“The Cross is Above All Things”

(St .Gregory)

The works of salvation our Lord Jesus Christ are numerous. The conclusions of this work of salvation is the cross, since His work of salvation is accomplished on the cross. To make that certain our savior Himself said ”It is finished (John 19:30). For this reason. ” The cross is above all things ”said St Gregory.

In the same way the Ethiopian scholar St. Yared sang “ the Cross is above all things, since it gives protection against the enemy (the Devil) other saint fathers of church expressed the superiority of the cross, as follow the wisdom of God ‘s salvation of the world is greater than the wisdom of His creation, because God created the world only by saying ”let there be” But when he saved it he became (incarnated) human and died on the cross.

That is why it is said creation reveals existence of God but the cross (death on the cross) is greater than creation. (St. Chrysostom's) for this reason the Holy cross of salvation is called an “ Art of wisdom”. Which means the highest form of wisdom. There fore we give great honor for the cross worshiping. As St. Yared said “the cross is all the times and all hours”. We Orthodox Christians have no single time to forget the cross. We think of the cross, when we sleep and wake, when we begin and finish our work. In general, the Holy cross is “short prayer with out words” hence when we get short of time we make signs of cross.

The cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified was so miraculous it had received great honor by the Christians and hence the Jews, threw it in waste plows for 300 years out of jealousy.

In 326 A.D Queen Helena mother of Emperor Constantine Knew where the cross was when Kurakos indicated to her. Then she made great piles, put incense on it and burnt it .the smoke went up and bent down at a spot pointing. The Queen gave ordered to dig the spot and the cross was found there September 27 was the date for finding the cross and in 327 house for the cross was built and consecrated. According to the scholars of the Ethiopian church, Then search for the cross by digging began in September and was found in March.

Since March was fasting period, celebration of cross is made in September. Others emphasize that the cross was found in September 27. The finding of the cross is believed by all .The date is only for memory by the cross is worshiped always as St. Yared said, “the cross is all the time”. There fore any one that believes in Christ should not reject the cross like Jews but should seek the cross like Queen Helena for “ the cross is above all things”.

May God Bless us, Amen.

Megabie Bluy Seife Sellasie Yohannes

Refernce: The Cross is an emblem of our peace Addis Ababa 2006