Grade 12 Lesson 10
Grade 12 Lesson 10: Salvation through the Cross
Learning Outcomes
Feast of the Holy Cross (Sleebo)
- G12.LO35 - Propose how humility of the Cross is the power of the cross which evil in its pride cannot bear.
- G12.LO37 - Associate the narrative of the legend of King Abgar with local Syriac tradition.
- G12.LO38 - Develop an understanding of the exaltation of the Cross.
- G12.LO39 - Dissect the Kuklion of the Holy Cross.
Textbook Lesson
- USA & Canada: Lesson 10 Textbook PDF
- UEA: Lesson 10 Textbook PDF
Expanding Thoughts on Lesson
- Introduction
- "The Cross is the sign of peace- and the sign of victory. By the Cross we have been saved; and in it we all glory." - from the service of Wedding, at the time of tying the knot.
- Gesture of a Cross
- The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church makes the Sign of the Cross using the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger held together to move them from forehead to chest and from left shoulder to the right. Note that this is different in other Orthodox Churches where the Cross is made from right shoulder to left shoulder. There is no clear reason why other than historically there were influences from Europe in the Indian Church and other Orthodox Churches that Sign the Cross from left to right. It is important to teach that there is no "wrong" way to do, and all Orthodox Christians believe in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
- In the quote used from Tertullian (note that Tertullian is not a Saint as like Origen he embraced heresy towards the end of his life. However, his early writings have been accepted as upholding the Orthodox faith and these particular writings are on-par with our Church Fathers), the Cross is made on the person's forehead and not over the entire body. However, the Sign of the Cross is traced on the body which is what is the important teaching point.
- Cross and Salvation
- Fr Andrew Louth states, “The idea of the cosmic cross – reaching from heaven to earth, and drawing together in its embrace things set furthest apart – is a powerful symbol” (Louth, Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology, pg. 112).
Lesson Resources
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Connecting Materials
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