The Akathist to the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord is a prayer read in Christian churches to address the Cross, which is a symbol of salvation and faith. Reading this akathist helps believers to deepen their understanding of the Cross and its impact on their lives.
Troparion, Tone 1
Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thy inheritance, granting victories to the Orthodox Christians, and preserving Thy dwelling place by the power of Thy Cross.
Kondakion, Tone 4
Raising Thyself on the Cross by Thy will, O Christ God, grant Thy mercies, and rejoice us by the power of Thy might, granting us victories over our adversaries, and providing those who possess Thy weapon of peace with invincible victory.
Kondakion 1
Come, O Christ-bearers, let us extol the praise of the venerable Cross, on which Christ, the King of Glory, by His will stretched forth His hands, and raised us to the first blessedness, from which we fell by the serpent’s deceit. Thou, O most holy Cross, having the power of the Crucified Christ, save and preserve those who invoke Thee with love:
Rejoice, O Venerable Cross, most joyful sign of our redemption.
Ikon, 1
The angelic hosts, as servants of God, extol the Cross, proclaiming the voluntary passion of Christ, the Life-giver. We, having been freed from eternal death by His sufferings, imitating the heavenly powers, joyfully cry out:
Rejoice, O Cross, for on thee Christ our God, by His will, stretched forth His hands, and wrought our salvation.
Rejoice, for on thee Christ, the Lawgiver, stretched forth His hands, and abolished the ancient curse, which was upon us.
Rejoice, for on thee the ancient oath, which was upon us, was abolished.
Rejoice, for by the strange mystery on thee, the human race was freed from the sting of death.
Rejoice, for on thee the sting of death was crushed for those who suffered.
Rejoice, for on thee the sufferings and death of Christ were wrought.
Rejoice, for on thee, for this reason, God was reconciled to men.
Rejoice, O Venerable Cross, most joyful sign of our redemption.
Kondakion 2
Seeing the fallen human race, O Lord, Thou, having become incarnate, didst freely endure the Cross and death for our sake, that Thou mightest deliver us from eternal death, and we, confessing Thee as the Son of God, cry out to Thee:
Alleluia
Ikos 2
Human reason is overwhelmed in attempting to comprehend the great mysteries of Your incarnation and voluntary sufferings, O Christ. How You, as the impassible God, endured the passion of the cross, as a man, and transformed this instrument of death into a source of life and salvation for all who believe in You and hymn Your praise:
Rejoice, O Cross, on which the eternal mystery, predetermined from all eternity, was accomplished.
Rejoice, for on You was accomplished our redemption, presented in various forms and shadows.
Rejoice, for on You the Life-Giver died, and with His Blood and Water, our sins are washed away.
Rejoice, for with the drops of His most holy Blood, the stains of our sins are cleansed.
Rejoice, O Cross, as the tree of life, which stands in the midst of the Paradise of God, desired by Christians.
Rejoice, for You nourish us with the fruits of immortality, and with the hope of Eternal Life, You console our weakness.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, the most joyful sign of our redemption.
Kondak 3
Your Cross, O Christ, though visible to the senses, is clothed with divine power, and though presented to the world, it is a wondrous salvation for our minds, as we strive to attain You:
Alleluia
Ikos 3
Beholding Your holy Cross before our eyes, we venerate it with sacred reverence, as the instrument of our salvation, and, kissing it, we cry out:
Rejoice, O Cross, glorified by the obedience and suffering of Christ.
Rejoice, exalted by the elevation of the Son of God, Who raised the whole world from the fall of Adam.
Rejoice, for on You the terrible mystery was accomplished, and the earth trembled, as if it would devour the lawless.
Rejoice, for on You the veil of the Temple was rent, and the sacrifice of the old covenant was abolished.
Rejoice, O Cross, for the stone, which was rolled away from You, signifies the fall of the stone-hearted Jews, who had departed from God, and had lost the grace of priesthood and kingdom.
Rejoice, for the darkness of idolatry was dispelled, and the light of faith shone forth.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, the most joyful sign of our redemption.
