Helen Equal to the Apostles: biography, church veneration. Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen. Icon of St. Helena - meaning, what helps, history.

Church history knows of only a few women who were able to receive the title “Equal to the Apostles” - these are St. Nina, St. Mary Magdalene, martyrs Apphia and Thekla, Russian princess Olga, as well as Elena, who managed to do a lot for the glory of God. On the icon, Saint Helena is often depicted near the Cross of the Lord, next to her son, Emperor Constantine.

The life of this woman is full of difficult decisions; information about Elena has been preserved thanks to numerous historians. Shrines of that time associated with her name have also survived to our time.

Modest Elena was hardworking, although she did not grow up in poverty. Her hometown Drepan is now part of Turkey. She served the travelers. The girl married Flavius ​​Constantius, the future Emperor of Rome. But at that time hardly anyone could have imagined this. The couple's son Constantine was born in 272.

As a result of political intrigues, Elena had to leave her beloved husband. Thanks to this act, he entered into an advantageous marriage, which allowed him to begin a serious political career. While still quite young, Elena moved to Germany, where her son had his residence.

Having ascended the throne, the son made his mother Augusta - essentially an equal empress, who even issued her own coin. Historians confirm that Constantine greatly respected Helen and trusted her. She became a Christian in old age (the woman was 60). Despite this, on icons the Holy Queen Helen is often depicted as a blooming young woman. This was done to symbolically convey the power of transformation human soul who knows no age.

The meaning of the holy image

Thanks to the royal position, lifetime portraits of the saint, which were made on coins, were preserved. The museum houses a statue depicting Helen in a somewhat idealized form. But this was accepted, since emperors were considered the descendants of gods, and people had to honor them - who would want to deify an ugly, middle-aged queen? Soon, however, the situation changed - the emperor himself became a Christian and made his religion official.

Icons of Saint Helen Equal to the Apostles appeared several centuries after her death. Byzantine craftsmen quite accurately conveyed the royal attire: a wide embroidered collar, a hem decorated with stones, armbands, and a crown. All this indicates not only the royal position during life, but also the high honor that the Lord honors the righteous in the eternal Kingdom.

Rarely did the ancient masters depict the queen alone - next to her is usually her son - support, assistant, comrade-in-arms in all good deeds. Without unanimity in the family, not a single holy deed is possible - isn’t this the meaning of such a composition? And a great thing was done - Elena found the Honest Life-Giving Cross, having no idea where and how she would look. But the Lord arranges everything if a person has determination. The icon of St. Helena should also remind us of this.

Traditional icon composition:

• St. Constantine stands on the left, St. Elena is on the right;
• between them there is a high cross of 5 or 8 points;
• both have crowns on their heads;
• gestures can be different - sometimes the queen holds nails in her hands.

Modern iconography is very diverse; most often the saint is depicted alone, in right hand holds a cross - a symbol of suffering, it also reminds of the queen’s feat. Left hand can be open or directed towards the cross, recalling that everyone in their life must do a certain task for the Lord - this is the theological meaning of the icon of St. Elena. In the 10th century The image of royal saints became the subject for paintings of temples, triptychs, and iconostases.

In Russia, veneration of the saint began immediately after the adoption of Christianity. Princess Olga took her name in baptism. Cathedrals in Novgorod and Kyiv contain images in the Byzantine tradition (a saint with her son at the cross). Great veneration for the icon of St. Helena was held by the Russian tsars - this emphasized the continuity of power of the Christian autocrats. The saints received special honors under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.

Rarely, there were also hagiographic icons that included stamps:

• dream of Emperor Constantine (vision of the cross);
• victory in battle;
• baptism of St. Constantine;
• trip of St. Helena to Jerusalem;
• finding the Cross and resurrecting the deceased;
• finding the nails of Christ.

How does the icon of St. help? Elena

Being already old (even by modern standards), the queen had an unusual dream. In it she was given instructions to cleanse the Holy Land of pagan temples.

Having received support from the emperor, the woman set off. The result of the grand journey was the discovery of the Cross of the Lord, as well as the nails with which His hands were pierced. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was founded by St. Elena. What prevented her from enjoying her quiet life in luxury and honor? Why attach significance to any dream? The queen did this at the behest of her conscience, the voice of which is muffled among many modern people.

The meaning of the icon of St. Helena is to remind us that faith is more important than passing glory, comfort, sometimes even common sense. The distance from Rome to the Eternal City is more than 2 thousand km. Was it easy for an elderly woman to overcome it, even with the help of servants? How did she expect to find holy places associated with the Passion of the Lord, if 3 centuries had already passed since that time? Only prayer and faith could support him in such a difficult matter.

Everything is possible with God - the saint founded many churches throughout the Holy Land, distributed alms, fed the hungry, and gave gifts to the poor. On the way back in Cyprus, she founded monasteries that are still in operation today. St. died Helen in old age around 328. Interestingly, the saint’s relics were stolen from Rome and today rest in France (Parisian church of Saint-Les-Saint-Gilles). There you can receive healing from bodily ailments.

Today's Christians believe that the icon of St. Helena helps:

• in any difficult endeavor;
• gaining strong faith;
• obtaining recovery from illnesses;
• assistance in political campaign;
• those in high positions.

Equal-to-the-Apostles Helen will help with her prayers those who are building new churches or fighting heresies. Orthodox prayer contains an appeal to both the queen and her son, who was also glorified as a saint.

