Published, Thursday, September 11, 2025
Contributing Author: Stephen Brannen

The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross is a day that has come to mark several historical events: the finding of the true Cross of Christ in Jerusalem by Saint Helena; the dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher which housed the Cross; and the recovery of the Cross after it had been stolen and carried off by the Persian Sasanian regime. The celebrating of these historical events reminds us of the incarnate, physical reality of our redemption by our Lord on the physical Cross, which has been physically venerated by the faithful through the centuries.

The Propers praise both the physical relic of the Cross as well as the spiritual and soteriological reality of our Lord’s humble, redemptive death on the Cross. The Introit lets us affirm with St. Paul (Gal. 6:14) that the self-sacrifice of God on the Cross should be our only boast and glory. The Collect links the knowledge of Christ’s painful, humiliating death on a torture device in this world with the heavenly rewards of redemption. The Epistle fills out this mystery by demonstrating that it’s the Father in heaven who deems it meet and right to exalt to the highest he who empties himself the greatest (his own Son). The Gradual repeats in ecstasy the words of the Epistle, and the Alleluia hymns the Cross with the words of that magnificent Good Friday hymn ‘Crux Fidelis.’ The Gospel tells of how by being lifted up on the Cross Jesus would “draw [ἕλκω – to drag, haul] all people” to himself. Finally, the Offertory and Communion Propers, in prayer-like fashion, ask that, by the Holy Cross, God would guard us from enemies (both temporal and spiritual) and enable us to serve him worthily.

Introit. Galatians vi. (Nos autem) But as for us, it behoveth us to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection: by whom we were saved and obtained our freedom. Ps. lxvii. God be merciful unto us and bless us: and show us the light of his countenance and be merciful unto us. Glory be…

Collect: O GOD, who on this day dost gladden us with the yearly solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: grant, we beseech thee, that we who on earth have known the mystery of the redemption which thy Son hath wrought for us, may likewise attain unto the reward thereof in heaven; through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11

Gradual. Philippians ii. Christ for us became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name which is above every name.  

Alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. Sweetest wood, sweetest irony sweetest weight is hung on thee: who alone was counted worthy to bear the King of heaven, and the Lord. Alleluia.

Gospel: St. John 12:31-36

Offertory. Protect, O Lord, thy people, by the sign of the Holy Cross, from all snares of every enemy: that we may render thee acceptable service, and that our sacrifice may be well pleasing unto thee, alleluia.

Communion. By the sign of the Cross deliver us from our enemies, O our God.