The Fathers of the early Church in their wisdom foreseen the difficulty of Orthodox Christians keeping the Lenten season.  So they have prescribed this Feast Day for the middle of Great Lent to give the Orthodox  a foretaste of that which is to come; culmination of our preparation.  For through the Cross Christ our God defeated death and opened the doors to Paradise and eternal life.  Through the Cross Christ has destroyed the bonds of hell, through the Cross Christ has freed us from sin and conquered Satan.  As in the words of St. John Chrysostom:

"O Death where is thy sting? O Hell where is thy victory? Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. . . " (The Catechetical Sermon of St. John Chysostom)

Christ has indeed risen and at the end of this Lenten  journey we will see and celebrate this, but first we must commemorate that awesome day of Great Friday and cry with our Lord's mother and disciples.  For on that day our Lord went to his voluntary death on the Cross, but through our tears we see that the Cross doesn't hold death, but rather life eternal.  This Sunday we take the Holy Image of the Cross, and surround it with life and beauty of fresh flowers to show that this is the symbol of life itself.  For by the Cross will all enter into eternal life.