Condak 4
As the tempest of malice and the whirlwind of envy stirred up the high priests of the Jewish nation, hiding Your Cross, O Christ, God, may it not be a rebuke of their folly; but, as a precious treasure, it shone forth from the depths of the earth, discovered by the pious Queen Helena and revealed to all the faithful for their joy, with a hymn of divine praise:
Alleluia
Icos 4
When the Christians saw the discovery of the Holy Cross, they glorified the Christ who was crucified upon it, crying out, “Lord, have mercy!” We, however, now imitating them, glorify Your holy Cross with these hymns:
Rejoice, O Cross, hidden in the earth and sanctifying the earthly nature corrupted by our sins.
Rejoice, O Cross, by Your appearance, You have confounded the scoffers of the Incarnation and the Divinity of Christ.
Rejoice, O Cross, for on You the Lord suffered, and by His flesh, He acquired all power in heaven and on earth, leading all things to the Father.
Rejoice, O Cross, for on You the Lord died as a man, and by the power of His Divinity, He broke the fetters of hell and brought forth the souls of the righteous from it.
Rejoice, O Cross, for You are the wise thief, crucified with Christ and confessing Him as Lord, and by You, He ascended to heaven, as a ladder.
Rejoice, O Cross, for You raise up those who are crucified with Christ in their passions to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, the most joyful sign of our redemption.
Condak 5
Lord, when Moses, Your prophet, only showed the image of Your Cross, He conquered Your enemies; now, since we possess Your Cross, we ask for Your help: strengthen Your Church and grant her victories over her enemies, so that all Your enemies may be scattered, not crying out to You:
Alleluia
Icos 5
Moses, O Christ, prefigured the action of the Holy Cross when he defeated Amalek in the desert of Sinai; for when he stretched out his hand, forming the image of the Cross, the people were strengthened; now, the fulfillment of things has taken place in us: today the Cross is raised, and demons flee, today all creation is freed from the sting of death, for all the gifts have shone forth to us because of the Cross. Therefore, rejoicing, we cry out:
Rejoice, O Cross, the terrible weapon of Christ, which demons tremble at.
Rejoice, O Cross, for by Your power, the Lord who was crucified has driven the demons far away.
Rejoice, O Cross, for by Your power, the divine graces work victories for those who love Christ.
Rejoice, O Cross, for by You, the armies of the unfaithful are brought under the feet of the faithful.
Rejoice, O Cross, for from You, as from a fountain of paradise, streams of all blessings flow.
Rejoice, O Cross, for from You, as from a tall and fruitful tree, the sufferings of Christ have produced fruits of life and salvation for us.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, the most joyful sign of our redemption.
Кондак 6
Thou hast appeared as the preacher of the power and divinity of Christ, O Living Tree of the Cross, when, by the touch of Thy hand, Thou didst raise the dead to life, and, by this, many of the Jews and Gentiles came to know the great mystery of Thy righteousness, that, for the sake of human salvation, God hath appeared in the flesh and hath endured the passion of the Cross, that He might save those who cry out to Him:
Alleluia
Икос 6
As the tree of paradise was exalted, so hath the Holy Cross of Christ been exalted on Golgotha, from which the branches of Thy grace and power have spread throughout the universe: under its shadow, those who are scorched by the heat of passions find rest, and those who desire to live a righteous life in Christ Jesus find solace. Therefore, we, who are partakers of Thy grace, joyfully cry out:
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, tree of life, planted in Eden for the sake of Adam, transformed.
Rejoice, O new Adam, with Thy hands outstretched, Thou hast been revealed to the world.
Rejoice, for under the shadow of Thy blessed protection, all the faithful take refuge.
Rejoice, for by the mercy of Him who gave Thee to us, repentant sinners escape the fire of Gehenna.
Rejoice, O Cross, our comfort in sorrows and griefs.
Rejoice, O living consolation and help to those who are weary in the struggle against the passions of the devil and the world.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, the joyful sign of our redemption.
Кондак 7
Although Thou hast revealed to humanity the unfathomable depths of Thy goodness and mercy, O Lord, Thou hast given us the Cross as a firm protector and expeller of demons. Therefore, we, who believe in Thee, praise Thy greatness, thanking Thee:
Alleluia
Икос 7
Thou hast revealed wondrous deeds, O Lord, through Thy Holy Cross: for when Thou didst suffer on it, all creation was changed: the sun hid its rays, the foundations of the earth were shaken, hell was struck with the power of Thy authority, and it released the captives that it had held from eternity. Therefore, we weave these hymns in praise of Thee:
Rejoice, O Cross, for all creation sympathized with Thee, as with its Creator and Lord.
