in whose time Christ according to the flesh, (was born), until the great Constantine there were thirty-five emperors; likewise also from James the brother of God until the same reign there were thirty-five bishops of Jerusalem. And the venerable day of the exaltation of the precious cross, and of the dedication the Fathers ordained with a royal command to be celebrated 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, Son and 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 let us, as is possible, after greeting the cross a little, end the discourse. Rejoice therefore, precious cross. Rejoice, for on you the Lord Jesus Christ was exalted, in whom are all the treasures of joy and of grace. Precious cross, for through you eternal joy is awarded in heaven and on earth. Rejoice, precious cross, for from above and from the beginning the Creator painted your image in all of creation. Rejoice, glorious cross, for all the powers of the heavens at your exaltation send up extraordinary hymns to God. Rejoice, cross; for through you in cities, and in islands, and in every nation, the Churches of the orthodox are founded. Rejoice, cross; for through you every mouth of the faithful is opened to theology. Rejoice, blessed cross; for through you angels with men on earth, dancing in chorus, praise Christ. Rejoice, cross; for through you in the heavens men likewise with angels stand before God, glorifying the Maker with ineffable joy. Rejoice, cross; for through you Adam was redeemed from the curse, leaping and exulting into paradise, as he came, having received back his own dignity. Rejoice, cross; for through you every diabolical power has been cast down, and every demonic energy has been trampled underfoot. Rejoice, holy cross; for through you the holy and consubstantial Trinity in every place is believed, and is sung, is praised, is glorified and is known. Rejoice, cross; for through you every soul believing in Christ is saved. Rejoice, cross; for through you inalienable goods have been given to men. And what shall we say, 4073 or what shall we omit? How shall we praise the power of the Lord's cross? O name of the cross, in which the great things of the mysteries of Christ are hidden, revered by angels, and venerable to men! For what is more lovely than the name of the cross, sweeter to Christians? What is more effective than this for working wonders? The cross is the foundation of the Church. The cross is a sign of divine dominion. The cross is the joy of angels and the grief of demons. The cross is the destroyer of demons. The cross is the ever-shining and all-radiant luminary of the whole world. The cross is the unshakeable, unbreakable, and unconquerable wall of the whole inhabited world. The cross is the glory and strength of priests. The cross is the full armor of armies. The cross is the protection of the city. The cross is the utter destruction of the devil. The cross is the gladness of peoples. The cross is the hope of Christians. The cross is the physician of the sick. The cross is the unfailing health of the well. The cross is the harbor of the storm-tossed. The cross is the peace of the war-stricken. The cross is the boast of boasts for the orthodox. The cross is the abolition of idolatry, and the restoration of piety. The cross is the teacher of virginity, and the guardian of temperance. The cross is the security of the just and the repentance of sinners. The cross is the adornment of monks, and the glory of those who live venerable lives. The cross is the guardian of infants, and the temperance of the young, and the staff of the old. The cross is the inexhaustible wealth of the poor, the unerring guide of the wandering. The cross is rest in daily labors. The cross is the good order of nations and the tranquility of the whole world. And what shall I say, or what shall we omit? or how shall we praise you, most holy cross. For you alone from all creation the king chose, and showed forth as an invincible weapon against the devil and death. Therefore blessed are all who