Prayers to Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Helena

First prayer

About Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen! Deliver this parish and our temple from every slander of the enemy and do not abandon us, the weak (names), through your intercession, beg the goodness of Christ our God to grant us peace of mind, from destructive passions and all filth, abstinence, and unfeigned piety. Ask us, pleasers of God, from above for the spirit of meekness and humility, the spirit of patience and repentance, so that we may live the rest of our life in faith and contrition of heart, and so at the hour of our death we will gratefully praise the Lord who glorified you, the Father Without Beginning, His Only Begotten Son and the Consubstantial All-Blessed One. Spirit, the Indivisible Trinity, forever and ever.

Second prayer

About the wonderful and all-praised king, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen! To you, as a warm intercessor, we offer our unworthy prayers, for you have great boldness towards the Lord. Ask Him for the peace of the Church and prosperity for the whole world, wisdom for the ruler, care for the flock for the shepherd, humility for the flock, desired peace for the elders, strength for husbands, beauty for women, purity for virgins, obedience for children, Christian education for babies, healing for the sick, reconciliation for those at war, patience for the offended, those who offend the fear of God. To those who come to this temple and pray in it, a holy blessing and everything useful for each request, let us praise and sing the Benefactor of all God in the Trinity of the glorified Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion, tone 8

Having seen the image of Your Cross in heaven, and like Paul the title was not received from man, Your Apostle has become king, O Lord, place the reigning city in Your hand: save it always in the world through the prayers of the Mother of God, who alone is the Lover of Mankind.

Kontakion, tone 3

Constantine today, with the matter Helena, the cross reveals the all-honorable tree, for the shame of all the Jews exists, and a weapon against the faithful kings: for for our sake a great sign has appeared and a terrible sign in battle.

Greatness

We magnify you, holy saints and Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsars Constantine and Helen, and we honor your holy memory, for with the Holy Cross you enlightened the entire universe.

Icon of St. Helena - what you need to know

Icon of St. Helena - meaning, what it helps with, history was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub

Flavia Julia Elena Augusta(lat. Flavia Iulia Helena, OK. 250-330) - mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine I. She became famous for her activities in spreading Christianity and her excavations in Jerusalem, during which, according to Christian chroniclers, the Holy Sepulcher, the Life-Giving Cross and other relics of the Passion were discovered.

Helen is revered by a number of Christian churches as a saint among the Equal-to-the-Apostles ( Holy Equal to the Apostles Queen Helen, Helen of Constantinople).

Biography

The exact year of Elena's birth is unknown. She was born in the small village of Drepana (lat. Drepanum) in Bithynia (near Constantinople in Asia Minor), as Procopius reports. Later her son, Emperor Constantine the Great, in honor of his mother " made the former village of Drepanu a city and named Elenopolis" Today this settlement is identified with the Turkish city of Hersek, near Altinova, Yalova province.

According to modern historians, Elena helped her father at the horse station, poured wine for travelers waiting for the horses to be re-harnessed and re-mounted, or simply worked as a servant in a tavern. There she apparently met Constantius Chlorus, who under Maximian Herculius became the ruler (Caesar) of the West. In the early 270s, she became his wife, or concubine, that is, an unofficial permanent cohabitant.

When Constantine converted to Christianity (after his victory at the Milvian Bridge in 312), Helen, following his example, also converted to Christianity, although by that time she was already over sixty. The testimony of a contemporary, Eusebius of Caesarea, has been preserved about this. The first coins with the image of Helen, where she is titled Nobilissima Femina(lit. “most noble woman”), were minted in 318-319. in Thessalonica. During this period, Helena probably lived at the imperial court in Rome or Trier, but there are no mentions in historical chronicles no about that. In Rome she owned a vast estate near the Lateran. In one of the premises of her palace, a Christian church was built - the Helena Basilica (Liber Pontificalis attributes its construction to Constantine, but historians do not exclude the possibility that the idea of ​​rebuilding the palace belonged to Helena herself).

In 324 Helen was proclaimed her son August: « He crowned his godly mother, Helen, with a royal crown, and allowed her, as a queen, to mint his own coins" Eusebius noted that Constantine entrusted Helen with managing the royal treasury at her discretion. There is also evidence of the emperor’s great respect for his mother from a non-Christian historian. Aurelius Victor tells the story of how Constantine killed his wife Fausta because of Helen's reproaches against her.

In 326, Helen (already at a very old age, although in good health) undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem: “ this old woman of extraordinary intelligence hurried to the east with the speed of a youth" Eusebius spoke in detail about her pious activities during the trip, and echoes of it were preserved in the 5th century rabbinical anti-evangelical work “Toldot Yeshu”, in which Helen (Constantine’s mother) was named the ruler of Jerusalem and attributed the role of Pontius Pilate.

Elena died at the age of 80 - according to various assumptions, in 328, 329 or 330. The place of her death is not known exactly; it is called Trier, where she had a palace, or even Palestine. The version about the death of Helen in Palestine is not confirmed by the message of Eusebius Pamphilus that she “ ended her life in the presence, in the eyes and in the arms of such a great son who served her».

Excavations of Helena in Jerusalem

At the age of about 80, Elena took a trip to Jerusalem. Socrates Scholasticus writes that she did this after receiving instructions in a dream. The Chronography of Theophanes reports the same: “ had a vision in which she was commanded to go to Jerusalem and bring to the light of the divine places closed by the wicked" Having received support in this endeavor from her son, Elena went on a pilgrimage:

In search of relics of the Passion of Christ, Elena undertook excavations at Golgotha, where, having excavated the cave in which, according to legend, Jesus Christ was buried, she found the Life-Giving Cross, four nails and the title INRI. Also, a 9th century legend, not based on historical chronicles, connects the origin of the holy staircase with Helen’s pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her discovery of the Cross marked the beginning of the celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross. Help in the excavations of Helen was provided by the Bishop of Jerusalem Macarius I and mentioned in the apocrypha local Judas Cyriacus.

