Exaltation of the Cross

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by the virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation 

~Troparion for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

As Thou was mercifully crucified for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by Thy name; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Thy power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Thy weapon of peace 

~Kontakion for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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Read more about this feast here, here and here.

Sunday School Lesson I wrote for this feast is here.

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Things we can do for this feast at home:

~decorate a Cross with basil and flowers (I prefer roses personally)

~have an icon of this feast at home 

~pray the Kontakion and Troparion at home

~have a festal meal for this day (in some practices

it is a Wine and Oil Fast day)

~Ask God for His mercy as we seek to also take up our 

Cross and follow Christ

~Go to vespers or matins or vigil for the Feast

~go to liturgy on the Feast Day

~if you have children you can have them draw their cross

or read them the story of the Cross from here

or this story if you have it (since it is now out of print)

~see Mat. Emily's blog for more ideas