Sts. Constantine and Helen: May 21

St. Helen was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. Constantine was the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire. In the year 313 he issued the Edict of Milan which guaranteed religious tolerance for Christians. In 323, Constantine became the sole ruler of the entire Roman Empire; he extended his decree to the Eastern half of the Empire, thus ending 300 years of Christian persecution. Renouncing paganism, Constantine decided to move his capital away from ancient Rome, the former center of the pagan state. (The move also included political motives.) He transferred his capital to the East, to the city of Byzantium, which in 330 was inaugurated as the "New Rome" or Constantinople.

Constantine supported the Church in every way; he recalled confessors from banishment, he built churches and supported the clergy, and he called for the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea (325) to settle disputes among Christians. Some of the churches built by Constantine include: Church of the Resurrection (Jerusalem), Church of the Apostles (Constantinople), Church of Hagia Irene (Constantinople), Basilica of St. Peter (Rome), Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Rome), and the Basilica of St. John Lateran (Rome).

His mother, the Empress Helen, was a Christian. During a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Helen and Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem began searching for the Cross upon which Christ was crucified. By divine will, the True Cross was miraculously discovered in 326.

While in Palestine, Helen ordered that all places connected with the earthly life of Christ and His Mother should be freed of all traces of paganism. She commanded that churches be built at the holy places, at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where Christ was born, and on the Mount of Olives where Christ ascended into Heaven. Other churches built by St. Helen include the chapel of the Burning Bush on Mount Sinai (Egypt), and the church of the Holy Cross in Rome ("Santa Croce"). Constantine ordered that a magnificent church in honor of Christ's Resurrection be built over His tomb. This church (pictured) became known as the church of the Resurrection (known in the West as the "Holy Sepulchre"). Helen gave the True Cross to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and took part of the Cross with her for Constantine.

Helen returned to Constantinople, where she died in the year 327. Falling ill near Nicomedia, Constantine requested to receive Baptism; he received the Holy Mysteries (sacraments) and reposed in 337, after ruling for 31 years. His relics were transferred to Constantinople and were placed in the church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him.

Sts. Constantine and Helen are commemorated together on 21 May (Byzantine Church). St. Helen is also commemorated on 18 August (Roman Church).

"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."
(Apolytikion for the Holy Great Sovereigns and Equals to the Apostles Constantine and Helen)