Cited by 0Biblical Studies and InterpretationByzantine Studies and HistoryKarl Barth and Christian Theology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 1 of the 1 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 25 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

The Cross in the Old Testament (a look through the Paroimias for Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord)

Open access
St. Cyril and St. Methodius, University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Kancheva, Stevka·2025·Romanian Orthodox Old Testament Studies

Abstract

The paper examines the profound connection between the Old Testament prefigurations and the Feast of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross, underscoring the profound theological and liturgical significance of the Cross in the Christian tradition. Through the typologies of the tree at Marah, the uplifted hands of Moses, the crossed hands of Jacob, and the Tree of Life, the Church underscores the continuity of salvation history, showing the Cross as both a fulfillment of Old Testament imagery and a symbol of redemption. Liturgical texts and hymnography enrich this understanding, presenting the Cross not only as an instrument of Christ's Passion but also as a source of life, grace, and eternal salvation. The references to cypress, pine, and cedar further root the veneration of the Cross in Scripture and tradition, drawing connections between the material creation and its sanctification through Christ. Ultimately, the Feast serves as a call to worship and contemplation, urging the faithful to recognize the Cross as the ultimate expression of God’s love and a beacon of hope for humanity, uniting past revelations with the present life of the Church and the promise of eternal life.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This paper examines Old Testament prefigurations of the Cross in the Orthodox Feast of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross, focusing on the three Paroimias and related hymnography. It argues that figures such as the tree at Marah, Moses’ outstretched hands against Amalek, Jacob’s crossed hands, the tree of life, the bronze serpent, and Joshua at Gibeon are read liturgically as types of Christ’s Cross.

Key findings

  • The first Paroimia (Ex 15:22–27; 16:1) is read through the tree at Marah: the hymnography says “wood also once destroyed the bitterness of the waters of Marah, prefiguring the working of the Cross,” and St. Justin Martyr’s *Dialogue with Trypho* 86 is cited for this typology.
  • The second Paroimia (Prov 3:11–18) equates Wisdom with the tree of life, which the paper says is identified as the Cross; St. John of Damascus calls the Cross “the tree of eternal life” and “a precious and august tree.”
  • The third Paroimia (Is 60:11–16) is linked to cypress, pine, and cedar, which glorify God’s footstool; the paper notes the tradition that Christ’s cross was made from cypress, pine, and cedar, and cites hymns praising Christ crucified on those woods.
  • Other prefigurations discussed include Moses’ cross-shaped hands in the battle with Amalek (Ex 17:11–12), Jacob’s crossed hands in blessing Joseph’s sons, the bronze serpent on a pole (Nm 21:9), and Joshua’s outstretched hands at Gibeon (Jos 10:13–14).

Methods

  • The paper is a textual and liturgical-theological study, using typological exegesis of the Old Testament readings (Paroimias) appointed for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross.
  • It analyzes Orthodox hymnography—canons, stichera, sessional hymns—alongside patristic sources such as St. Justin Martyr, St. John of Damascus, St. Andrew of Crete, and St. Clement of Ohrid.
  • No empirical data, sampling, or quantitative analysis is reported.

Limitations

  • Not stated in the paper.
  • Evident from the text: the study is selective and confessional in approach, with no explicit criteria for choosing which prefigurations to discuss and no engagement with critical or alternative exegetical readings.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.24193/roots.2025.1.8

Cites

1 of 1 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

23 Sources not found · 11 Own interpretation · 9 No basis given · 4 Not checked yet

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 21
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 12
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
29 of 29
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Old Testament passages and liturgical texts should be read typologically as prefigurations of Christ and the Cross.

    “Suppose we focus on the Old Testament imagery used in the worship for the feast.In that case, we find the tree as a foreshadowing of the Cross, the crossed hands of Moses during the battle with Amalek, the crossed hands of Jacob in the blessing of his sons, and the antithesis of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree (the Cross).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The hymnography and patristic texts cited accurately represent the Church's theology for the feast.

    “The prefiguration is clearly explained several times in the hymnography: Moses once prefigured you, stretching his hands out toward Heaven, and prevailing mightily over tyrant Amalek... (stichera at”
2 of 2

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Show all 1 references

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. 4. Св. Андрей, архіеп. Критскій. Слово на всеславное Воздвиженіе Честнаго и Животворящаго Креста, иже во святыхъ отца нашего Андрея, архіепископа Критскаго. Прибавленія къ Церковнымъ вѣдомостямъ, издаваемымъ при Святѣйшемъ Правительствующемъ Сѵнодѣ. Еженѣдельное изданіе. № 37. СПб.: Сѵнодальная Типографія, 1897. [St. Andrew, Archbishop of Crete. Homily on the Glorious Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, by our Holy Father Andrew, Archbishop of Crete. Supplements to Church News, published by the Holy Governing Synod. Weekly edition. No. 37. St. Petersburg: Synodal Press, 1897].
  2. 5. Св. Григорій Палама. Омилія 11. О честномъ и животворящемъ Крестѣ. // Бесѣды (Омилии) Святителя Григория Паламы. Часть I. Пер. съ греч. яз. архим. Амвросій (Погодинъ). Первое изданіе на русскомъ языкѣ. Монреаль: Изданіе Братства преп. Іова Почаевскаго, 1968 (1993, фототипно издание). [St. Gregory Palamas. Homily 11. On the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross. // Homilies of St. Gregory Palamas. Part I. Translated by Archimandrite Ambrose (Pogodin). Montreal: Published by the Brotherhood of St. Job of Pochaev, 1968 (1993, facsimile edition).]
  3. 7. Св. Иустин Философ и мученик. Разговор с Трифоном Иудеем, 86. Творения. М., 1892 (1995, фототипно издание). [St. Justin the Philosopher and Martyr. Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, 86 // Works. Moscow, 1892 (1995, facsimile edition), pp. 274-276]. English translation from: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0128.htm [accessed: 01.11.2024].

Metadata

Authors
St. Cyril and St. Methodius, U. O. V. T., & Kancheva, S.
Venue
Romanian Orthodox Old Testament Studies
Published
2025-08-28
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
150-159
ISSN
2066-0936 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4413880002
Cited by
0
References
1
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Romanian Orthodox Old Testament Studies (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Biblical Studies and Interpretation
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Classics › Byzantine Studies and History
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Karl Barth and Christian Theology
Keywords
cross of Christ, typology, salvation history, tree of life, Moses, veneration of the cross, redemption, Orthodox liturgy

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