The Third Sunday of Great Lent: The Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross
Gerald Largent
As Orthodox Christians journey through Great Lent, we reach a significant milestone on the third Sunday: the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross. This day serves as both a source of encouragement and a reminder of the path we are called to follow as Christians.
The Cross at the Midpoint of Lent
The placement of the Veneration of the Cross at the midpoint of Lent is not accidental. Having traveled three weeks in fasting, prayer, and repentance, we may begin to feel weary. The Church, in her wisdom, places the Cross before us as a source of strength and renewal, reminding us of the ultimate purpose of our Lenten struggle: union with Christ through His suffering, death, and resurrection.
Just as the Cross stood at the center of Christ’s earthly mission, it now stands at the center of our Lenten journey. The hymns of this Sunday echo this theme, inviting us to bow before the Cross and to embrace it with love and devotion.
The Gospel and Hymnography of the Day
The Gospel reading for this Sunday is from Mark 8:34-9:1, where Christ declares: *"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."* These words remind us that discipleship requires sacrifice. The path to the Resurrection is not one of ease but of endurance, humility, and self-denial.
Liturgically, the Cross is brought out in procession and placed in the center of the church for veneration. As we bow before it, we are reminded that our own crosses--our struggles, sufferings, and sacrifices--are not in vain but are the very means by which we participate in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
Encouragement for the Journey Ahead
By placing the Cross before us at this point in Lent, the Church gives us a foretaste of Holy Week and Pascha. The Cross is not merely a symbol of suffering but also of triumph. We venerate it not in despair but in hope, knowing that through it comes the joy of the Resurrection.
As we continue our Lenten journey, let us take courage from the Cross. Let us renew our efforts in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, knowing that Christ Himself walks with us, strengthening us by His grace. Through the Cross, joy has come into the world. May we embrace it as our path to eternal life.
“O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation!” (Troparion of the Cross)