Thanks to Constantine the Great, the persecution of Christians ended in the 4th century. Temples began to be built everywhere, and believers openly glorified Christ. But a new danger has arisen. Here and there heretical teachings arose, which tried to interpret the dogmas of faith in their own way. At the Council of Nicea in 325, a creed was approved, which proclaimed the one essence of the Lord and Jesus Christ.
However, under the heir of St. Constantine, Constantius, a different interpretation became popular.
A presbyter from Alexandria, named Arius, argued that Christ is God’s creation and there is no one essence to speak of. cannot.
Arius was a well-educated, charismatic and intelligent man. His arguments
seemed credible to many. Arianism began to spread widely and gradually its representatives occupied all significant departments and began to enter the palace. Emperor Constantius was a supporter of Arianism.
Adherents of true Orthodoxy fervently prayed for the victory of the true faith. What happened on May 20 (new style) 351 was a clear answer to their prayers.
Even before dawn, the sky over Jerusalem was illuminated with a bright, unusual light. The entire city poured out into the streets and witnessed an unusual phenomenon. An equal-pointed cross shone in the sky, illuminating the city with its light. It stretched from Golgotha to the Holy Sepulcher, so that no one would have any doubt about what the message was. People were overwhelmed with horror, trepidation and delight. The chroniclers left us a mention that many Jews and Greeks were baptized on that day.
Patriarch Kirill wrote a letter to the emperor in which he described the miracle, mentioned that all ends of the cross were equal and asked to return to the bosom of the true church.
This message is read during services on the day of remembrance of the appearance of the Cross The Lord.
At services, in prayers and reflections, believers pay tribute to the Cross as a symbol of the Orthodox faith. John of Kronstadt wrote that we are saved only by the cross. With it we overcome the temptations of the storm of passions and the wounding of demons. He is the basis of the life of a believer; he confirms our hope, joy, strength, and most importantly, our salvation.
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