No other bishop or emperor; the Fathers fix the feast; praise of the Cross
The narrator is closing the historical account of the discovery of the Cross and turning to a festal praise of the Cross itself.
For no other bishop of Jerusalem ever arose besides those previously written, nor any other emperor of the Romans, nor indeed was the precious Cross found in any other way. From Augustus the emperor, under whom our Lord Jesus Christ was born according to the flesh, until the pious emperor Constantine, there were thirty-five emperors. Likewise, from James the apostle and first of the bishops until that same reign, there were thirty-five bishops of Jerusalem.
The Fathers, with an imperial decree, determined that the revered day of the dedication of the holy places and the exaltation of the worshipped Cross should be observed each year on the fourteenth of the month of September, which is eighteen days before the Kalends of October, to the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Since by the grace of God we have arrived in our discourse at the notable day of our feast, which is the exaltation of the life-giving Cross, come, let us greet it briefly as we are able and bring this discourse to rest.
[The orator now addresses the Cross directly.] Rejoice, then, precious Cross; rejoice, because in you our Lord Jesus Christ was lifted up in the divine plan, and in you are all the treasures of joy and grace. Rejoice, precious Cross; for through you unending joy is awarded in heaven and on earth. Rejoice, precious Cross, because from above and from the beginning the Creator painted your image in all creation. Rejoice, glorious Cross, because all the powers in heaven send up to the Master hymns made most awe-inspiring by the salvation that comes through you. Rejoice, glorious Cross; for through you churches of the orthodox have been founded in cities, and on islands, and in every nation. Rejoice, glorious Cross; for through you every mouth of the faithful has been opened for speaking of God. Rejoice, blessed Cross; for through you heavenly angels with human beings on earth hymn Christ. Rejoice, blessed Cross; for through you earthly human beings stand before God in the heavens, glorifying the Maker with unutterable joy. Rejoice, blessed Cross; for through you Adam, freed from the curse, has entered paradise leaping and rejoicing, having received back his ancient dignity. Rejoice, holy Cross; for through you every diabolical power has been cast down, and every demonic activity has been destroyed. Rejoice, holy Cross; for through you the thrice-holy and one-in-being Trinity is known in every place, and believed, and glorified. Rejoice, holy Cross; for through you goods that cannot be taken away have been given to human beings.
And what shall we say, and what shall we pass over? How shall we hymn the power of the Master's Cross? O name of the Cross, in which the mighty works of the mysteries of God are hidden, revered by angels and venerated by human beings! For what is more beloved than the name of the Cross, or sweeter to Christians? What is more effective than this for working wonders? The Cross is the most powerful sign of divine authority. The Cross is the joy of angels and the grief of demons. The Cross is the foundation of the Church. The Cross is the ever-shining and all-illuminating light of the whole world. The Cross is the unshaken wall of all the inhabited world, unbroken and unconquerable. The Cross is the holy and inviolate glory of priests. The Cross is the strength and power of emperors, and a victorious weapon against enemies. The Cross is the all-powerful full armor of armies, and it cannot be terrified by adversaries. The Cross is the guardian of cities, safe from plots and from plunder. The Cross is the unceasing and unending joy of peoples. The Cross is the unceasing and unrelenting utter destruction of devils. The Cross is the eternal and overwhelming downfall of demons. The Cross is the sure hope of Christians, unashamed and undiminished. The Cross is the most fitting healing of souls and bodies for the weak. The Cross is the unfailing health of the strong.
Greek
Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐπί σκοπος ἕτερος Ἱεροσολύμων
