Exaltation of the Holy Cross Procession

All are invited to celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Saturday, September 14, 2024 by participating in a special procession with a relic of the True Cross, starting from St. George Byzantine Catholic Church (1001 Clinton Street, Aliquippa), then proceeding to St. Titus Roman Catholic Church (952 Franklin Avenue, Aliquippa). The schedule for this festive day will be as follows:

• 8:30AM - Divine Liturgy at St. George Church
• 9:30AM - Procession from St. George Church to St. Titus Church
• 10:30AM - Mass at St. Titus Church
• 11:30AM - Refreshments at St. Titus Church in Titan Hall

To register online, please CLICK HERE; or by calling the administrative office of Mary, Queen of Saints Parish at 724.775.6363 ext. 101.  To download the flyer, CLICK HERE.

(Transportation will be available back to St. George Church from the Church of St. Titus after the procession.)

Please note that the normal Saturday 8:30AM Mass and 9:00AM Confession time at St. Titus Church on this day are cancelled.




Question:
What is the history behind feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross?

Answer:
Emperor Constantine’s mother, Helena, is credited with having discovered the true cross around 330AD. She traveled to the Holy Land and uncovered the places associated with Jesus’ life. It is said that Helena uncovered three crosses but was not able to detect the true cross until each of them was laid on a leper. Only one of them cured the leper, proving it to be the true cross. A great church was built at the site, and soon various portions of the cross were sent to other churches as relics to be venerated.

The day after the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, September 14, 335, the actual cross was displayed for veneration. Egeria, a women traveler to Jerusalem around the year 386AD, kept a diary that has survived. She tells of the unique veneration of the wood of the cross that took place on Good Friday, something maintained ritually to this very day.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross focuses on the gift of love that Jesus manifested by his total gift of self, offered for all. The cross, the ultimate form of capital punishment in its day, has become for us the ultimate symbol of love and triumph over evil and death.