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ἐφ' οὗ ὁ Χριστὸς κατὰ σάρκα, (ἐγεννήθη), ἕως τοῦ μεγάλου Κωνσταντίνου τριάκοντα πέντε γεγόνασι βασιλεῖς· ὁμοίως καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰακώβου τοῦ ἀδελφοθέου ἕως τῆς αὐτῆς βασιλείας τριάκοντα πέντε γεγόνασιν Ἱεροσολύμων ἐπίσκοποι. Τὴν δὲ σεβάσμιον ἡμέραν τῆς ὑψώσεως τοῦ τιμίου σταυροῦ, καὶ τῶν ἐγκαινίων ὡρίσαντο οἱ Πατέρες μετὰ βασιλικοῦ προστάγματος τελεῖσθαι ἀνὰ ἔτος ἕκαστον τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ τοῦ Σεπτεμβρίου μηνὸς, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἡ πρὸς δέκα ὀκτὼ Καλανδῶν Ὀκτωβρίων, εἰς δόξαν Πατρὸς, Υἱοῦ καὶ ἁγίου Πνεύματος. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ χάριτι Θεοῦ κατηντήσαμεν τῷ λόγῳ εἰς τὴν εὔσημον ἡμέραν τῆς ἑορτῆς ἡμῶν ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀνάδειξις τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ, φέρε καθὼς οἷόν τέ ἐστιν, μικρά τι χαιρετήσαντες τὸν σταυρὸν, καταπαύσωμεν τὸν λόγον. Χαίροις τοίνυν, σταυρὲ τίμιε. Χαίροις, ὅτι ἐν σοὶ ὁ Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὑψώθη, ἐν ᾧ εἰσι πάντες οἱ θησαυροὶ τῆς χαρᾶς καὶ τῆς χάριτος. Σταυρὲ τίμιε, διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἡ ἀένναος χαρὰ ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς βραβεύεται. Χαίροις, σταυρὲ τίμιε, ὅτι ἄνωθεν καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὁ ∆ημιουρ γὸς ἐν πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει τὴν εἰκόνα σου ἐζωγράφησεν. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε, ὅτι πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ ὑψώσει ἐξαισίους ὕμνους ἀνα πέμπουσι τῷ Θεῷ. Χαίροις, σταυρέ· διὰ τοῦ γὰρ ἐν πόλεσι, καὶ ἐν νήσοις, καὶ ἐν παντὶ ἔθνει, αἱ Ἐκκλη σίαι ὀρθοδόξων τεθεμελίωνται. Χαῖρε, σταυρέ· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ πᾶν στόμα πιστῶν εἰς θεολογίαν ἀνέῳκται. Χαίροις, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἄγγελοι σὺν ἀνθρώποις ἐπὶ γῆς χορεύοντες τὸν Χριστὸν ἀνυμνοῦσι. Χαίροις, σταυρέ· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἄνθρωποι ὁμοίως σὺν ἀγγέλοις παρίστανται τῷ Θεῷ, μετὰ ἀνεκλαλήτου χαρᾶς τὸν Ποιητὴν δοξάζοντες. Χαῖρε, σταυρέ· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ὁ Ἀδὰμ τῆς κατάρας ἐλυτρώθη, σκιρτῶν καὶ ἀγαλλιώμενος εἰς τὸν παράδεισον, ὡς ἐλήλυθεν, ἀπολαβὼν τὸ ἴδιον ἀξίωμα. Χαίροις, σταυρέ· σοῦ γὰρ πᾶσα διαβολικὴ δύναμις καταβέβλη ται, καὶ πᾶσα δαιμονικὴ ἐνέργεια καταπεπάτηται. Χαίροις, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἡ ἁγία καὶ ὁμοούσιος Τριὰς ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ πιστεύεται, καὶ ᾄδεται, ὑμνεῖται, δοξολογεῖται καὶ γνωρίζεται. Χαί ροις, σταυρέ· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ πᾶσα ψυχὴ Χριστῷ πι στεύουσα σώζεται. Χαίροις, σταυρέ· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ τὰ ἀναφαίρετα ἀγαθὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις δεδώρηται. Καὶ τί εἴπωμεν, 4073 ἢ τί παραλίπωμεν; Πῶς ἀνυμνήσωμεν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ∆εσποτικοῦ σταυροῦ; Ὦ ὄνομα σταυροῦ, ἐν ᾧ τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ μυστηρίων κέκρυπται, ἀγγέλοις αἰδέσιμον, καὶ ἀνθρώποις σεβάσμιον! Τί γὰρ ἐρασμιώτερον ὀνόματος σταυροῦ, ἡδύτερον Χρι στιανοῖς; Τί δὲ τούτου ἐνεργέστερον εἰς θαυματουρ γίαν; Σταυρὸς Ἐκκλησίας θεμέλιος. Σταυρὸς θείας δυναστείας σημεῖον. Σταυρὸς ἀγγέλων χαρὰ καὶ δαιμόνων πένθος. Σταυρὸς ὀλετὴρ δαιμόνων. Σταυ ρὸς παντὸς κόσμου ὁ φωστὴρ ἀειφανὴς καὶ παντο φαής. Σταυρὸς τεῖχος ἀκράδαντον, ἀῤῥαγὲς καὶ ἀκα ταπολέμητον πάσης τῆς οἰκουμένης. Σταυρὸς ἱερέων δόξα καὶ κράτος. Σταυρὸς στρατοπέδων παντευχία. Σταυρὸς πόλεως φυλακτήριον. Σταυρὸς διαβόλου πανολεθρία. Σταυρὸς λαῶν εὐφροσύνη. Σταυρὸς Χρι στιανῶν ἐλπίς. Σταυρὸς ἀσθενούντων ἰατρός. Σταυρὸς εὐεκτούντων ἀδιάπτωτος ὑγίεια. Σταυρὸς χειμαζο μένων λιμήν. Σταυρὸς πολεμουμένων εἰρήνη. Σταυρὸς ὀρθοδόξων καύχημα καυχημάτων. Σταυρὸς εἰδωλολατρείας κατάλυσις, καὶ εὐσεβείας ἀνόρθωσις. Σταυρὸς παρθενίας διδάσκαλος, καὶ σωφροσύνης φύλαξ. Σταυρὸς δικαίων ἀσφάλεια καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν μετάνοια. Σταυρὸς μοναζόντων ἐγκαλλώπισμα, καὶ σεμνῶς βιούντων δόξα. Σταυρὸς νηπίων φύλαξ, καὶ νέων σωφροσύνη, καὶ γερόντων βακτηρία. Σταυρὸς πτωχῶν ἀδαπάνη τος πλοῦτος, πεπλανημένων ἀπλανὴς ὁδηγός. Σταυ ρὸς ἀνάπαυσις ἐν κόποις ἡμερινοῖς. Σταυρὸς ἐθνῶν εὐταξία καὶ παντὸς τοῦ κόσμου γαλήνη. Καὶ τί εἴπω, ἢ τί παραλίπωμεν; ἢ πῶς σε ἀνυμνήσωμεν, σταυρὲ ἁγιώτατε. Ὅτι σὲ μόνον ἀπὸ πάσης κτίσεως ὁ βασιλεὺς ᾑρετίσατο, καὶ ἀνέδειξεν ὅπλον ἀήττητον κατὰ τοῦ διαβόλου καὶ τοῦ θανάτου. ∆ιὸ μακάριοι πάντες οἱ
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