O most honorable and Life-creating Cross of the Lord, become for us, the deliverance from eternal death!

Rejoice, life-giving Cross of the Lord, thou never-conquered battle-trophy of piety,
support and staff of the faithful,
the wall surrounding the Church,
and the door that leadeth into Paradise.
Through thee hath corruption been made to vanish and be no more;
death’s mighty power hath been vanquished and swallowed up, and we have been raised from the earth to celestial things.
O truce-less foe of demons, and our weapon invincible,
thou art the glory of Martyrs and true adornment of all the Saints, calm port of salvation,
that which granteth the Great Mercy of God unto the world.

From the Great Vespers service of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.