Procession of the Precious Cross

Life

This feast was established by mutual agreement of the Greeks and Russians, in the time of the Greek Emperor Manuel and the Russian Prince Andrew, in commemoration of simultaneous victories: of the Russians over the Bulgarians and of the Greeks over the Saracens. In both these campaigns, crosses were carried with the armies, from which heavenly rays shone forth. Therefore it was established that on the first of August the Cross be brought forth from the Church of Hagia Sophia, first to the center of the church and then through the streets, for the veneration of the people and in commemoration of the miraculous help of the Cross in past wars. This was not an ordinary cross, but the true Precious Cross, which was kept in the church of the imperial palace. On July 31 the Precious Cross was transferred from the imperial palace to Hagia Sophia, and from there was carried through the streets for the sanctification of the land and the air. Finally, on August 14 it was returned again to the church of the imperial palace.