what is more lovely than the name of the cross, or sweeter to Christians? What is more effective than this for working wonders? The cross, a most effective sign of divine power.The cross, joy of angels and grief of demons. The cross, foundation of the Church. The cross, ever-shining and all-revealing light of the whole world. The cross, an unshakable and unbreakable and unconquerable wall of the whole inhabited world. The cross, the seemly and unassailable glory of priests. The cross, the might and power of kings, and a victorious weapon against enemies. The cross, the most valiant full armor of armies, and undaunted by adversaries. The cross, the unassailable and unspoiled protection of cities.The cross, the continuous and unending joy of peoples. The cross, the continuous and unceasing utter destruction of devils. The cross, the eternal and extraordinary downfall of demons. The cross, the sure and unashamed and undiminished hope of Christians. The cross, healing of the sick

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εὐσεβείας.Ἕως ὧδε περὶ τῆς εὑρέσεως τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ ἡ ἱστορία ἔστω. Καὶ μηδεὶς ἑαυτὸν ἀπατάτω ματαιολογῶν ἀσύμφορα καὶ μυθοποιίας δι' ὀνομάτων παραξένων παρεισάγων τῇ ὑποθέσει. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐπί σκοπος ἕτερος Ἱεροσολύμων γέγονε πώποτε παρὰ τοὺς προγεγραμμένους, οὐδὲ βασιλεὺς ἕτερος Ῥω μαίων, οὐδὲ μὴν ἑτέρῳ τρόπῳ ὁ τίμιος σταυρὸς εὑρέθη. Ἀπὸ γὰρ Αὐγούστου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἐφ' οὗ ἐγεννήθη ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, ἔως τοῦ εὐσεβοῦς βασιλέως Κωνστατίνου, τριάκοντα καὶ πέντε γεγόνασι βασιλεῖς. Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰακώβου τοῦ ἀποστόλου καὶ πρώτου τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἕως τῆς αὐτῆς βασιλείας, τριάκοντα καὶ πέντε Ἱεροσολύμων ἐπίσκοποι γεγόνασι.

Τὴν δὲ σεβάσμιον ἡμέραν τῶν ἐγκαινίων τῶν ἁγίων τόπων, καὶ τῆς ὑψώσεως τοῦ προσκυνητοῦ σταυροῦ, ὡρίσαντο οἱ Πατέρες μετὰ βασιλικοῦ προστάγματος γίνεσθαι ἀνὰ ἔτος ἕκαστον τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ τοῦ Σεπτεμβρίου μηνὸς, ἤτις ἐστὶν ἡ πρὸ δεκαοκτὼ Καλανδῶν. Ὀκτωβρίων, εἰς δόξαν τοῦ Πατρὸς, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος.Ἐπειδὴ δὲ χάριτι τοῦ Θεοῦ κατηντήσαμεν τῷ λόγῳ εἰς τὴν εὔσημον ἡμέραν τῆς ἑορτῆς ἡμῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνάδειξις τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ, φέρε καθὼς οἷόν 4084 τέ ἐστι μικρὰ χαιρετήσαντες τοῦτον καταπαύσωμεν τὸν λόγον.Χαίροις τοίνυν, σταυρὲ τίμιε, χαίροις, ὅτι ἐν σοὶ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὑψώθη οἰκονομικῶς, ἐν ᾧ πάντες οἱ θησαυροὶ τῆς χαρᾶς καὶ τῆς χάριτος.Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ τίμιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἀένναος χαρὰ ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς βραβεύεται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ τίμιε, ὅτι ἄνωθεν καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὁ ∆ημιουργὸς ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τὴν εἰκόνα σου ἐζωγράφησεν. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε, ὅτι πᾶσαι αἱ κατ' οὐρανὸν δυνάμεις ἴσως τῇ διὰ σοῦ σωτηρίᾳ φρικωδεστάτους ὕμνους ἀναπέμ πουσι τῷ ∆εσπότῃ. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ καὶ ἐν πόλεσι, καὶ ἐν νήσοις, καὶ ἐν παντὶ ἔθνει Ἐκκλησίαι ὀρθοδόξων τεθεμελίωνται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ πᾶν στόμα πιστῶν εἰς θεολογίαν ἠνέῳκται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἄγγελοι οὐράνιοι σὺν ἀνθρώποις ἐπὶ γῆς Χριστὸν ὑμνοῦσι. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἐπίγειοι ἄνθρωποι ὁμοίως παρίστανται τῷΘεῷ, μετὰ ἀνεκλαλήτου χαρᾶς τὸν Ποιητὴν δοξάζον τες. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ τοῦ γὰρ ὁ Ἀδὰμ τῆς κατάρας ἐλευθερωθεὶς, σκιρτῶν καὶ ἀγαλλιώμε νος εἰς τὸν παράδεισον εἰσελήλυθεν ἀπολαβὼν τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἀξίωμα. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ πᾶσα διαβολικὴ δύναμις καταβέβληται, καὶ πᾶσα δαιμονικὴ ἐνέργεια κατελύθη. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἡ τρισαγία καὶ ὁμοούσιος Τριὰς παντὶ τόπῳ γνωρίζεται καὶ πιστεύεται καὶ δοξολογεῖται.Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ τὰ ἀναφαίρετα ἀγαθὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις δεδώρηται.Καὶ τί εἴπωμεν καὶ τί παραλείψωμεν; πῶς ἀν υμνήσωμεν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ∆εσποτικοῦ σταυροῦ; Ὦ ὄνομα σταυροῦ, ἐν ᾧ τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῶν μυστηρίων τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐγκέκρυπται, ἀγγέλοις αἰδέσιμον, καὶ ἀν θρώποις σεβάσμιον! Τί γὰρ ἐρασμιώτερον ὀνόμα τος σταυροῦ, ἢ ἡδύτερον Χριστιανοῖς; Τί δὲ τούτου ἐνεργέστερον εἰς θαυματουργίαν; Σταυρὸς, θείας δυναστείας ἐνεργέστατον σημεῖον.Σταυρὸς, ἀγγέλων χαρὰ καὶ δαιμόνων πένθος. Σταυρὸς, Ἐκκλησίας θεμέλιος. Σταυρὸς, τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου φωστὴρ ἀειφανὴς καὶ παντοφανής. Σταυρὸς, τεῖχος ἀκράδαντον καὶ ἀῤῥαγὲς καὶ ἀκαταπολέμητον πάσης τῆς οἰκουμένης. Σταυρὸς, ἱερέων δόξα ἱερο πρεπὴς καὶ ἀνεπηρέαστος. Σταυρὸς, βασιλέων κράτος καὶ δυναστεία, καὶ νικητικὸν ὅπλον κατὰ τῶν πολε μίων. Σταυρὸς, στρατοπέδων παντευχία παναλκε στάτη, καὶ ἀκατάπληκτος τοῖς ἐναντίοις. Σταυρὸς, πόλεων φυλακτήριον ἀνεπιβούλευτον καὶ ἀσκύλευτον.Σταυρὸς, λαῶν εὐφροσύνη διηνεκὴς καὶ ἀκατά ληκτος. Σταυρὸς, διαβόλων πανολεθρία διηνεκὴς καὶ ἀκατάπαυστος. Σταυρὸς, δαιμόνων κατάπτωμα αἰώνιόν τε καὶ ἐξαίσιον. Σταυρὸς, Χριστιανῶν ἐλπὶς βεβαία τε καὶ ἀνεπαίσχυντος καὶ ἀμείωτος. Σταυρὸς, ἀσθενούντων ἴασις

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