This story is described by many Christian authors of that time: Ambrose of Milan (c. 340-397), Rufinus (345-410), Socrates Scholasticus (c. 380-440), Theodoret of Cyrus (386-457). ), Sulpicius Severus (c. 363-410), Sozomen (c. 400-450) and others.

Helen's journey and charity during the pilgrimage are described in " The Life of Blessed Basileus Constantine» Eusebius of Caesarea, written after the death of Constantine to glorify the emperor and his family:

The earliest historians (Socrates Scholasticus, Eusebius Pamphilus) report that during Helen’s stay in the Holy Land, three temples were founded at the sites of the Gospel events:

• on Golgotha ​​- Church of the Holy Sepulchre;
• in Bethlehem - Basilica of the Nativity;
• on the Mount of Olives - the church above the site of the Ascension of Christ;

The Life of Saint Helena, written later, in the 7th century, contains a more extensive list of buildings, which, in addition to those already listed, includes:

According to Socrates Scholasticus, Empress Helen divided the Life-Giving Cross into two parts: she placed one in a silver vault and left it in Jerusalem " as a monument for subsequent historians”, and sent the second to her son Konstantin, who placed it in his statue mounted on a column in the center of Konstantin Square. Elena also sent two nails from the Cross to her son (one was placed in the diadem, and the second in the bridle). On her way back from Jerusalem, Elena founded a number of monasteries (for example, Stavrovouni in Cyprus), where she left particles of the relics she found.

Dating of Elena's activities

Historians continue to debate in what year Helen carried out her activities in Palestine. The most common date given by Socrates Scholasticus is 326. Socrates does not name the year in which the discovery of the cross took place, but in his “ Church history“The story about the event comes immediately after the mention of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the reign of Constantine (July 25, 326). Orientalist Joseph Assemani (director of the Vatican Library) in the 18th century believed that the Cross was found by Helen on May 3, 326 (according to the Julian calendar).

Russian theologian Professor M. N. Skaballanovich, based on the Alexandrian chronicle of the 6th century, dates the discovery of the Cross to the year 320. However, he categorically disagrees with the dating of this event to the year 326, since, in his opinion, Helen died in the year of the Council of Nicaea, that is, in 325.

Saint Helena in British folklore

Geoffrey of Monmouth (12th century) in his History of the Britons calls Helen the daughter of Coel, legendary king Britons According to his story, Emperor Constantius, during the campaign against Britain, accepted King Coel’s offer of peace, subject to the payment of the usual tribute, and after his death:

From the further story it follows that Helen was with Constantine in Britain until the moment when he began his campaign against Rome against Maxentius. On a hike " with him were three of Helen's uncles, namely Joelin, Tragern, and also Marius, whom he elevated to senatorial dignity" From this moment on, Geoffrey of Monmouth no longer mentions Helen in his work.

This legend probably arose under the influence of the writings of Eusebius, which Geoffrey used when writing his work. Eusebius reports on Constantius's campaign in Britain and his death in the palace in Eborac (York), where his son Constantine had arrived shortly before.

Memory of Saint Helena

Church veneration

For her work in spreading Christianity, Elena was canonized as Equal-to-the-Apostles - an honor that only 5 other women have received in Christian history(Mary Magdalene, First Martyr Thekla, Martyr Apphia, Princess Olga and Enlightener of Georgia Nina).

In the East, the veneration of Helen as a saint arose soon after her death; at the beginning of the 9th century, her cult spread to the Western Church. The memory of Saint Helena is celebrated:

• in the Orthodox Church - March 6 (memory of Helen's finding Life-giving Cross and nails) and May 21 (dates according to the Julian calendar);
• V catholic church- August 18;
• in the Lutheran Church - May 21;
• in the Coptic church - 9 pakhona.

In memory of Helen's excavations in Jerusalem and her finding the Holy Cross in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, a special chapel was named in her honor, which today belongs to the Armenian apostolic church. In the altar of this chapel there is a window marking the place from which Elena, according to legend, watched the progress of the excavations and threw money to encourage those who worked. From the chapel of St. Helena a staircase leads down to the chapel of the Finding of the Cross.

Expression " new Elena “has become a household name in Eastern Christianity - it is applied both to holy empresses (Pulcheria, Theodora and others) and to princesses (for example, Olga), who did a lot to spread Christianity or establish and preserve its dogmas. In the ancient Russian chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years" it is reported that the grandmother of the baptist of Rus' Vladimir, Princess Olga, was named at baptism Elena in honor of the mother of Constantine the Great.

History of the relics

After her death, Helen's body was transferred by her son to Rome, as reported by Eusebius Pamphilus:

In Rome, Helena, according to historical data, was buried in a mausoleum on the Via Labicana outside the Aurelian Walls. The tomb was adjacent to the Church of Saints Marcellinus and Peter (both buildings were built in the 320s by Emperor Constantine). According to the Liber Pontificalis, this tomb was originally built by Constantine for his own burial. For the burial of his mother, Constantine provided not only his tomb, but also a porphyry sarcophagus made for him, which is now kept in the Vatican Museums.

