May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may those who hate Him flee from His presence. Like smoke disappears, let them disappear; As wax melts in the presence of fire, so let demons perish on behalf of those who love God and sign themselves with the sign of the cross, and say in joy: Rejoice, Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross Lord, drive away the demons by the power of our drunken Lord Jesus Christ, who descended into hell and trampled upon the power of the devil, and who gave us His Honest Cross to drive away everyone adversary.
Oh, Most Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Virgin Mary and with all the saints forever. Amen.
Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil.
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About the Cross of the Lord - answers to questions and much more.
He will rise again - he will rise.
They will be scattered - scattered, scattered.
Bes – demons, fallen spirits.
Signed - one who overshadows, imposing a sign on himself.
Verbal - speaker.
Most honorable - highly revered.
Corrected - victorious, gained the upper hand.
Crucified - crucified.
Adversary - adversary, enemy.
Life-giving – life-giving, resurrecting.
Fence - fence, protect.
What is the source of this prayer?
The first two verses of Psalm 67 (Ps. 67:2-3), even earlier than Numbers 10:35.
What do we pray for in the Prayer to the Venerable Cross?
By saying this prayer, we express faith in the One and True God, in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Redeemer. One of the ways of expressing our (Christian) faith, in addition to saying the appropriate prayers, proper heart attitude, etc., is the sign of the cross - a symbol of Christ’s victory over hell and death through the Suffering of the Cross and death, it is also an effective saving means (for one who overshadows himself with trust in God and faith). By pronouncing the words of this prayer, we ask the Lord to cover us with the cover of Divine grace and protect us from evil. In addition, we ask for good help from the Most Holy Theotokos and all the saints of God.
Why is the Cross called life-giving?
– Because God, through the Passion of the Cross and the death of the Son of God incarnate, redeemed man and gave people the opportunity to inherit eternal blissful life.
– Because the saving grace given by God (and Salvation, we repeat, was given to people through the Passion on the Cross and the death of the Son of God (according to human nature)) is an effective force that contributes to the transformation of man, his unity with God and his neighbors, as a result of which he truly inherits eternal blissful life.
– Because, finally, because through the Passion of the Cross, death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, death was defeated, which will be expressed, incl. in the general resurrection of the dead in the future.
What do the words mean: “he who descended into hell and trampled upon the power of the devil”?
These words indicate the descent of Christ’s soul into hell, which took place after His death on the Cross (that is, upon the separation of His Soul from His Body). In hell, the Savior shone with the Glory of the Divine, preached the Good News, and whoever accepted His preaching was taken out of hell. Through this descent, hell was defeated, the devil was trampled, disgraced, defeated, chained “for 1000 years” (limited in strength and power until the period of the last times).
When should this prayer be said?
At any time, under dangerous circumstances; before going to bed (it is recommended to kiss the pectoral cross and protect yourself and the bed with the sign of the cross).
Why do we turn to the Honest and Life-Giving Cross as a person? Isn't there a trace of idolatry in such conversion?
There is no trace of idolatry in such conversion. This form of address is explained, for example, as follows. The Prayer to the Cross belongs to the genre of Byzantine poetry, which is characterized by the technique of metonymy (Greek Μετονυμία - “renaming”). Metonymy is a phrase in which one word is replaced by another, denoting an object (phenomenon) that is in one way or another (spatial, temporal, etc.) connection with the object that is denoted by the replaced word. The replacement word is used in a figurative sense.
For example: drink a cup of coffee (drink not the cup itself, but its contents), apply for a director’s portfolio (apply for the position of director, not a portfolio), listen to Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff (listen not to composers, but to their music), etc. Therefore, turning to the Cross, we turn to God Himself, to Christ, thanks to Whose Passion and Death on the Cross we were redeemed.
Doesn’t such an appeal to the Honest Life-Giving Cross run counter to the Holy Scriptures?
The words “Rejoice, Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord” are a classic metaphor, a figurative expression. Examples of poetic treatment of inanimate objects as if they were alive can be found in the Holy Scriptures. For example: “...Let the field rejoice and all that is in it” (1 Chronicles 16:32), “Rejoice, O heavens, and be glad, O earth, and shout, O mountains, for joy; for the Lord comforted His people and had mercy on His sufferers” (Is. 49:13), “Fear not, O earth: rejoice and be glad, for the Lord is great to do this” (Joel 2:21), etc.
Who helps us: the Cross or the Lord?
The prayer addressed to the Cross of Christ goes back to Him Crucified on it; the power that helps us through prayer comes from the Lord Himself. We do not consider the Cross to be a living person capable of thinking and feeling.
In what cases is the prayer to the Honest and Life-Giving Cross read?
The Prayer to the Holy Cross can be said at any time. Believers recite it daily just before going to bed, kissing the cross worn on their chest and protecting themselves and their bed with the sign of the cross. Let us remind you that this prayer is part of the evening prayer rule - prayers for the future to go to bed. In addition, the prayer “May God rise again” is addressed when doubts in faith and devilish temptations arise, when a person becomes inexplicably afraid and wants to ask God for protection in dangerous circumstances.
How to make the sign of the cross when you read a prayer to the Honest Life-Giving Cross?
When a Christian reads this prayer during the evening rule, it is useful to protect his bed with the Honorable Cross, that is, to cross it. And also cross your home to all directions of the world: North, South, West and East. By protecting ourselves, our home and our bed with the sign of the cross, we thereby commit ourselves entirely to God and His protection.
How many times should I read the prayer to the Honest and Life-Giving Cross? 3? 12? 40?
This prayer can be read many times, however, when reading the prayer, sincerity, faith, spiritual aspiration towards the Lord, and the right heart attitude are important. There is also a short version of the prayer to the Honest and Life-giving Cross: “Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil.”