The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, His All Holiness Daniel, said on the Feast Day of Saint Emperors Constantine and Helen, the historical patron saints of the Patriarchal Cathedral, that Constantine the Great was a protector, defender, guardian and helper of Christianity.
"Saint Constantine the Great was called upon to help the Church of Christ, after a long period of persecutions against Christians by pagan or polytheistic Roman emperors. So, he is the first Christian Roman emperor who does not turn against Christianity, but more than that, he is not indifferent or neutral, but becomes the protector, defender, guardian and helper of Christianity. Therefore, among the emperors he is called 'Apostle of the Lord' and is honored as an apostle, because just like the Holy Apostles, he loved Christ and His Church and worked for the good of the Church. He and his mother Helen (...) are honored as 'Equal to the Apostles'," Father Daniel said in his Holy Liturgy sermon.
The Patriarch celebrated the liturgy together with a group of hierarchs, priests and deacons, at the summer altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral.
In his word of teaching, Patriarch Daniel spoke about the role of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen in the spread and flourishing of Christianity, about the organization of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, at the initiative of the emperor, 1700 years ago, as well as about the ties of Saint Constantine with Romania - a territory he conquered back from the Goths with whom he concluded "a friendly peace, on the condition that they no longer persecute Christians".
The Patriarch emphasized that the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen are models for all Christian emperors, kings and rulers.
"They helped the Church, Constantine sometimes referred to himself in Latin as 'episcopus ad extra', that is, the bishop outside the Church, who nevertheless takes care of the Church. His mother Helen is a model of educator, as she educated her son and inspired him in all his work of steering the Empire, and had a deep faith in God. The [contemporary] believers' devotion towards her was also evident when her all-body relics were recently brought to Bucharest from Venice, Italy. So, Saint Constantine and his mother Helen marked a turning point in the history of Christianity and this is why many rulers on today's territory of Romania or their wives bore the name Constantine or Elena. Like for example Elena, the wife of Prince Petru Rares, who built churches in Moldavia; Elena, the wife of Voivode Matei Basarab, who built churches in Wallachia; Elena Cuza proved to be a devout and humble Christian, as she followed her husband Alexandru Ioan Cuza into exile," Patriarch Daniel also said.
***The celebration of the historical patron saints of the Patriarchal Cathedral "Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen" began on Tuesday with the Vigil Service performed by His Holiness Paisios of Sinai, Patriarchal Vicar Bishop, together with the priests of the place of worship.
On Wednesday, at 7:00, the relics of Saint Hierarch Nectarios, of Saint Emperors Constantine and Helen and of Saint Demetrius the New, the Protector of Bucharest, were placed for veneration under the Canopy of Saints near the Patriarchal Cathedral. The Midnight Service and the Akathist of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen were celebrated.
In the evening, after the Vespers and the Paraklesis of Saint Emperors Constantine and Helen, the holy relics will be taken inside the Patriarchal Cathedral after the last believer will have come to worship (approximately 9:00 p.m.).
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The Holy Great Emperors and Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and his mother, Helen, commemorated in the Orthodox Christian calendar on May 21, are the first Christian emperors. For their tremendous contribution to the spread and flourishing of Christianity, Constantine and his mother Helen were canonized among the saints and are considered Equal-to-the-Apostles.