Rejoice, for the sun and the earth testified to Thy power and divinity by their darkness and trembling.
Rejoice, for He who died on Thee was not held in the power of death, but, having destroyed the power of death, He rose on the third day.
Rejoice, for the preaching of the Gospel, which began from the face of the apostles, has gone out to the ends of the earth.
Rejoice, O Cross, for through Thee, idolatry and polytheism have been abolished.
Rejoice, for through Thee, the right faith in the One God, who is glorified in the Trinity, has been established throughout the world.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, the joyful sign of our redemption.
Condak 8
Strangely, God was incarnate and, having been crucified on the Cross, we mentally behold Him. Let us detach ourselves from the vain world and transfer our mind to the heavens, for this reason God descended to earth and ascended the Cross, that He might raise those who cry out to Him, as on a ladder:
Alleluia
Icos 8
Today, Adam and Eve rejoice, beholding the Cross, by which the adversary was vanquished, who, in the beginning, in the garden, had tempted them with the forbidden fruit and had made them prisoners. For this reason, we, rejoicing in our forefather’s deliverance from our spiritual captivity, devoutly sing:
Rejoice, O Cross, for on you the Good Shepherd laid down His soul for His sheep and even descended into hell, seeking the lost.
Rejoice, for He did not despise the work of His hand, Adam and Eve, but with the righteous, He delivered them from hell, as from the strong jaws of a beast, and settled them in paradise.
Rejoice, for on you, the crucified Christ, He gave the fiery sword, and the Cherub, the guardian of Eden, retreated from the tree of life.
Rejoice, for now, we, having been reborn through baptism, are new people in Christ, and we partake of the heavenly food without hindrance.
Rejoice, O Cross, the rod of Christ’s power, sent from Zion, by which we pasture on the pasture of evangelical teachings.
Rejoice, for by you, we are preserved unharmed from the wolves that devour souls, like roaring lions seeking to devour.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, the most joyful sign of our redemption.
Condak 9
Deliver us from all evils and wiles of the enemy, O glorious Cross, receiving from the crucified Christ on you the grace and power, which we, praising His voluntary and world-saving passion, cry out to Him:
Alleluia
Icos 9
Every kind of deceit of the earthly-born does not prevail over the glory of your Cross, O Lord, on which you have accomplished our salvation; therefore, not understanding its worth, we cry out thus:
Rejoice, O Cross, for on you, the Savior of the world, many people have been exalted to the knowledge of their calling and continue to call to this day.
Rejoice, for on you, shining like a lampstand, the true Light of God’s knowledge illuminates all the ends of the earth.
Rejoice, for now, the East and West praise the One who suffered on you.
Rejoice, for the South and North call Him God and Lord.
Rejoice, for all the faithful, lifting you up, praise you as the footstool of Christ.
Rejoice, for from you, as from an inexhaustible source, the multitude of Christ-bearers draw an abundance of eternal blessings.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, the most joyful sign of our redemption.
Condak 10
Save those who hope in Thee, and protect those who flee to the shadow of Thy protection, O most holy Cross, preserving us from all evils, by the power of Him who was crucified on Thee, Christ our God, to whom we give thanks and praise:
Alleluia
Icos 10
Thou art a wall that guards us from all afflictions and misfortunes, O most holy Cross, and a strong pillar against the face of the enemy, against whom the invisible combatants dare not approach, fearing to behold Thy power. Therefore, we shield ourselves with faith in Thy sacred sign and joyfully sing:
Rejoice, O most blessed Cross of Christ, who dost protect us from the attacks of the spirits of malice.
Rejoice, who dost preserve us unharmed from the fiery arrows of their wrath.
Rejoice, for by Thy sign, which we piously make, all the powers of hell, like smoke before the wind, disappear.
Rejoice, for Thou dost render all their strength, like wax before the fire, useless.
Rejoice, for Thou dost protect the holy martyrs, who, having taken refuge in Thy sign, and having called upon the name of Christ, have endured every kind of suffering with courage.
Rejoice, for Thou dost vanquish the fear of demons and the rising of passions, by the power of the divine strength, which Thou dost possess.
Rejoice, O blessed Cross, the most joyful sign of our redemption.
