Heraclius was the elucidator of the heretical doctrine of Monothelitism. More importantly, he made Greek the official language of the Eastern Roman Empire. Finally and most importantly, in his campaign against the Persians, he recovered the True Cross which they had seized. This return of the Cross to Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the occasions commemorated tomorrow.
Additionally, the feast commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by St. Helena, the mother of St. Constantine the Great. Because of her discovery of the Cross, St. Helena is regarded as Equal-to-the-Apostles by the Church.
The Cross is a symbol of the ultimate power of God, and the redeeming love of Christ for the world. For that reason, the Church has ordained a strict fast for tomorrow.
Tomorrow during the Liturgy, instead of the Typical antiphons, the Trisagion hymn, and the ordinary communion hymn, we will sing the following hymns (texts from the OCA website):
The
First Antiphon
God, my God,
attend to me! Why have You forsaken me? (Ps.21/22:1)
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos,
O Savior, save us!
Why are You so
far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
(Ps 21/22:1b)
Refrain: Through the
prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
O my God, I cry by day, but You do
not answer; and by night, but find no
rest. (Ps 21/22:2)
Refrain:
Through
the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
You dwell in the
sanctuary, the praise of Israel
Refrain:
Through
the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever,
and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Refrain:
Through
the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
The Second Antiphon
O God, why have
You cast us off forever?
(Ps 73/74:1)
Refrain:
O
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia!
Remember Your
congregation, which You have purchased of old! (Ps
73/74:2)
Refrain:
O
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia!
Remember Mount Zion
Refrain: O Son of God, crucified in the flesh,
save us who sing to You: Alleluia!
God is our King before the ages; He has
worked salvation in the midst of the earth.
(Ps
73/74:12)
Refrain: O Son of God, crucified
in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia!
The Third
Antiphon
The Lord reigns, let the people tremble! (Ps 98/99:1)
Tone 1 Troparion
of the Feast
O Lord, save Your people
and bless Your inheritance!
Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians
over their adversaries;
and by virtue of Your Cross,//
preserve Your habitation!
The Lord
reigns, let the people tremble! He sits enthroned upon the Cherubim; let the
earth quake! (Ps 98/99:1)
Troparion of
the Feast
The Lord is great
in Zion
Troparion of the Feast
Bow down in
worship to the Lord in His holy court! (Ps 98/99:9)
Troparion of the Feast
(Instead of the Trisagion)
Before Your Cross, we bow down in
worship, O Master,
and Your holy Resurrection, we
glorify.
Communion Hymn
The light of Your countenance has shone on
us, O Lord. (Ps
4/5:6)
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
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