γέγονε πώποτε παρὰ τοὺς προγεγραμμένους, οὐδὲ βασιλεὺς ἕτερος Ῥω μαίων, οὐδὲ μὴν ἑτέρῳ τρόπῳ ὁ τίμιος σταυρὸς εὑρέθη. Ἀπὸ γὰρ Αὐγούστου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἐφ' οὗ ἐγεννήθη ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, ἔως τοῦ εὐσεβοῦς βασιλέως Κωνστατίνου, τριάκοντα καὶ πέντε γεγόνασι βασιλεῖς. Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰακώβου τοῦ ἀποστόλου καὶ πρώτου τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἕως τῆς αὐτῆς βασιλείας, τριάκοντα καὶ πέντε Ἱεροσολύμων ἐπίσκοποι γεγόνασι. Τὴν δὲ σεβάσμιον ἡμέραν τῶν ἐγκαινίων τῶν ἁγίων τόπων, καὶ τῆς ὑψώσεως τοῦ προσκυνητοῦ σταυροῦ, ὡρίσαντο οἱ Πατέρες μετὰ βασιλικοῦ προστάγματος γίνεσθαι ἀνὰ ἔτος ἕκαστον τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ τοῦ Σεπτεμβρίου μηνὸς, ἤτις ἐστὶν ἡ πρὸ δεκαοκτὼ Καλανδῶν. Ὀκτωβρίων, εἰς δόξαν τοῦ Πατρὸς, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος.Ἐπειδὴ δὲ χάριτι τοῦ Θεοῦ κατηντήσαμεν τῷ λόγῳ εἰς τὴν εὔσημον ἡμέραν τῆς ἑορτῆς ἡμῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνάδειξις τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ, φέρε καθὼς οἷόν 4084 τέ ἐστι μικρὰ χαιρετήσαντες τοῦτον καταπαύσωμεν τὸν λόγον.Χαίροις τοίνυν, σταυρὲ τίμιε, χαίροις, ὅτι ἐν σοὶ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὑψώθη οἰκονομικῶς, ἐν ᾧ πάντες οἱ θησαυροὶ τῆς χαρᾶς καὶ τῆς χάριτος.Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ τίμιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἀένναος χαρὰ ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς βραβεύεται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ τίμιε, ὅτι ἄνωθεν καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὁ ∆ημιουργὸς ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τὴν εἰκόνα σου ἐζωγράφησεν. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε, ὅτι πᾶσαι αἱ κατ' οὐρανὸν δυνάμεις ἴσως τῇ διὰ σοῦ σωτηρίᾳ φρικωδεστάτους ὕμνους ἀναπέμ πουσι τῷ ∆εσπότῃ. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ καὶ ἐν πόλεσι, καὶ ἐν νήσοις, καὶ ἐν παντὶ ἔθνει Ἐκκλησίαι ὀρθοδόξων τεθεμελίωνται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἔνδοξε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ πᾶν στόμα πιστῶν εἰς θεολογίαν ἠνέῳκται. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἄγγελοι οὐράνιοι σὺν ἀνθρώποις ἐπὶ γῆς Χριστὸν ὑμνοῦσι. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἐπίγειοι ἄνθρωποι ὁμοίως παρίστανται τῷ Θεῷ, μετὰ ἀνεκλαλήτου χαρᾶς τὸν Ποιητὴν δοξάζον τες. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ μακάριε· διὰ τοῦ γὰρ ὁ Ἀδὰμ τῆς κατάρας ἐλευθερωθεὶς, σκιρτῶν καὶ ἀγαλλιώμε νος εἰς τὸν παράδεισον εἰσελήλυθεν ἀπολαβὼν τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἀξίωμα. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ πᾶσα διαβολικὴ δύναμις καταβέβληται, καὶ πᾶσα δαιμονικὴ ἐνέργεια κατελύθη. Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ ἡ τρισαγία καὶ ὁμοούσιος Τριὰς παντὶ τόπῳ γνωρίζεται καὶ πιστεύεται καὶ δοξολογεῖται.Χαῖρε, σταυρὲ ἅγιε· διὰ σοῦ γὰρ τὰ ἀναφαίρετα ἀγαθὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις δεδώρηται.Καὶ τί εἴπωμεν καὶ τί παραλείψωμεν; πῶς ἀν υμνήσωμεν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ∆εσποτικοῦ σταυροῦ; Ὦ ὄνομα σταυροῦ, ἐν ᾧ τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῶν μυστηρίων τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐγκέκρυπται, ἀγγέλοις αἰδέσιμον, καὶ ἀν θρώποις σεβάσμιον! Τί γὰρ ἐρασμιώτερον ὀνόμα τος σταυροῦ, ἢ ἡδύτερον Χριστιανοῖς; Τί δὲ τούτου ἐνεργέστερον εἰς θαυματουργίαν; Σταυρὸς, θείας δυναστείας ἐνεργέστατον σημεῖον.Σταυρὸς, ἀγγέλων χαρὰ καὶ δαιμόνων πένθος. Σταυρὸς, Ἐκκλησίας θεμέλιος. Σταυρὸς, τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου φωστὴρ ἀειφανὴς καὶ παντοφανής. Σταυρὸς, τεῖχος ἀκράδαντον καὶ ἀῤῥαγὲς καὶ ἀκαταπολέμητον πάσης τῆς οἰκουμένης. Σταυρὸς, ἱερέων δόξα ἱερο πρεπὴς καὶ ἀνεπηρέαστος. Σταυρὸς, βασιλέων κράτος καὶ δυναστεία, καὶ νικητικὸν ὅπλον κατὰ τῶν πολε μίων. Σταυρὸς, στρατοπέδων παντευχία παναλκε στάτη, καὶ ἀκατάπληκτος τοῖς ἐναντίοις. Σταυρὸς, πόλεων φυλακτήριον ἀνεπιβούλευτον καὶ ἀσκύλευτον.Σταυρὸς, λαῶν εὐφροσύνη διηνεκὴς καὶ ἀκατά ληκτος. Σταυρὸς, διαβόλων πανολεθρία διηνεκὴς καὶ ἀκατάπαυστος. Σταυρὸς, δαιμόνων κατάπτωμα αἰώνιόν τε καὶ ἐξαίσιον. Σταυρὸς, Χριστιανῶν ἐλπὶς βεβαία τε καὶ ἀνεπαίσχυντος καὶ ἀμείωτος. Σταυρὸς, ἀσθενούντων ἴασις 3 εὐπρεπεστάτη ψυχῶν τε καὶ σω μάτων. Σταυρὸς, εὐεκτούντων ἀδιάπτωτος ὑγίεια.