Today, 21 May 2016, feast of the Holy Equals-to-the- Apostles, Emperor Constantine and Helen, his mother, the Patriarchal Cathedral celebrated its patronal feast.
On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, in the summer altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Besides His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the following hierarchs concelebrated: His Eminence Laurenţiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Argeş and Muscel, His Eminence Casian, Archbishop of Lower Danube, His Grace Galaction, Bishop of Alexandria and Teleorman, His Grace Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea, His Grace Siluan, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary, His Grace Qais Sadiq, Bishop of Erzurum (Patriarchate of Antioch), His Grace Varlaam Ploieşteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His Grace Ieronim Sinaitul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen are models for those who defend the true faith
His Beatitude spoke, in the sermon delivered, about the outstanding life of Saints Emperors Constantine and his mother Helen and emphasised the remarkable role of the Christians and of the Church of Christ. The Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen are called equals to the Apostles in honour of their outstanding work in favour of the Church, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church underlined.
“Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen were the liberators of the persecuted Christians, protectors of the Church of Christ, and promoters of human dignity through the laws with social characters which Emperor Constantine the Great issued in the Roman Empire. They helped the sick, widows, old people and promoted the growth of the children in faith; they sustained Christian education of the children. Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen have also been founders of holy churches and so, they have become models for all the emperors and Christian rulers that succeeded them, so that the Romanian ruling princes were inspired by their deeds, building lots of churches throughout the centuries. Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen are models for those who sustain the true faith, for those who help the Church, for those who educate their children and young people in the Christian faith, and are models for those who build churches and monasteries, and help the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged”, the Patriarch of Romania said.
The Holy Emperors hold the cross between them as the mystery of the never ending love of the Christ Crucified, Risen and Ascended in glory
While referring to the time when Saint Constantine saw the sign of the cross in the sky (before the battle at Pons Milvius – Bridge of the Eagle), as well as to Saint Helen finding the cross on which Christ, our Saviour, was crucified, the Patriarch of Romania explained to those present why the icons show the Saints Emperors holding the Holy Cross in their hands.
“The Emperor saw the cross in the sky, while the empress discovered the cross of Christ in the ground. This is why the icon of the saints shows the cross which links the sky to the earth between them. The Saints Emperors hold the cross between them as the mystery of the never ending love of the Christ crucified, risen and ascended in glory. Thus, Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen are related to the Mystery of the Holy Cross because they felt the power of Christ, the power of the resurrection of Christ mysteriously hidden in His sacrificial, humble and merciful love”, the Patriarch of Romania said.
At the end of his speech, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel wishedMany years to come!to all those having the names of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen.
“We wish all those having the names of Constantine and Helen long life, good health, joy and to live the light of the faith as light of the resurrection of Christ for the glory of the Most Holy Trinity, for the welfare of the Church and for all our joy”, His Beatitude said.
The faithful present at the Hill of Joycould venerate the relics of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen and of Saint Demetrius, Protector of Bucharest, which were taken in procession (in the morning) out of the Patriarchal Cathedral and laid for the veneration of the faithful under the canopy specially set up next to the place of worship.
The liturgical answers were given by Nicolae Lungu choir of the Patriarchal Cathedral.
After the Divine Liturgy, the winners of the National Contest of creation entitled the Church and School of my Soul were awarded prizes.
Then, the finalists of the contest entitled the Orthodox Icon – Light of Creation,were awarded prizes in Europa Christiana room of the Palace of the Patriarchate.
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One of the oldest places of worship of the country dedicated to the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen is the Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest, founded by the ruling prince of Walachia, Constantin Şerban Basarab (1654–1658), which was consecrated in 1658 by patriarch Macarie of Antioch and of All Orient, together with metropolitan Ştefan of Wallachia and the bishops of Râmnic and Buzău. In 2002, at the patronal feast of the cathedral, a delegation of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus offered to the late patriarch Teoctist Arapaşu a small shrine with particles of the relics of Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen, brought fromKykkos Monastery, together with a replica of the icon of the Mother of God painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist, kept at the Cypriote monastery.
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