From the Church of Saints Marcellinus and Peter in the 9th century, the relics of Helen were taken to the abbey in the town of Hautvillers in Champagne in the vicinity of Reims (France). They were kept there until 1871, and during the period of the Paris Commune they were moved to Paris, where they are kept in the Church of Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles (fr: Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles).

The relics of Helena remaining in the mausoleum during the papacy of Innocent II (1130-1143) were transferred from the Church of Marcellinus and Peter to the Church of Santa Maria in Araceli on the Capitoline Hill. Helen's sarcophagus was used for the burial of Pope Anastasius IV (1153-1154), for which it was moved from the mausoleum to the Lateran Basilica. (Montreal, Canada)

Also, her name became the name of a number of cities (see Saint Helena (meanings)).

In culture

The earliest images of Helen date back to the first quarter of the 4th century. These include her shoulder-length images in profile on coins, where Elena has a large hooked nose, large eyes and is depicted wearing earrings and a necklace. In the Capitoline Museum in Rome there is a sculpture from the 4th century, which some researchers consider to be a portrait of Helen. The sculptor depicted her in the guise of a young woman (although by the time her first portraits were created, Elena was over 70 years old), sitting on a chair with a tiara on her head. The Copenhagen Glyptothek contains the head of a 4th century sculpture, which is considered a sculptural portrait of Helen (I.N 1938). Christian iconography of Helen develops into Byzantine art by the end of the 9th century. She is depicted in imperial robes with a crown on her head.

In painting, images of Saint Helena are most often found at the moment of her acquisition of the Cross of the Lord or at the moment of its Exaltation. Her images are also often found together with her son Constantine, also revered among the Equal-to-the-Apostles. More rare are individual images of Helen.

• Evelyn Waugh, " Elena", short story, 1950;
• Marion Zimmer Bradley, " Priestess of Avalon"(en:Priestess of Avalon), historical fantasy, 2000.

see also

• The Life-Giving Cross - about the excavations of Empress Helena in Jerusalem
• Judas Cyriacus - a resident of Jerusalem mentioned in the apocrypha, who assisted Helen during excavations

Notes

Literature

• Couret, Alphonse Visit to Palestine by the Holy Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles // Palestine under the rule of Christian emperors. (326-636). - St. Petersburg: Publication of the editors of the “Russian Pilgrim”, 1894.
• Helena, First Christian Archaeologist // Christian History Institute. Glimpses. Issue #73. (English)
• Jan Willem Drijvers Helena Augusta: The Mother of Constantine the Great and the Legend of Her Finding the True Cross. - Leiden: Brill, 1992.(English) . Retrieved November 28, 2008. Queen Helena(† 327) Enlightener of Georgia Nina († 335) Princess Olga († 969)

Equal to the Apostles Tsar Constantine
and his mother Queen Elena

(21 May / 3 June)

Holy Emperor Constantine (306-337), who received the title Equal of the Apostles from the Church, and world history called the Great, was the son of Caesar Constantius Chlorus (305 - 306), who ruled the countries of Gaul and Britain. The huge Roman Empire was at that time divided into Western and Eastern, headed by two independent emperors who had co-rulers, one of whom in the Western half was the father of Emperor Constantine. Holy Queen Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine, was a Christian. The future ruler of the entire Roman Empire - Constantine - was raised to respect Christian religion. His father did not persecute Christians in the countries he ruled, while throughout the rest of the Roman Empire Christians were subjected to severe persecution by the emperors Diocletian (284 - 305), his co-ruler Maximian Galerius (305 - 311) - in the East and the emperor Maximian Herculus (284 - 305) - in the West. After the death of Constantius Chlorus, his son Constantine in 306 was proclaimed emperor of Gaul and Britain by the troops. The first task of the new emperor was to proclaim freedom of professing the Christian faith in the countries under his control. The pagan fanatic Maximian Galerius in the East and the cruel tyrant Maxentius in the West hated Emperor Constantine and plotted to depose and kill him, but Constantine warned them and, with the help of God, defeated all his opponents in a series of wars. He prayed to God to give him a sign that would inspire his army to fight bravely, and the Lord showed him in the sky the shining sign of the Cross with the inscription “By this way conquer.” Having become the sovereign ruler of the Western part of the Roman Empire, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan on religious tolerance in 313, and in 323, when he reigned as the only emperor over the entire Roman Empire, he extended the Edict of Milan to the entire eastern part empires. After three hundred years of persecution, Christians for the first time had the opportunity to openly confess their faith in Christ.

Having abandoned paganism, the emperor did not leave the capital of the empire Ancient Rome, formerly the center of a pagan state, moved its capital to the east, to the city of Byzantium, which was renamed Constantinople. Constantine was deeply convinced that only the Christian religion could unite the huge, heterogeneous Roman Empire. He supported the Church in every possible way, brought back Christian confessors from exile, built churches, and took care of the clergy. Deeply revering the Cross of the Lord, the emperor wanted to find the very Life-giving Cross on which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. For this purpose, he sent his mother, the holy queen Helen, to Jerusalem, giving her great powers and material resources. Together with Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem, Saint Helena began a search, and by the Providence of God the Life-Giving Cross was miraculously found in 326. While in Palestine, the holy queen did a lot for the benefit of the Church. She ordered to free all places connected with the earthly life of the Lord and His Most Pure Mother from all traces of paganism, and ordered to erect in these memorable places Christian churches. Above the Cave of the Holy Sepulcher, Emperor Constantine himself ordered the construction of a magnificent temple in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. Saint Helena gave the Life-Giving Cross for safekeeping to the Patriarch, and took part of the Cross with her to present to the Emperor. Having distributed generous alms in Jerusalem and arranged meals for the poor, during which she herself served, Holy Queen Helena returned to Constantinople, where she soon died in 327.

