“The Word” – Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross – Sunday, 9 a.m. CET

The Feast presents a cross not as a symbol of suffering or anguish. It is a symbol of victory, as Jesus Christ conquered the grave, sin and the devil. Historically, the feast originates in the 4th century when Saint Constantine gives freedom to Christianity, Saint Helen – his mother –  finds the Holy Cross and Patriarch Macarius, together with the other clergymen, exalts it and blesses the four directions of the world. Jesus Christ wants us to be the participants in His victory, let us not be ashamed to proselytize, to show the world that we belong to Christ. But let us do it from the bottom of our hearts. Because every time you cross yourself, you conclude an agreement with God that your faith is sincere. When our life is not in harmony with our words, we praise God only with our mouth. Then, when we come to the cross, kiss and worship it, let us not be limited to words and mouth only. Let our whole, good Christian life be involved, Glory to Jesus Christ!

On Sunday, 2 October 2016 at 9 a.m., “The word” programme by Hieromonk Markian, Order of Saint Basil the Great. Rebroadcast  on 2 October at 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 8 p.m. and on 3 October at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. of Rusyn time.

Photograph: Saint Helen with the Cross, Cathedral in Vilnius, source: wikipedia