SAINTS CONSTANTINE AND HELEN

The tricentennial anniversary of Christianity, when dated from the actual birth date of Jesus, had passed by a dozen years before it came to be recognized as the true Faith by an emperor, the ruler of the civilized world comprised of the Roman Empire. It was in the year 312 that Constantine, who was to become known as the Great, displayed to all the world his conversion to Christianity when his legions defeated the rebellious forces of Maxentius in Rome under the banner of the Cross. Also, while in York, England, he made his mother Helen, the dowager empress. This she remained throughout her lifetime, having a mother-son influence on Christianity that has never been duplicated.

Helen, reputed to have been a British princess and the daughter of the King Cole one hears of in song, gave birth to her illustrious son at Naissus in the lower valley of the Danube on February 17 in the mid 280s. Because of her lineage she is as much revered in Great Britain, as is evidenced by the many churches, principally of the medieval era, dedicated to her memory. She is also said to have discovered the Cross of Christ during a tour of Golgotha. In her declining years her pilgrimage was in part motivated by the mysterious death of her grandson Crispus and brought about the erection of beautiful Christian churches at the sites of the Nativity, the Holy Sepulchre, and the Ascension, as well as at others. For this and her son’s equally pious work, the mother and son have been recognized as equal to the apostles and are so commemorated in a common feast day of the Church.

It has been said that Constantine the Great turned to Christianity for political convenience, but that hardly is the case. An emperor with his power and stature had little to gain from currying the favor of the Christians, which were at best of minor importance in the community and had become so weakened by the divisiveness in their own ranks that they were threatened with extinction. Constantine told of having seen a cross of light in the sky just prior to his successful campaign against Maxentius and from that moment forward embraced the Christian faith, becoming a servant of God chosen to kindle the flame of Christianity in a brilliance it would not have otherwise known. From a weak and divided community, Christianity burst forth under the leadership of Constantine to become the official religion of the realm and swelled in numbers that assured its power and permanence.

The campaign against his enemies was brought in a successful conclusion by Constantine at the ancient city of Byzantium, which he decided to rebuild on a grand scale and to rename Constantinople, symbolizing its imperial flavor and Christian zeal. It was by design a Christian city, free of pagan temples and embellished by many magnificent cathedrals and churches to the glory of God and His Son Jesus. It was Constantine who made Sunday a public holiday and to him goes the credit for healing the wounds within the church itself, which he declared to be an affront to God and for which he labored together with the various bishops, to bring ab out compromises that would put all Christians on common ground.

The doctrine of Arianism that so divided the Christians family was met with firm action by Constantine, who called for an ecumenical synod at Nicaea held on 20 May 325. It was attended by an imposing array of church dignitaries, all of whom, however, were overshadowed by the dominant figure of the great emperor, and whose great influence brought about the signing of the historic Creed. Although the unity with which the Synod had formed was to meet with resistance in some corners, subsequent councils and meetings with church greats are the legacy of Constantine, who so piously gave the Christian faith the great strength that in later years enabled it to survive the onslaughts of such as Julian the Apostate.

Helen died in 328. He son Constantine died on 21 May 337 A.D. The reign of Constantine has proved to be the greatest of any ruler in history, not only for Christianity but for the entire world as well.

Excerpts taken from “Orthodox Saints - 2" by George Poulos