HOLY AND GLORIOUS GOD-CROWNED EMPERORS AND EQUALS-TO-THE -APOSTLES CONSTANTINE AND HELEN

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God and Savior JESUS CHRIST,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

On the 21st of May, the holy Church Commemorates
the holy and glorious God-crowned Emperors and
Equals-to-the-Apostles CONSTANTINE and HELEN.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Plagal of Fourth Tone

Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul,
having received the call not from men, Thine Apostle among kings
entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always
in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of
man.

Kontakion Hymn. Third Tone

On this day Saint Constantine and blessed Helen, his mother,
have revealed the Cross, the Wood worthy of all veneration. For
the Jews, it is dishonour; but faithful rulers have it as a weapon
vanquishing their opponents. For our sake hath it been shown
forth as a great ensign, dread and most awesome in war.

Constantine the Great and Ever-Memorable first Emperors of the Christians, the Byzantine autocrat and builder of Constantinople, was born at Naissus, present-day Nis of Dardania in the area that now belongs in today’s Serbia and Croatia, 274 A.D. His father, Flavius Constantius, drawn from an Illyrian background, was then a general of the Roman Government. Afterward, he was proclaimed Caesar of hte Westernmost part of the Empire, that is Britannia, Galatia (Gaul), Spain, and other territories. On account of Constantius’ pale countenance he was surnamed Chlorus. The mother of Saint Constantine was the most pious and holy Empress Helen (Helena), who, together with her son, is commemorated this day. The blessed Helen hailed from Bithynia of Asia Minor. She was born in a city called Drepanum which had the honor to be renamed Helenopolis (Helenoupolis), later, by the Great Constantine. On Constantine’s mothers’ side, he was a nephew of Emperor Claudius II (268-270 A.D.).

A daughter was born, 255 A.D. to an innkeeper at Drepanum of Bithynia on the Nikomedian Gulf. Her name was Helen. She was believed to be of humble parentage. She bore her poverty with dignity. Saint Ambrose referred to her as innkeeper. As she grew, the slender, blond lass helped her pagan parents attend to the needs of travelers who halted to find rest and refreshment at the establishment in Naissus. In June of 271 A.D., a twenty-three year old military tribune, named Flavius Constantius, entered Naissus. He was tall, thin, well-built, of fair complexion. His arrival, together with his troops, animated the villagers. The distinguished Tribune would stay at the inn for several days. Sixteen-year old Helen and her parents took care of their guests. Constantius fell in love with the gracious girl and asked for her hand in marriage. Constantin was born in 272 A.D., in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardani, a city on the Hellespond. Helen raised him alone, as Constantius moved up the ranks in the legion commanded by Diocles. Flavius Constantius arranged for tutors to teach both mother and son.

In 306 A.D. when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his father’s throne. In 312 A.D., 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: “EN TOUTO NIKA” (BY THIS SHALL YOU 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 of victory over the enemy) IN THE FORM OF A CROSS, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeting. 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 A.D, and in this manner he became Monarch over the West and the East. Under him and BECAUSE OF HIM ALL THE PERSECUTION AGAINST CHRISTIANS CEASED. CHRISTIANITY TRIUMPHED AND IDOLATRY WAS OVERTHROWN. In 325 A.D. he gathered the First Ecumenical Synod (Council) in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324 A.D. in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundation s of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11th 330 A.D., naming it after himself CONSTANTINOPLE,; since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred 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 DIVINE BAPTISM, according to Church Historian 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 A.D., on May 21st or 22nd, 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.

As for his holy mother Saint 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. After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, ERECTED CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM AT THE SITE 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 old, according to some in the year 330 A.D., accoding to others, in 336 A.D. [Source: The Great Horologion]

___________
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in Christ’s Holy Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George