For her great services to the Church and her labors in obtaining the Life-Giving Cross, Queen Helena is called Equal to the Apostles.

The peaceful existence of the Christian Church was disrupted by the unrest and discord that arose within the Church due to the emergence of heresies. Even at the beginning of the activity of Emperor Constantine, the heresy of the Donatists and Novatians arose in the West, demanding the repetition of baptism over Christians who had fallen away during persecution. This heresy, rejected by two local councils, was finally condemned by the Council of Milan in 316. But especially destructive for the Church was the heresy of Arius, which arose in the East, which dared to reject the Divine essence of the Son of God and teach about the creatureliness of Jesus Christ. By order of the emperor, the First Ecumenical Council was convened in the city of Nicaea in 325. 318 bishops gathered for this Council, its participants were bishops-confessors during the period of persecution and many other luminaries of the Church, among whom was St. Nicholas of Myra. The Emperor attended the meetings of the Council. The heresy of Arius was condemned and the Creed was drawn up, in which the term “Consubstantial with the Father” was introduced, forever cementing in the minds of Orthodox Christians the truth about the Divinity of Jesus Christ, who assumed human nature for the redemption of the entire human race.

One can be amazed at the deep church consciousness and feeling of Saint Constantine, who singled out the definition of “Consubstantial”, which he heard in the debates of the Council, and proposed to include this definition in the Creed.

After the Council of Nicea, Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine continued active work in favor of the Church. At the end of his life, he accepted holy baptism, having prepared for it with his whole life. Saint Constantine died on the day of Pentecost in 337 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles, in a tomb he had prepared in advance.

* * *

The first merit of Queen Helena was that she endeared her son Constantine to the Christian faith at a time when other young men of noble descent were brought up in a pagan spirit and despised Christianity. The second is the exaltation of the Holy Cross.

In order to find the Cross of the Lord, Queen Helena went to Jerusalem in 326. It was pointed out to her that the Cross of the Lord was buried in the ground at the place where the pagans had erected a temple in honor of Venus. When, by order of Helen, they broke down the building and began to dig the ground, they found three crosses and near them a tablet with the inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”

To find out which of the three crosses the Savior was crucified on, they began to place them on the deceased in turn. No miracle happened from the two crosses. When they laid the third cross, the deceased was resurrected, and thus they recognized the cross of the Savior.

When people learned about the miracle, everyone wanted to see the Holy Cross. Then the Patriarch of Jerusalem Macarius and Queen Helena stood on an elevated place and erected a cross. The people, seeing the cross of the Lord, prayed with the words: “Lord have mercy!”

In memory of this event, the Church established the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This holiday is one of the great ones and is celebrated on September 27th. On this day, the holy cross is solemnly brought to the middle of the temple for worship. During the reign of Constantine, the previous name of the city of Jerusalem was restored instead of the new one, Julius Capitolinus, given to it under the emperor Hadrian (117-138).

Queen Helena built several churches in the Holy Land: on Golgotha ​​the Church of the Resurrection (and the Holy Sepulcher), where every year on Easter night descends holy fire; on the Mount of Olives (where the Lord ascended to Heaven); in Bethlehem (where the Lord was born according to the flesh) and in Hebron at the Oak of Mamre (where God appeared to Abraham).

AKATHIST

Kontakion 1

The election of the Eternal King, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, for the worldwide exaltation of the Life-giving and Savior Cross of the Lord, by which the salvation of the human race was accomplished, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God nailed on it, and all the righteous and sinners cry out to you in gratitude:

Ikos 1

The angelic council on earth saw a great miracle - how the Holy Tree was found, preserved for many years in the bowels of the earth as soulless stone, now lifted up by the hands of the bishops, and people seeing this, fell prostrate on the ground, crying tearfully: “Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy!" I humbly magnify you, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena:

Rejoice, blessed mother, who dearly loved Christ;
Rejoice, divinely crowned son, servant of the Heavenly King.
Rejoice, earthly Angels and heavenly people;
Rejoice, builder of the mysteries of God.
Rejoice, for heaven and earth have been spiritually rejoiced by you;
Rejoice, for you have become famous from all earthly beings.
Rejoice, worthy bearers of the name of Christ;
Rejoice, two great lights in the universe.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 2

Having seen the glorious Constantine during the battle with Maxentius at noon, the Cross in the sky, shining with light, and the letters “By this, conquer,” he commanded that all weapons and battle helmets be shackled, so that, having completely defeated the enemy with the help of the Cross, they would sing to the crucified Christ song of victory: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Your mind, not yet enlightened by holy Baptism, to Tsar Constantine, enlighten the Lord in a dream at night, teaching you to defeat the enemy with the Sign of the Cross, but we, marveling at such Providence of God for You, cry out:

Rejoice, illuminated by the double vision of the Cross from above;
Rejoice, exalted above all the kings of the earth.
Rejoice, chosen from above for apostolic service;
Rejoice, conqueror of enemies visible and invisible.
Rejoice, greatly glorifying the Cross of the Lord;
Rejoice, you who have given all your strength to the Christian Church.
Rejoice, thou who has put to shame the enemy of human salvation;
Rejoice, you who crushed his head with the honorable Cross.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 3

By the power of the Cross in battle, you told the god-wise Constantine: “I saved this city from enemies, and my heart is wounded by the love of the crucified Christ, Whom I honor, Whom I worship and do not forbid those who love Him from singing the blessed song: Alleluia.”

