The celebrations in honor of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross of the Lord reached their culmination in the sacred Monastery of the Holy Great Martyr and Trophy-bearer George in Rajcica, during the divine liturgical assembly, presided over by our beloved Elder, His Grace Bishop Parthenius of Antania. Accompanying him in this supreme sacred act were the Archimandrites, Hieromonks, and Hierodeacons of the Bigorski Monastery, joined by our long-time brother and esteemed friend, Father David Somalis, a representative of the Archdiocese of Thyateira – the Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, as well as the local priest from Debar, Father Mile Angelovski. The Matins service and the Holy Eucharistic Mystery were adorned with the prayerful and melodious chanting of our dear guests, the psaltists Georgios Savas and Athanasios Koudjas, alongside the choir of the Bigorski Monastery.
The entire event, in its spiritual and mystical flow, carried within itself the profound symbolism of the Cross, which through the prayerful and heart-wrenching repetitions of hundreds of “Lord, have mercy,” ascended and descended before our eyes, as if calling us to delve into the depths of its salvific significance. This mystery, concealed at the very center of the Christian faith, reveals the Cross as a symbol of sacrifice and humility, but simultaneously of resurrection and triumph over death. It was a living lesson, urging us first to descend into our own selves, to perceive our falls and passions deeply buried in the heart, and with contrition and repentance, to confess them before God, that we may receive purification and inner peace.
This path, which is inevitable for every Christian, is not merely a path of pain and suffering, but a road to true resurrection—the transformation of our vulnerability and weakness into a new, deified existence. Only after humbling ourselves in our hearts before the Cross can we comprehend the true power that it holds within. It is the power of love that has conquered, which was revealed on Golgotha and continues to unite, surpassing all discord and division. In a world falling apart under the weight of its passions and alienation, the Cross appears as the only pillar of truth and love, through which all who approach it sincerely are renewed and established.
Therefore, inspired by these solemn moments, let us raise our thoughts to the Cross and pray that we may become bearers of its unifying grace, witnesses of the salvific love that Christ manifested through His Crucifixion. With this power, our words can become alive and effective, strengthening the faith of our fellow brethren and encouraging them to strive for true, sacrificial love, which in essence is the core of the Christian life.
And are there any words more powerful for this than those spoken by our Elder, in his inspirational and deeply mystical homily? His words urged us not to view the Cross merely as an instrument of suffering, but as a guiding sign towards transformation and salvation. Thus, through his words and example, we are encouraged to carry our own cross with faith and hope, for it is precisely there, in humble and voluntary acceptance of the Cross, that we find the true freedom and joy of life in Christ. This homily reminded us that the Cross, with its profound mystery, is not only a sign of pain, but also of ultimate victory over every sin and death. It remains the pillar of truth and light in every age and for every generation, always calling us to worship it and to seek its mighty grace, through which we, like the holy martyrs and confessors, are elevated into the fullness of life that Christ has bestowed upon us.
