Some of the twelve great feasts of the Church come in pairs. Nativity  is followed by Theophany; Ascension is followed by Pentecost; Transfiguration by Dormition. So also is the case with the feasts of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Exaltation of the Cross.

As usual, the fathers of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY decorated the cross with beautiful flowers. The monastery is blessed to have two crosses that contain relics of the True Cross. For this feast, the monks use a wooden cross worn by Archbishop Averky (Taushev), which was placed inside a circular wooden holder.

According to the Typicon, the cross is decorated before Small Vespers, after which it is transferred from the table of oblation to the altar table in the cathedral. At the same time, bundles of flowers, mostly marigolds, and basil are placed in a large bowl along with large bouquets for the clergy. According to tradition, basil is used as its name in Greek means "King," and was the odor which filled the air when the Cross was found in Jerusalem so long ago.

During the Great Doxology, monastery abbot Bishop Luke of Syracuse, fully vested, censed the altar table three times, and at the end of the chanting, lifted up the Cross from the altar, placed it on his head, and went out the northern deacon’s door, accompanied by the clergy and supported by the two elder priests. He went to the Royal Doors and intoned: "Wisdom, aright," and blessed the faithful with the Cross, which he then took to the analogion in the middle of the church, prepared for the Cross. Then, once again, he censed the Cross three times, from which he again lifted it and proceeded to the platform, where the Cross was lowered very slowly by His Grace while the choir chanted "Lord, have mercy" 50 times, and then was lifted up while the choir chanted another 50 times, "Lord, have mercy." This is done in all four directions and then finished once more facing the east. Each cycle is started with a litany of petition by the deacons. While the Cross was being lowered and lifted, the two eldest priests poured rose water over the Cross, which flowed down into the basin filled with the flowers.

After this is done, the clergy sang "Before Thy Cross…", which was repeated by the choir. Thereupon, the choir sang other appointed hymns, while the clergy venerated the Cross, were anointed by the bishop with blessed oil, given blessed bread, and received bouquets. Following the clergy and the servers, the faithful proceeded to venerate the Cross and receive the same blessed items.

On the feast day itself, Bishop Luke celebrated Divine Liturgy with the monastery and visiting clergy. As on all of the feasts of the Lord, special antiphons were chanted in place of the usual Beatitudes, and there was a special introit verse intoned by the archdeacon. 

In many ways, this is a joyous feast with its beautiful rituals; however, the Typicon appoints a strict fast on this day, so that we feel remorse at our sins which caused our Lord to suffer and die on the Cross. This feast in some ways mirrors the commemoration of Great and Holy Friday and, besides commemorating the discovery of the Cross by St. Helen in the 4th century, it also brings to our spiritual attention, about halfway during the year, the Lord’s Crucifixion, so important for our salvation.

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