Ikos 3

Having in his heart a feeling of living Christian faith, the great Constantine commanded that idols be crushed and temples be built where hosts of Angels and faces of the righteous pray to their Creator. But we, who are unworthy, asking for the peace of the world and a good answer at the terrible judgment of Christ, call to you:

Rejoice, you who are the first kings among Christians;
Rejoice, adorned with mercy and power.
Rejoice, clothed in love and righteousness;
Rejoice, you have been delivered from the enemy’s charms.
Rejoice, guardian of church statutes;
Rejoice, lover of virginity and chastity.
Rejoice, pagan temples on the lands that abolished;
Rejoice, having established the Day of Resurrection.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 4

The stormy streams of Christian blood have come to an end by your command, Saint Constantine; those who are in prisons become weak, those who hide in caves and mountains return back, and the children of the church meet each other with the kiss of the saints in an embrace, singing a song of praise to God:
Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Having heard your commandment, the martyrs and sufferers of Christ, blessed Constantine, freely confess the faith of Christ, rejoicing and singing to you with tears of joy:

Rejoice, decoration of great Rome;
Rejoice, liberation of the prisoners of Christ.
Rejoice, abolition of the pagan world;
Rejoice, destruction of idols and idols.
Rejoice, confirmation of rights and laws;
Rejoice, magical spells and fortune telling are a punitive prohibition.
Rejoice, you care for the Church, like a child-loving mother;
Rejoice, having forbidden the crucifixion of those condemned to crosses.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 5

Having seen the Resurrection of Christ, people sang: Behold the Cross, through which joy has come to the whole world. Unknown to the world, the weapon with which the new David conquered death was hidden from the worship of faithful people, the Angels only guarded the honorable Cross, silently chanting: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing the eighty-year-old old woman, the godly mother Elena, your heart.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, kings of wisdom;
Rejoice, holy duo, beloved by God.
Rejoice, flaming with love for Him like the Seraphim;
Rejoice, you who served with zeal like the apostles.
Rejoice in your zeal as wives who have come from the world;
Rejoice, glorified by all earthly beings for your exploits.
Rejoice, for the Angels rejoice with you in heaven;
Rejoice, for men will always praise you on earth.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 6

The preacher of the mystery where the blessed Tree was was a certain Judas, who did not want to indicate this place, for this sake he was exhausted by hunger in the depths of the treasure at the command of the holy Queen Helen, to whom the Holy Spirit was revealed, so that he would use every effort to seek the Cross of the Lord for joy Orthodox Christian singing to God:
Alleluia.

Ikos 6

A ray of Divine light shone into the hearts of Judas, who had hitherto been adamant to the petitions and admonitions of the God-wise Queen Helen, who opened his mouth saying: “Near Golgotha, in the temple of Venus, you will find the Cross of your Christ.” From there I began to search, endured much labor, and, not having found the treasure, became extremely exhausted. When you sensed a great fragrance from the bowels of the earth, increased your labors and gained three crosses, then the faithful people glorified you with tears:

Rejoice, zealous seeker of the blessed Tree;
Rejoice, the unslothful deeds of the apostle are continued.
Rejoice, you who have revealed the triumph of the Orthodox faith;
Rejoice, people who honor the Cross of the Lord, who have greatly rejoiced.
Rejoice, you who have sanctified the air with a life-giving sign;
Rejoice, having found the Cross and left an eternal memory for people.
Rejoice, having brought endless joy to the whole world.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 7

Although they carefully took away the Cross, on which the Holy Sacrifice was offered, so that they would not give the honor of the Cross to another, the blessed Patriarch Macarius commanded to lay crosses on the sick and dead, but these came to life and were well, then the people, having seen the miracle, fell prostrate to the ground, to the Life-giving Cross, to the conqueror of death and hell, singing:
Alleluia.

Ikos 7

New christian temple the wise Queen Helen is creating on Golgotha ​​for the worldwide exaltation of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, and countless people pray to the blessed Patriarch Macarius, that they may be worthy to see Holy Cross. He, filled with this humility, raised the Cross high with the consecrated cathedral, so that everyone could see this, tribes and pagans with reverence and joy, exclaiming:

Rejoice, Blessed Tree, by whom the primordial two were saved;
Rejoice, Honest Tree, who released hell upon the prisoners.
Rejoice, Honest Tree, guarded by Archangels and Angels;
Rejoice, Honest Tree, foreseen by the prophets of God.
Rejoice, Honest Tree, joy of the venerable and righteous;
Rejoice, Honest Tree, hope and salvation for repentant sinners.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 8

To the one who wanders on our lands for the sake of salvation, who had nowhere to bow his head, erecting temples of the divine wisdom of Constantine and Helen, who was born in Bethlehem, on Golgotha, where they were crucified, on the Mount of Olives, from where he ascended to the beginningless Father, and at the oak of Mamre, where Abraham invited It is strange, and all the faithful constantly sing the Seraphim’s song:
Alleluia.

