{"id":291190,"date":"2020-09-15T12:40:41","date_gmt":"2020-09-15T09:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=291190"},"modified":"2020-09-15T12:40:41","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T09:40:41","slug":"patriarch-daniel-the-cross-reminds-of-gods-love-for-us-we-feel-a-power-when-we-make-the-sign-of-the-cross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/patriarch-daniel-the-cross-reminds-of-gods-love-for-us-we-feel-a-power-when-we-make-the-sign-of-the-cross\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriarch Daniel: The cross reminds of God\u2019s love for us \/ We feel a power when we make the sign of the cross"},"content":{"rendered":"

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel Sunday stressed that the presence of the cross everywhere \u2018reminds of God\u2019s love for us.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Inside the church, the cross is located first in the altar, because it is Christ\u2019s altar of sacrifice. Then we find it on top of the iconostasis. On top of the church, one or several crosses are placed, because the church is built in the shape of a ship, and on the mast above the flag, the distinctive sign, is the Holy Cross, which remains unmoved by the wind, in the storm.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The Holy Cross is on the church, inside the church, on the priests\u2019 vestments, on the holy vessels, the church banners, everywhere it tells us about the love of Christ,\u2019 Patriarch Daniel said during his visit at Samurcasesti Monastery.<\/p>\n

\u2018The faithful have a cross on their house\u2019s front door or at the gate of the road; it is met at the crossroads because Christ said I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14: 6), He accompanies us all our lives.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The cross is placed near the springs or above the roof of a well to remember Christ Who said that \u00a0whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst (John 4:14).\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The cross is placed at the graves of our loved ones because in the Orthodox Creed it is I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”<\/p>\n

\u2018The sign of the cross is the sign of Christ’s love stronger than death, and that is why we love our dear ones who have passed away to the Lord, so that prayer for them is stronger than death. It goes beyond the grave and touches their souls who are in heaven in the light and love of the Most Holy Trinity,\u2019 the Patriarch of Romania said September 13.<\/p>\n

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Nun at the chant stand of Samurc\u0103\u015fe\u015fti Monastery. Photo: Lumina Newspaper \/ Mihnea P\u0103duraru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During his homily on Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Patriarch spoke about the importance of making the sign of the cross. \u2018We feel the power when we mark ourselves with the sign of the Holy Cross.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018When we make the sign of the Holy Cross, we glorify the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We glorify the sign of love, which is stronger than sin and death, than hatred and violence, and we show that the humble love of Christ is life-giving.\u2019<\/p>\n

The veneration of the Holy Cross does not imply the veneration of the material from which it is made, Patriarch Daniel emphasized.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we kiss the Holy Cross, we do not venerate the matter of the Holy Cross, but the sign of the Holy Cross that represents Christ. When we venerate it we do not honour metal or wood, but Christ crucified on the Cross. The veneration of the cross is the veneration of Christ who was crucified on the cross and then rose on the third day.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Therefore, on Easter night when the priest joins the Easter candle next to the cross, he raises the cross and the candle in front of everyone and says Christ is risen!, and the faithful answer He is risen indeed!\u2019<\/p>\n

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Believers joining in prayer. Photo: Lumina Newspaper \/ Mihnea P\u0103duraru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Patriarch Daniel also highlighted why the Orthodox Church does not separate the Cross from the Resurrection.<\/p>\n

“Because after the Resurrection, Christ bears the marks of the cross on His side pierced with the spear, in His hands and feet.”<\/p>\n

“Although He rose from the dead and His wounds healed, the traces of the crucifixion remained. This means that His humble love shown on the cross remains eternal in His risen body. Therefore, we sing Before Your Cross we bow down in worship, O Master, and Your holy Resurrection we glorify.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Samurc\u0103\u015fe\u015fti Monastery was founded in 1808, being built by the governor Constantin Samurca\u015f, on his estate in the village of Ciorog\u00e2rla, and is located at a distance of 15 km from Bucharest.<\/p>\n