The Joy of the Holy Cross

During Holy Week, the cross is venerated on Good Friday and at the Stations of the Cross, which is usually observed during Lent.  But this veneration is solemn, recalling the tragic death of Jesus and the instrument of torture that the cross was.  One does not revere and celebrate an instrument of death.  Does one?  It seems that Christians do, for no symbol is more instantly recognizable than: …

But the impression one has of the cross is not that of grief and sorrow for the cruel and inhuman torture to death by crucifixion.  Instead, it is one of joy and hope!  How’d that happen?  

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

A few weeks back, this blog discussed St. Helen and her contribution to the Christian story (see Sainted Kings and Queens published in August 2012).  Helen, you recall, is purported to have found the true cross of Christ while on pilgrimage in the Holy Land.  She gathered the pieces of wood and nails and enshrined them, commissioning the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher over the alleged site of Jesus’ tomb.  Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem consecrated the church in 335a.d. on September 13 (our calendar) and raised the true cross to its position of veneration on the following day.  Thus, September 14 became the Feast of the Exhaltation of the Holy Cross in both the Catholic and Anglican traditions.  (Actually, Holy Cross Day appears on the liturgical calendars of both Eastern and Western Christian traditions, but not all fall on September 14.)

But this still doesn’t explain the non-morbid joy one experiences at the sight of the cross symbol.  September 14 celebrates the literal “exhaltation” of the cross—exalt derives from the Latin roots meaning “to raise up or elevate”.  But the word as we recognize it from psalms and hymns also refers to a kind of praise and glory that transcends duty or obligation.  There is an implied bliss connected with the word (probably confused from “exultation” whose stems means “to leap up or dance with joy”).  Yet when the true cross was raised in 335a.d., feelings toward the symbol changed.

Chi-Rho, ichthus, anchor symbols of early Christians

As a matter of fact, the cross was not used as a symbol for Christianity until 335a.d.  Up to that point, Christianity was illegal and hidden.  Symbols such as the ichthus (fish), the vine and branch, the good shepherd image, the anchor and the Chi-Rho were representations of Christians and their secret meetings.  The Chi-Rho is a very early symbol using the first letters of the word "Christ" to represent Jesus.   

celestial chi

But it’s actually a symbol from even earlier.  Plato referred the chi-rho as the place of the “world’s soul.”  The point where earth’s elliptical orbit crosses the equator creates an X pattern like the letter chi.  This suggests the mystery of God visible in all things and that God foretold the power of the cross even before Christ’s death and resurrection.  The chi pattern was not only reminiscent of the cross at an angle, but it reminded early Christians of the pre-existing and eternal Christ in the Word of God.  It implied the pre-ordained significance of Christ’s death on the cross.

Still sad though; not leaping for joy yet!  But you can see that the deep significance of meaning is being layered into the symbolism of the cross.  Now add to it the exhaltation—the raising up.  The cross placed at an angle to which one must look up appears as an arrow pointing the way.  Jesus, who said I am the Way, is represented by this symbol that also acts as a pointer.  Jesus proclaimed that his Way was eternal life.  Ah.  There it is—there’s the hope.  It’s a simple and obvious thing to look at the cross as see it as an arrow pointing the way to follow Jesus Christ.  The cross now has the symbolic meaning of the soul of the world, the eternal presence of God, the way to the resurrection of Christ and the hope of redemption.  What’s not to leap with joy about that?

So, while we view the cross with sorrow and grief during Holy Week, September 14, the Feast of the Exhaltation of the Holy Cross gives us the opportunity to celebrate the true purpose and meaning of the cross.  That is, the Holy Cross represents God’s promise of redemption and salvation through the death and resurrection of his son.  There is great joy and hope to be found in the simple symbol of …