Can you explain the procession rite for the Feast of the Cross in Matins?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Feast of the Cross is celebrated twice a year: on the 17th of Thout (commemorating the consecration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre) and on the 10th of Paremhotep (commemorating the discovery of the Holy Cross by Queen Helen).

The procession rite during Matins (Morning Raising of Incense) is a majestic and highly symbolic ceremony. It follows the same order as the Procession of Palm Sunday, signifying that the Cross is our victory and our glory.

1. Timing and Commencement

The procession begins after the Verses of the Cymbals and the Litany of the Departed. The priest stands before the Altar, holding the Cross adorned with three lit candles (representing the Holy Trinity), and starts the procession.

2. The Twelve Stations

The procession moves through the church, stopping at twelve specific stations. At each station, a specific verse from the Gospels is read, followed by a response from the deacons and the congregation. This represents the spreading of the Gospel to the four corners of the earth through the power of the Cross.

The stations are as follows:

1. Before the Altar: Proclaiming the Lord’s presence in His sanctuary.
2. Before the Icon of the Virgin Mary (Southern Side of the Iconostasis): Honoring the.
3. Before the Icon of the Annunciation: Recalling the Incarnation.
4. Before the Icon of Archangel Michael: Honoring the heavenly hosts.
5. Before the Icon of St. Mark the Evangelist: Honoring our patron and founder.
6. Before the Icon of the Apostles: Honoring the foundation of the Church.
7. At the Northern Door (Facing South): Acknowledging Christ as the Door.
8. At the Western Side (Facing East): Towards the baptismal font.
9. At the Southern Door (Facing North).
10. Before the Icon of St. John the Baptist: Honoring the greatest born of women.
11. Before the Icon of the Martyrs or the Patron Saint: Honoring those who carried their cross.
12. Before the Iconostasis (Great Gate): Returning to the Altar.

3. The Liturgy of the Word and Chant

During the procession, the deacons chant the joyful hymn (Evlogimenos — "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord") and the specific Greek/Coptic response:

"Jesus Christ our Lord, who was crucified on the Cross, crush Satan under our feet."

This chant is a direct declaration of the Miaphysite faith: that it was God the Word Himself who suffered in the flesh for our salvation. We do not separate the divinity from the humanity in the suffering of the Cross.

4. Theological Symbolism

• The Three Candles: These represent the Light of the World. As we carry the Cross with light, we declare that the Cross is no longer a tool of shame or death, but a "tree of life" and a "scepter of the King."
• Encircling the Church: Going around the interior of the church represents the sanctification of the whole world. As the priest offers incense to the Gospel and the Cross, he announces that our salvation was completed through the Cross.
• Union with the Old Testament: The procession often concludes with the prayer of Simeon the Elder ("Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace"), which marks the transition from the Old Testament expectation to the New Testament fulfillment in Christ our Savior.

5. Spiritual Meaning

The Coptic Church remains "the Church of the Cross." We do not celebrate the Cross merely as a historical relic, but as a living power. In this rite, every believer is reminded to "take up their cross" and follow the King of Peace. Following the procession, the priest begins the prayers of Matins, leading the people toward the Divine Liturgy, where the Sacrifice of the Cross is made present on the Altar.