On Sunday, September 11, we celebrated one of the five major Tabernacle (Daghavar) Feasts in the Armenian Church – the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats or Veratsumn Srpo Khachi). on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Divine Liturgy includes an antasdan service (blessing of the fields) during which the processional cross is adorned with basil (a symbol of royalty) and the four corners of the church are blessed as a symbol for all the world. On the Saturday preceding the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, faithful members of the St. Thomas Armenian Church family traditionally decorate the pedestal for the Holy Cross. Mrs. Rosine Hovsepian and Taleen Torisian decorated the Holy Cross this year. “Today’s raising of the cross is just a reminder of our everyday reverence of it. It is the power of God.”