How to make your own Holy Cross for Palm Sunday

·

As Orthodox Easter quickly approaches, the Greek community prepares to carry out its annual spiritual and cultural traditions.

One tradition is creating the Holy Cross out of a palm leaf ahead of Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where crowds greeted him with palm branches, hailing him as the Messiah.

In the Greek Orthodox faith, parishioners gather to weave palm leaves into crosses, which symbolise victory and peace. The significance of the palm leaves stretches back to ancient times, with references in both Jewish and Christian scriptures.

These special crosses, which have been passed down through generations, serve as a reminder of Christ’s presence among believers, and are handed out ahead of his Crucifixion.

How to make the Holy Cross:

  • Step 1:  Hold palm pointing up; about 5-6 inches from the bottom, fold top over keeping the long part toward you.
  • Step 2: About 1½-inches from the top, fold long end on the diagonal to the right, making a right angle.
  • Step 3:  Wrap the long end around the upright 2½ times – this is important!
  • Step 4:  Flip it over.
  • Step 5: Make an arm about 1½–2-inches, folding the long end toward you.
  • Step 6: Make second arm, folding on the left.
  • Step 7:  Make a diagonal fold so the long end points up.
  • Step 8: Slip the point of the long end behind the centre loops.
  • Step 9: Loop the long end a 2nd time behind the centre loops; pull taut to secure the cross. The top piece may be adjusted by pulling on the base.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Fans and members rally behind Labi Haliti as Sydney Olympic climbs the ladder

Sydney Olympic FC’s commanding 3-0 win over NWS Spirit FC has not only kept the team’s momentum alive in the 2025 season.

How families celebrated a rare unified Easter

For the first time in eight years, all branches of Christianity—Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox—celebrated Easter on the same weekend.

George Mastrocostas pushes ahead with project amid Gold Coast housing surge

As the Gold Coast races to meet a looming population milestone of one million residents by 2045, George Mastrocostas is pushing ahead.

Tina Stefanou explores Melbourne’s urban fringe in immersive ACCA exhibition

Artist Tina Stefanou’s latest exhibition, You Can’t See Speed, now showing at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA).

Sydney man Zacharias Giatras granted bail after Rockdale crash leaves man critical

Zacharias Giatras, a 19-year-old plumbing apprentice, has been granted bail after being charged over a serious crash in Sydney’s south.

You May Also Like

Valentini Grammatikopoulou wins first match during US Open debut

Greek rising tennis star, Valentini Grammatikopoulou, has win her first US Open match against Anna Blinkova in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.

Greek dancing a hit at Canberra’s annual Floriade festival

Floriade – Australia’s largest flower festival celebrating Spring – has returned to Commonwealth Park in Canberra, the ACT for its 37th year.

Greece’s Finance Minister lays out road for recovery in Greek Australian Dialogue series

Gkikiza revealed that in 2020, amid the pandemic, the total volume of trade in goods between Greece and Australia increased by 12.5 percent.