May 21: Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine
and Helen, Equal to the Apostles
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Icon of Saints Constantine
and Helen provided by Athanasios Clark and used with permission. |
Life of the Saints
This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son
of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the
Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in
(according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the
Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor
to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus
had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while
at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath
the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words:
"By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our
Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him
the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the
morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is
a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a
cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On October
28 he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in
the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered
Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate,
while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of
malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought
him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this
manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and
because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity
triumphed and idolatry was overthrown.
In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which
he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of
Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm,
and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself,
Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred
to Constantinople from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants
of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation
of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to
receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine.
Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and
when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed
in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five
years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were
transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of
the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI
on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).
As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith
of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook
a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord
was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in
her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the
sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave
where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence
He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land,
Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was
stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis
after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified
for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years
of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others,
in 336.
Orthodox Christian Celebration of the Feast of Saints Constantine
and Helen
The feast and commemoration of Saints Constantine and Helen is
celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which
is conducted on the morning of the feast and preceded by a Orthros
service. A Great Vespers may be conducted on the evening before
the day of the Feast.
Scripture readings for the Feast of Saints Constantine and Helen
are: At the Vespers: I Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; Isaiah 61:10-62:5;
Isaiah 60:1-16 At the Orthros (Matins): John 10:9-19. At the Divine
Liturgy: Acts
26:1, 12-20; John
10:1-9.
Hymns of the Saint
Apolytikion: Plagal of the Fourth Tone
He beheld the image of Your Cross in the Heavens and, as
Paul, he too did not receive the call from men. Your Apostle among
Kings placed the care of the Royal City in Your hands. Through the
intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Loving Lord, keep it ever
in peace.
Kontakion: Third Tone
Today, Constantine with his mother Helen present the Cross,
the most precious wood. It shames unbelievers. It is a weapon of
faithful kings against their adversaries. A great sign has come
forth for us which is awesome in battle.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration
Monastery, Brookline, MA
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