COMMEMORATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE HONORABLE CROSS OVER JERUSALEM
During the reign of Emperor Constantius, the son of St. Constantine, and
Cyril the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Honorable Cross appeared about 9:00 a.m.
stretching out from Golgotha to above the Mount of Olives. This cross was
brighter than the sun and more beautiful than the most beautiful rainbow. All
the people, both believing and unbelieving, left their work and, in fear and
amazement, observed this heavenly sign.
Many unbelievers converted to the Faith
of Christ, and so also did many Arian heretics abandon their evil heresy and
returned to Orthodoxy. About this sign Patriarch Cyril wrote a letter to
Emperor Constantius [337-361 A.D.] who leaned toward Arianism. This occurred on
May 7, 357 A.D. Thus, even on this occasion it was demonstrated that the
Christian Faith is not worldly theorizing, according to sensual understanding of
man, but rather in God's power, demonstrated through numerous miracles and
signs.
"On the nones [or 7th] of May, about the third hour [or nine in the morning], a vast luminous body, in the form of a Cross, appeared in the heavens, just over the holy Golgotha, reaching as far as the holy Mount of Olives [that is, almost two miles in length], seen not by one or two persons, but clearly and evidently by the whole city. This was not, as may be thought, a momentary transient phenomenon: for it continued several hours visible to our eyes, and brighter than the sun, the light of which would have eclipsed it, had not this been stronger. The whole city, struck with a reverential fear, tempered with joy, ran immediately to the church, young and old, Christians and heathens, citizens and strangers, all with one voice giving praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, the worker of miracles; finding by experience the truth of the Christian doctrine, to which the heavens bear witness." (PG 33:1 16q)
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