Books – Veneration of the Cross

Veneration of the Cross

Veneration of the Cross

Now we will try to explain why Orthodoxy gives such importance to the cross and we shall see that making the sign of the cross is beneficial, useful and in accordance with the teaching of the Holy Bible.

(1) The emphasis of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross

Since the commencement of the Lord’s ministry, during His teaching and prior to His crucifixion, He laid great emphasis on the cross. He says: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:38) and “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt.16: 24); (Mark.8: 34). In His conversation with the rich young man, He said to him: ‘Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor… and come, take up the cross, and follow Me’ (Mark.10: 21). He also says: “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Lk.14: 27).

(2) The cross was the core of the ministry of the angels and the Apostles

An important point is that the angel who proclaimed the Lord’s resurrection said to the women: “…you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (Matt.28: 5,6). Thus the angel called the Lord “who was crucified”, although He had already resurrected. Thus the title ‘crucified’ continued to be attributed to the Lord.

Our fathers the Apostles emphasised the Lord’s crucifixion in their preaching. In preaching to the Jews, St. Peter said: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts2: 36). St. Paul says: “..we preach Christ crucified” (1Cor.1: 23), although the Lord’s crucifixion was considered “a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness”.

The Apostle considered the cross the essence of Christianity and says: “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1Cor.2: 2). He means that the cross is the only subject he wants to know.

(3) The cross was the object of the Apostles’ glory

St. Paul the Apostle says: “But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal.6: 14). If we ask him the secret behind these words, he will continue and say: “by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal.6: 14).

(4) When we make the sign of the cross, we remember many of its divine and spiritual meanings

(5) When we make the sign of the cross, we profess that we belong to the Crucified

(6) Man is not only spirit and mind but he also has corporeal senses which should sense the cross through the above-mentioned means

(7) We do not make the sign of the cross in silence, but we say: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen”

(8) In making the sign of the cross, we profess our belief in the Incarnation and the Redemption

(9) Making the sign of the cross is a religious teaching to our children and to others

(10) In making the sign of the cross, we proclaim the Lord’s death for us, according to His commandment

(11) In making the sign of the cross, we remember that the penalty of sin is death

(12) In making the sign of the cross we remember God’s love for us

(13) We make the sign of the cross because it gives us power

(14) We make the sign of the cross because Satan fears it

(15) In making the sign of the cross , we receive a blessing

(16) The cross is used in all the holy Sacraments in Christianity

(17) We exalt the cross to remember our fellowship with it

(18) We venerate the cross because it is the Father’s pleasure

(19) In the cross we go forth to Christ outside the camp, bearing His reproach (Heb. 13: 13)

(20) We carry Christ’s cross because it reminds us of His Second Coming

Source: Veneration of the Cross, Comparative Theology, a book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III (Pope 117)

Link: https://st-takla.org/books/en/pope-shenouda-iii/comparative-theology/cross.html