Today is Sep. 14th. For a Christian, who is familiar with the Church calendar, this is a significant day. It is the feast of (the triumph of!!) the Holy Cross!
Now being students of history and philosophy course, this feast could be interesting - both for its history and philosophy. I will not elaborate.
History: The feast has historical reference to the instance or series of instances that transformed what was a passionate and committment movement for egalitarianism, sharing and justice into one of the most highly formalised, hierarchical, and powerful systems/institutions in the world. From a radical movement, the feast goes back to the times of Emperor Constantine who is said to have got a divine inspiration (sign!) or a very visionary political insight, by which he was asked to wage his losing wars with the Cross (till then the sign of defeat and defame) as his sign! It also has the tradition that after the victory in the war, Constantine and his pious mother Helen, found the original cross that hanged Christ at Calvary! This marks the beginning of Christianity becomig a state religion, a centre of power and entering a phase of peaceful existence.
Philosophy: The christian philosophy of suffering as salvific is symbolised by the cross - if one submits to God's will, and endures suffering as a means of sanctification, s/he is finally led to victory - over the various conflicts in life!
The eastern Christian symbol of the flowering cross is rich in this symbolism. It shows a cross with buds on all its four edges, indicating new life, and lack of Christ crucified on the cross indicating his victory over death and suffering!
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