Ikos 8

All your service will be to the glory of the Sweetest Lord and His Most Pure Mother, Intercessor of the world. What tongue will utter the labors you have raised? What mind will comprehend joy when you find the desired Cross of the Lord? For this reason, all earthly creatures gratefully cry out to you:

Rejoice, having lived with angelic purity;
Rejoice, having loved the Lord with all your heart.
Rejoice, having labored with apostolic zeal;
Rejoice, having been adorned with Christian humility.
Rejoice, having accumulated all virtues within yourself;
Rejoice, you who have inherited the bliss of heaven.
Rejoice, for you always see the Creator and Lord;
Rejoice, for your reward is abundant in heaven.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 9

Having rejected all heretical teachings, the godly fathers and teachers who gathered at your command, Tsar Constantine, at the first Ecumenical Council, drove away Arius and his accomplices, and like thunder you roared the song to all ends:
Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Vetus, the sweet-speaking God-bearing fathers, saints and teachers at the council of Niceistem, Nicholas of Myra, Spyridon of Trimifunt, Paphnutius of Thebaid, Paul of Neocaesarea, Athanasius of Alexandria and other confessors of Christ, who became wise from above, set forth the Creed and the whole Church legitimized the singing of the Trinity of Consubstantial, bringing a song of thanksgiving calling upon the supreme Lord of all God and his fellow servant:

Rejoice, worthy son to his mother, the God-wise Elena; Rejoice, imitating her in humility beyond words.
Hail, king, surpassing the wisdom of Solomon;
Rejoice, thou who has acquired the faith of the forefather Abraham.
Rejoice, high architect of laws and power;
Rejoice, new apostle of the great city of Constantinople.
Rejoice, merciful and meek ruler;
Rejoice, wise chairman of the first Council of Nicaea.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 10

You did not forbid those who wanted to be saved in the ascetic struggle of virginity, O great Constantine, but with a pure heart they offered up prayers to the One God for peace in the whole world and, the dismissal of the rumors of life, as the Angels sing:
Alleluia.

Ikos 10

The Most Pure Virgin Herself, the Lady of heaven and earth, will be your wall, cover and protection in everything. You gave her your new city on the banks of the Bosphorus, and all people, strengthened by Her merciful intercession, remembering your faith and deeds, O praiseworthy Constantine, cry out with compunction:

Rejoice, you who consecrated the new capital of Byzantium;
Rejoice, having entrusted the intercession and protection of the Mother of God.
Rejoice, you who created the temple of God in Her name;
Rejoice, you who glorified fervent prayers in it.
Rejoice, as an intelligent servant who multiplied his talents;
Rejoice, having betrayed your will into the will of God.
Rejoice, decoration of the temples of saints;
Rejoice, admonishment of the shepherds of the Church of Christ.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 11

Singing and fervent prayer now offered in your temple, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Kings Constantine and Helen, we ask with tears: lift up your blessed hands, having received the Holy Cross, and pray to the Lord crucified on it, so that in repentance we unceasingly call to Him:
Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Your death is bright and joyful, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Konstantin and Elena, for you are holding the victorious sign in your arms, showing by this, that everyone may take up his Cross and, humbly walking the path of his earthly journey, be honored to receive a painless death and the Divine Mysteries of Communion, crying out with tears to you:

Rejoice as you sing the Trisagion hymn to Him with the Angels;
Rejoice, you stand before Him with the council of the apostles.
Rejoice, for together with all the saints you see the village of paradise;
Rejoice in the mercy and care of the poor and wretched.
Rejoice, quick liberators from bonds and captivity;
Rejoice, you who do not honor the holiday with strict punishments.
Rejoice, for all those who honor your memory have interceded before the Lord.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 12

Ask for the grace of peace and silence for those who come to your intercession, saints of God, save our fatherland from the enemies who come against us and internecine warfare, so that we may receive God’s mercy through your prayers, crying out with all the saints to the Lord Christ:
Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing and praising you, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Kings Constantine and Helen, we celebrate your holy memory and ask: do not forget us sinners, who honor your works and exploits, and we all call to you with faith and love:

Rejoice, protector of this city and temple;
Rejoice, teacher who is the shepherd of the Church of Godly Wisdom.
Rejoice, bright lamps for those lost in the darkness;
Rejoice, for our fatherland, warm prayer books before God.
Rejoice, for you heal the sick, the blind and the deaf;
Rejoice, for you are delivering us from unexpected death.
Rejoice, you frighten heretics and blasphemers of the faith with the fear of God’s justice;
Rejoice, you ask forgiveness from the Throne of God for sinners who repent.
Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, who have found the Cross of the Lord, a saving weapon.

Kontakion 13

O wise two, great kings Constantine and Helen, accept this small prayer of ours and the praise brought to you! Deliver those who honor your holy memory from sinful passions and eternal condemnation, so that through your intercession we may, until the end of our days, worship the Life-Giving Tree of the Cross of the Lord and there, where the eternal light shines, sing to the glory of the Cross:
Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)

PRAYER FIRST

About Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen! Deliver this parish and our temple from every slander of the enemy and do not abandon us, the weak (names), through your intercession, beg the goodness of Christ our God to grant us peace of mind, from destructive passions and all filth, abstinence, and unfeigned piety. Ask us, pleasers of God, from above for the spirit of meekness and humility, the spirit of patience and repentance, so that we may live the rest of our life in faith and contrition of heart, and so at the hour of our death we will gratefully praise the Lord who glorified you, the Father Without Beginning, His Only Begotten Son and the Consubstantial All-Blessed One. Spirit, the Indivisible Trinity, forever and ever.

