Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Lifegiving Cross Vespers with Bonfire and Procession

13 September evening - The lifesize (the outdoor) Holy Cross, adorned with basil sprigs, is where the ikon of the feast normally is. At the end of the Vespers, there is a procession. A priest carries the Holy Cross in procession through the church. During this time, special litanies are prayed. Also, the priest and the people bow and sing the same hymn as the people did when Emperor Heraclius carried the Holy Cross to Golgotha when the Holy Cross was recovered from the Persians and returned to Jerusalem.

The priest carries a lifesize (the outdoor) Holy Cross from inside the church to the bonfire outside the church. The priest blesses the bonfire. Then, the priest carries the Holy Cross to the four stations around the bonfire: North, East, South, and West. These stations represent the four corners of the world. At each station, the priest blesses the four corners of the world with the Holy Cross. The people repeat many times: "Lord have mercy" or "Kyrie eleison" or "Ya Rabb-urham". Then, the people venerate the Holy Cross and the priest gives each person a peice of basil.

Basil

According to tradition, a sweet smelling herb was growing where the Holy Cross was found. So, the herb was named "king" in Greek (basil). The Holy Cross is decorated with basil.

"Lord have mercy" or "Kyrie eleison" or "Ya Rabb-urham"

According to tradition, when the Holy Cross was found and when the Holy Cross was recovered from the Persians and returned to Jerusalem, all the people could do to express their awe was to chant repeatively "Kyrie eleison". So, the people of today repeat many times: "Lord have mercy" or "Kyrie eleison" or "Ya Rabb-urham".

Bonfire

The bonfire is a reenactment of the relay system of bonfires from Jerusalem to Constantinople to tell the Emperor Constantine that his mother, St. Helena, had found the Holy Cross.
Before St. Helena went to Jerusalem to find the Holy Cross, a system of rely bonfires was planned to spread the news if and when the Holy Cross was found. The rely bonfires began in Jerusalem, went across Lebanon, and finally to Constantinople.

More Information

Great Vespers

Liturgical Cycle

From the Monday after the Great Feast of Pentecost to Great and Holy Saturday, Sunday is the last day of the Liturgical week.
From Holy and Glorious Pascha to the Great Feast of Pentecost, Sunday is the first day of the Liturgical week.

Preparation
Mon.	Sat.	Sunday of Holy Cross
	Saturday Before 7-13 Sept.	Sunday Before 7-13 Sept.
Preparation Dedication of Basilica of Resurrection of Christ our God; Holy Hieromartyr Cornelius Centurion 13 Sept.
Vespers 13 Sept.

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center
Martha Liles
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Wednesday, June 03, 2020, 19:25:11, CDT
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