The Holy Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Mar Sleeva in deep reverence. This celebration commemorates the triumph of our Lord Isho M'shiha, who transformed the Cross - a symbol of shame, suffering, and execution- into a sign of victory, salvation, and eternal hope.
Historical Background of the Feast
The origins of this feast trace back to the 4th century, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine. According to tradition, before the decisive Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312, Constantine received a divine vision: he saw a radiant cross in the sky, accompanied by the words "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (“In this sign, you will conquer”). After his victory, Constantine embraced Christianity and issued the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom to Christians throughout the Roman Empire.
Moved by her faith, Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326 AD in search of the True Cross on which Jesus had been crucified. At Calvary, three crosses were unearthed. To determine which was the Cross of Christ, a dying woman was brought forward and allowed to touch each one. Upon touching the true Cross, she was miraculously healed. Witnessing this, St. Macarius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, lifted the Cross high for the faithful to venerate an event the Church commemorates as the Exaltation of the Mar Sleeva.
The Sleeva may appear to the world as a symbol of defeat and suffering, but to the believer, it is a banner of victory signifying the defeat of sin, death, and the power of Satan once and for all. When a believer makes the sign of the Sleeva in the face of temptation, it is not a mere ritual; it is the lifting of Christ’s victory as a shield. When he looks to the Sleeva amid suffering and hardship, he is reminded that he is not alone that the power of the One who conquered death is with him.
Thus, Mar Sleeva is not a weapon to strike, but a shield to protect; not a symbol to instil fear, but one that inspires hope. It is the Christian’s refuge and fortress the sign of triumph over all evil.