Feast of the Cross in the Ancient Faith预览

Day 2: The Cross as the Tree of Life

Today, we reflect on the Cross as the Tree of Life, a profound symbol that connects the Fall in Eden with our redemption in Christ. The Coptic Orthodox Church observes the second feast of the Cross on the 10th of the Coptic month of Baramhat (March 19th), commemorating Emperor Heraclius' recovery of the Holy Cross from Persian captivity in 629 AD.

In Genesis, we see humanity's fall through eating from the forbidden tree. Christ redeems us through another tree - the Cross. As St. John Chrysostom, an early church father and “Doctor of the Church”, beautifully states in his commentary on Genesis: "Through a tree death entered the world, and through a tree life was restored."

We read in Revelation 22:1-2: "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." The Cross has become this tree of life, bearing the fruit of salvation and healing for all humanity.

The Coptic Orthodox Divine Liturgy expresses this reality in the hymn of the Cross: “The Cross is our weapon, the Cross is our hope, the Cross is our steadfastness in our hardships and sufferings.”

St. Athanasius of Alexandria, also known as St. Athanasius the Apostolic and a great defender of the faith, writes in “On The Incarnation”: "The renewal of creation has been wrought by the self-same Word Who made it in the beginning. There is thus no inconsistency between creation and salvation; for the One Father has employed the same Agent for both works, effecting the salvation of the world through the same Word Who made it in the beginning."

This parallel between the tree in Eden and the tree of the Cross resonates deeply in Orthodox Christian iconography. In many Coptic icons of the Crucifixion, the Cross is depicted with branches and leaves, visually representing its identity as the new “Tree of Life”. At the base of the Cross, we often see a skull, traditionally understood to be that of Adam, signifying that the blood of Christ flows down to redeem the first man and, through him, all humanity.

The recovery of the Cross by Emperor Heraclius teaches us about the spiritual warfare that surrounds this holy symbol. When the Persian King Khosrau II conquered Jerusalem in 614 AD, he took the relic of the True Cross as a prize of war. For fourteen years, this sacred treasure remained in Persian hands until Heraclius defeated the Persians and personally carried the Cross back to Jerusalem. As he approached the city gates in imperial splendor, an unseen force prevented him from entering. A heavenly messenger appeared, reminding him that Christ carried the Cross in humility. Removing his imperial regalia, Heraclius humbly carried the Cross barefoot into the city.

This historical event reminds us that the power of the Cross is inseparable from the virtue of humility. We cannot truly embrace the Cross while clinging to worldly pride and glory. Just as the emperor had to lay aside his royal garments, we too must approach the Cross with humble hearts, recognizing our dependence on God's grace.

As we venerate the Cross as the Tree of Life, let us reflect on the fruits it bears in our lives; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Let us draw near to this life-giving tree, drink from its healing waters, and find shelter under its branches. For in the shadow of the Cross, we find protection from the scorching heat of temptation and the storms of life's trials. Let us contemplate how the Cross transforms our suffering into salvation, our death into life. Just as the tree in Eden brought death, the tree of the Cross brings eternal life.

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, who stretched out Your pure hands upon the Tree of the Cross that we might be delivered from the snares of the enemy, help us to embrace the life-giving Cross as our strength and hope. May we find healing in its shadow and nourishment from its fruit, the fruit of salvation. Amen.