Celebrating the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross in Firouzeh and the Spirituality of this Feast

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Fayrouza celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and the 100th anniversary of the parish’s founding. The Hoy Mass  was headed by the parish priest, Father George Masouh, with the participation of diocesan priests, deacons, and a large crowd of believers. After the mass, fires were lit following an ancient ecclesiastical tradition, symbolizing the recovery of the Holy Cross.

The cross is not a symbol of pain, suffering, and death, but rather a sign of the victory Christ granted us through His triumph over death, and the triumph of hope over despair.

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is what the Lord said and fulfilled out of His love for us and His desire for our salvation. It was the greatest act of love and sacrifice, freely given by the Lord because He loves us.

For us, the cross is the guarantee of God’s free love for each of us. It must also become a symbol of our love for others, our service to them, and our sacrifice for their sake. If we do not put the logic of sacrifice, service, and self-giving into practice, the cross becomes barren in our lives, and it will not bear the fruits of salvation for our brothers and sisters in the world.