Condak 11
We offer to Thee, O most holy Cross, a hymn of praise, and we humbly pray to Christ, who was crucified on Thee, our God, who hast given us Thee as a comfort and solace in afflictions and misfortunes, that by Thy Passion, Thou mayest deliver us from the passions that harm the soul, and teach us to praise Him thankfully:
Alleluia
Icos 11
Enlighten our spiritual senses with the light of divine grace, which is mysteriously present in Thee, O most holy Cross, that, being illuminated and guided by Thee, we may not stumble against the stone of temptation, but may be able to walk in the way of God’s commandments throughout our life, singing to Thee:
Rejoice, O Cross, the lamp of divine light.
Rejoice, the herald of the unceasing wonders of Christ and the messenger of His mercy to the human race.
Rejoice, O Cross, the renewal of humanity and the seal and confirmation of the New Testament of Christ.
Rejoice, the triumph of Christian faith and the trustworthy anchor of our hope.
Rejoice, the ornament of the holy temples of God and the protection of the homes of the righteous.
Rejoice, the blessing of the fields and vineyards and the sanctification of all the elements.
Rejoice, O blessed Cross, the most joyful sign of our redemption.
Кондак 12
Grant us, O Lord, Thy mighty grace, that we may follow Thee, our Lord and Master, taking up our cross, not nailed as Thou, but sharing in Thy sufferings through toil, self-control, and humility, that we may be partakers of Thy eternal life, which flows from Thy sufferings, nourishing all the faithful who worship Thee:
Alleluia
Икос 12
Singing Thy praises, O most holy Cross, we all exalt Thee, as the victorious scepter of the Heavenly King, our joyful sign of salvation; and thus we cry out:
Rejoice, O Cross, stronghold of Orthodox Christians and their unshakeable defense.
Rejoice, O Cross, ornament of the holy fathers and strength and support of all the confessors of the faith and virtue.
Rejoice, O Cross, guarding us from the cradle to the grave on all the paths of life, and protecting us from the assaults of evil spirits after death.
Rejoice, for those who rest under Thy sign, who die in faith and virtue, shall rise again in the last day to eternal life.
Rejoice, O Cross, for Thou hast preceded the glorious Second Coming of Christ in heaven.
Rejoice, for the crucified Christ and all the unbelievers shall see Thee then, and with bitter grief shall lament, while those who love the Lord, beholding Thee, shall rejoice exceedingly.
Rejoice, O Holy Cross, our joyful sign of salvation.
Кондак 13
O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, comfort of all Christians! Beholding Thee now, we are lifted up in thought to the crucified Christ, Whom we humbly beseech Thee to pardon us, sinners, and to grant us to sing hymns to Him in the gardens of the righteous:
Alleluia
(This kondak is read three times, followed by ikos 1 and kondak 1)
Молитва
Most holy Cross, be a guardian of my soul and body, by Thy image, casting out demons, repelling enemies, abolishing passions, and granting reverence, and life, and strength, through the cooperation of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the most holy Theotokos. Amen.
Life-giving Cross of the Lord
The pagan Roman emperors sought to eradicate all memories of the sacred places where the Lord suffered and rose from the dead for humanity. Emperor Adrian (117-138) ordered the Golgotha and the Tomb of the Lord to be buried under earth and a pagan temple of Venus and a statue of Jupiter to be erected on an artificial hill. The pagans would gather there and perform idolatrous sacrifices.
However, through the providence of God, the great Christian sanctuaries – the Tomb of the Lord and the Life-giving Cross – were rediscovered by Christians and opened for veneration 300 years later. This occurred during the reign of the equal-to-the-apostles Emperor Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to put an end to the persecution of Christians. Saint Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337) after his victory over Maxentius, the ruler of the Western part of the Roman Empire, in 312, and over Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern part of the empire, in 323, became the sole ruler of the vast Roman Empire. In 313, he issued the Edict of Milan, which legalized Christianity and put an end to the persecution of Christians in the Western part of the empire. Emperor Licinius, although he signed the Edict of Milan in favor of Constantine, continued to persecute Christians in reality. Only after his final defeat did the Edict of 313 spread to the Eastern part of the empire. Equal-to-the-apostles Emperor Constantine, with the help of God, having won three wars against his enemies, saw on the sky a divine sign – the Cross with the inscription “In this sign, you will conquer.”
Desiring to find the Cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, equal-to-the-apostles Emperor Constantine sent his mother, the pious Empress Helena, to Jerusalem, providing her with a