The Delegation of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George has scheduled, for Friday 4 October 2025, the Holy Mass for the Exaltation of the Cross — a living, precious and life-giving presence for Christians. Though He was God, Christ humbled Himself, becoming a servant. This is the glory of the Cross of Jesus: not a celebration of death, but of the life that defeated death, of the salvation that overcame sin. Together with the feast of Saint George and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed during the pre-Christmas period, this feast is the most important and heartfelt religious event for the members of the Delegation. The Mass will be celebrated in the Church of Saint Francis in Contrada San Francesco, located within the ancient city walls of San Marino. At the end of the Mass there will be a confraternal meal.
The true meaning of the Cross is that Christ’s glorification passes through the suffering of the Cross and that the antithesis of suffering and glorification becomes central in the history of Redemption. Christ, incarnated in his concrete human-divine reality, voluntarily submits himself to the humiliating condition of a slave (the cross — from the Latin crux, meaning torment — was reserved for slaves), and this infamous torture is transformed into imperishable glory. Thus the Cross becomes the symbol and the compendium of the Christian religion.
With the Feast of the Holy Cross we do not exalt the cruelty of the Cross but the Love God manifested to humankind by accepting to die on the Cross. Though He was God, Christ humbled Himself, becoming a servant. This is the glory of the Cross of Jesus. For this reason, in modern times the celebration assumes a far greater meaning than the simple — though marvellous — discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the pious mother of Emperor Constantine.
The celebration of the Holy Mass will be presided over at 6:00 p.m. by the Chaplain of the Delegation of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, Father Marco Scandelli, Chaplain of Merit with Silver Star, with Father Tiziano Zoli, Chaplain of Merit, as concelebrant, and in the presence of the Delegate for the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, Dr. Cesare Tabarrini, Knight of Merit with Silver Star. The Holy Mass is dedicated to the Knights, Dames, Postulants, and friends of the Constantinian Order, and their families.
The Adoring Nuns of the Most Blessed Sacrament will animate the Eucharistic liturgy with their singing. Since 2021, with the approval of the Mother Superior, the Delegation for the Most Serene Republic of San Marino has designated the Church of Saint Francis as its place of worship and point of reference.
