Each nation made its own contribution to the history of civilization: the Chinese invented gunpowder and a compass, the Chaldeans compiled a solar calendar, the Greeks calculated the circumference of the earth, and the Romans compiled a code of laws "Roman Law", which formed the basis of all European legislation, and made the cross the most painful form of mortal executions.
The cross was intended for robbers, traitors to the state and rebellious slaves. He foreshadowed inevitable retribution to the obvious, secret and possible enemies of the state and Caesar. The torture on the cross was terrible. The man was nailed down with steel wedges, and to intensify the torment, he was tied tightly to the cross with ropes. The suffering and agony lasted for several days. A person was even deprived of the right to burial. Usually the body hung on the cross until it decayed to the bone.
For the Roman, the empire was a deity, and the emperor (Caesar) was its personification. On the banners and emblems of Rome, Caesar was depicted surrounded by pagan gods. He sat on a high throne as the ruler of the "Eternal City". The Roman emperors and his entourage inspired people that the wise men would build heaven on earth - heaven as a cup of inexhaustible pleasures.
Christ was condemned to death as an enemy of the emperor ("Everyone who calls himself king is an enemy of Caesar"), as an enemy of the Jewish people ("He will destroy our people"), as an enemy of religion ("He blasphemes"). The verdict was passed, the cross was prepared. Christ, stained with blood, went to Golgotha, staggering and falling under the weight of the cross. The blood of Christ, which stained the Cross, atoned for the sins of mankind.
Some reproach Christians for venerating the Cross. It seems to them that it is impossible to honor the instrument of death and suffering. For them, death is associated with defeat, but for Christians the Cross is a symbol of the greatest victory, the victory of life over death. The four-pointed cross marks the four cardinal points, that is, the redemption of the whole person: the four seasons - an eternal sacrifice. Its vertical ray is love between God and man, the horizontal one is love between people.
On September 14 (27), the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-giving Cross of the Lord.
On the day of the Exaltation, peasants in Russia erected chapels, crosses and observed fasting. According to popular belief, on the Feast of the Exaltation, “reptiles and other reptiles go to some unknown warm countries”, “not a snake or any reptile moves on the ground to the Exaltation. The peasants believed that on the day of the Exaltation, no important business should be started, since everything will end in complete failure.
From the Exaltation, they began to chop cabbage. "A good man has a cabbage pie for Vozdvizhenev Day." Often, young people started a party called a skit. Maybe that's where the name of modern skits came from.
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According to popular beliefs, there were various prohibitions - not to eat food on this day or not to eat at all, not to work - this was done in order to protect people from diseases. They collected cornflowers and blessed them in the church. They were stored throughout the year and used as a medicine. To protect cattle from diseases, they smeared it with tar, depicting a cross - protection from evil forces.
From the book: "100 Great Holidays". Elena Olegovna Chekulaeva
