Diak,
I know that most Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches still venerate the Holy Cross on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and on the Third Sunday of the Great Fast (Veneration of the Holy Cross). I guess the Ruthenian Metropolian Churches have issued new rubrics where the faithful are no longer instructed to come forth and venerate the Holy Cross. I've been to many Ruthenian parishes where not only do the faithful not come forth to venerate, but even the priests do not come forth and venerate, at that is real shame.
Even us 'way out West' folks surely did venerate the cross for the third Sunday of the Great Fast. I know at the "proto-cathedral"(we were once known as the cathedral) in Sherman Oaks, CA we did, as well as Holy Angels in San Diego and likely in several other parishes in the Phoenix Eparchy. What's more, we did so after the Wed evening presanctified and 4th all souls Saturday!
You tend to assume that what happens in your area holds true for the entire Metropolia, this is simply untrue. Yes, there is great variety of practice (largely due to our Bishops not clearly stating what is liturgically correct).
