Exaltation of the Holy Cross

[Jean-Serge]

Yesterday, it was the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. I have many questions

1) First it is a fast day. But how did we have to fast? Wine and oil, or eating and drinking nothing at all. I did the latter but I am not sure it was wrong... So if it was a fast day with no food and drink alllowed, why are the liturgies celebrated early in the morning and not in the late afternoon?

2) My translation of the Troparion in French says : "Accorde à tes fidèles victoire sur les ennemis..." i.e Grant your faithfuls victory upon the enemies".

Well I do not understand slavonic, but I am sure that the choir in my Serbian choir said " Grand Orthodox christians victory upon the enemies".

So which is the good translation? Is the first one faithful to the original text in Greek?

Thank you...

[GOCPriestMark]

The Russians, who are usually not as strict in this regard as the Greeks, called for a wine and oil day, being a Tuesday, but I believe the Greeks kept a 'vegetable only' fast.

The translation we use is "Save O Lord Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto Orthodox Christians victory over enemies; and by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy Commonwealth".
I am sure that "Commonwealth" is the newest part of the translation since we have no Orthodox Tsar.