The Feast of the Holy Cross in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
18/9/2012
On September 16 the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated with great solemnity one of the five major Feasts of the Armenian Church, The Feast of the Holy Cross, which is dedicated to the historical event of the return of the cross from captivity, its rising and glorification.
His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobian; Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, offered the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. In his sermon His Grace referred to the sacred symbol of the cross. “The cross is the symbol and sign of Christian belief. The cross is the primary holy sign for Christians, and the crucifix is beautiful and worthy of worship. By the crucifixion of Jesus through on the cross, it transfigured and became a means of salvation. The Cross is the expression of love and, at the same time, the sacrifice for love.” At the end of his sermon His Grace instructed the faithful to wear the cross with dignity as our forefathers in the past, by remembering that the way of the cross leads to salvation.
Following evening services, an official procession of the cross took place led by His Eminence Nathan Hovhannissian; Director of the Publications Department of the Mother See and President of the Clergy Council of the Armenian Church. The cherished reliquary containing a piece of the Cross of Jesus Christ, which was wrapped in basil and flowers, was taken out from the museum and processed out of the Mother Cathedral. With great solemnity the relic was led around the four sides of the Mother Cathedral and used in offering service of the Blessing of the Four Corners of the World. At the conclusion, the Deacons of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin distributed the flowers to the faithful who were present.