PRAYER TWO

About the wonderful and all-praised king, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen! To you, as a warm intercessor, we offer our unworthy prayers, for you have great boldness towards the Lord. Ask Him for the peace of the Church and prosperity for the whole world, wisdom for the ruler, care for the flock for the shepherd, humility for the flock, desired peace for the elders, strength for husbands, beauty for women, purity for virgins, obedience for children, Christian education for babies, healing for the sick, reconciliation for those at war, patience for the offended, those who offend the fear of God. To those who come to this temple and pray in it, a holy blessing and everything useful for each request, let us praise and sing the Benefactor of all God in the Trinity of the glorified Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

TROPARION

Troparion, tone 8

Having seen the image of Your Cross in heaven, and like Paul the title was not received from man, Your Apostle has become king, O Lord, place the reigning city in Your hand: save it always in the world through the prayers of the Mother of God, who alone is the Lover of Mankind.

Kontakion, tone 3

Constantine today, with the matter Helena, the cross reveals the all-honorable tree, for the shame of all the Jews exists, and a weapon against the faithful kings: for for our sake a great sign has appeared and a terrible sign in battle.

Greatness

We magnify you, holy saints and Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsars Constantine and Helen, and we honor your holy memory, for with the Holy Cross you enlightened the entire universe.

CANON

(Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Helen)

Troparion, tone 8

Having seen the image of Your Cross in heaven, and like Paul the title was not received from man, Your apostle has become king, O Lord, put the reigning city in Your hand, which you always save in the world through the prayers of the Mother of God, who alone loves mankind. (Twice)

Glory, even now, to the Mother of God: Who for our sake was born of the Virgin, and endured the crucifixion of the Good One, who overthrew death with death, and revealed the resurrection as God, who did not despise what Thou didst create with Thy hand, show Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One, accept the Mother of God who gave birth to Thee, praying for us, and save, our Savior, desperate people.

Canon, tone 8

Song 1

Irmos:Having traversed the water like dry land, and having escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried out: Let us drink to our Deliverer and our God.

Chorus:

To the One Heavenly King, sin now reigning in me, through the prayers of Your saints, free my humble soul.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Once you were the stewards of the Kingdom, you served Blessed Constantine, the King of all and the Lady, having believed with a pure mind.

Glory:Having been enveloped in the light of God, you have left the darkness of unreason, truly, God-wise Elena, you have sincerely worked for the King of Ages.

And now:Door of the Divine East, open for me the doors of repentance, and through Your intercession deliver me from the doors of deadly sin, O Lady.

Bow)

Song 3

Irmos:The Supreme Creator of the heavenly circle, O Lord, and the Creator of the Church, Thou strengthen me in Thy love, the desires of the land, the true affirmation, the only Lover of Mankind.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

You strove to receive heavenly retribution, and you followed the caller, God-wise, and you left the darkness, Father, devoted to your flattery, and you were a lamp of the Divine Spirit.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Having clung to Christ and to Him, the all-honorable One, having placed all your hope in His sacred place, you have reached, in which the most pure passions, having become incarnate, have endured the Most Blessed One.

Glory:You have revealed the saving weapon, indestructible victory, Christian hope, the Honest Cross, hidden to envy, inflamed by divine desire, blessed one.

And now:The sacred citizenship has fallen away, the Most Pure One, having been venerated by the cattle and all the beings have been condemned; You who gave birth to the Judge, deliver me from all condemnation and save me.

Pray to God for us, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, as we diligently resort to you, as a quick helper and prayer book for our souls. ( Bow)

Lord have mercy (Three times)

Sedalen, voice 8th

He extended his feelings to the heavens and learned kindness from the stars, from these he secretly taught all sorts of Lords, and the weapon of the cross was in the middle of the sheet, writing about this to win and to be sovereign. Moreover, you opened the comb of your soul, you read the letter and learned the image, with all honor to Constantine, pray to Christ the God of sins to grant your holy memory to those who celebrate love.

Glory, even now, to the Mother of God: Wisdom and the Word were conceived without burning in Your womb, Mother of God, you gave birth to the world, the Container of the world, and in your arms you bore the whole Bearer, the Nourisher of all and the Creator of creation. Moreover, I pray to Thee, all-holy Virgin, and truly glorify Thee, to get rid of my sins, and on the day of judgment, when the imam appears before the face of my Creator, the Lady of the Pure Virgin, then grant me your help: all you can, as much as you want, the All-Singing One.

Song 4

Irmos:I heard, O Lord, Thy sacrament, I understood Thy works, and glorified Thy Divinity.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

From heaven, like Paul of old, Christ the Lord, Constantine, catches you, teaching you to honor this one King.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

With the bright sign of you, blessed one, Christ the Sun illuminates the stars with the stars and shows you the darkened lamp.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

And you were blessed with God-loving morals and divine deeds, blessed one, for this reason we glorify you by faith.

Glory:You manifest the divine victory of the Cross, which has been covered for many years now, by which we were saved and freed from demonic charms.

And now:Illumine my soul, darkened by sins, even giving birth to the Sun of Truth, Ever-Virgin.

Pray to God for us, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, as we diligently resort to you, as a quick helper and prayer book for our souls. ( Bow)

Song 5

Irmos:We cry out to You in the morning: Lord, save us, for You are our God, and You know no other.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Having risen to the ever-setting Sun and the Lady, the God-Wise King, you were filled with light.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Love and perfect mercy, like wearing purple, have now entered the highest Kingdom.

Glory:You have copulated with the disembodied, Eleno, in face-standing, pleasing God with your virtuous deeds.

And now:Virgin, cleanse my soul, defiled by bodily pleasures and the slander of the serpent.

Pray to God for us, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, as we diligently resort to you, as a quick helper and prayer book for our souls. ( Bow)

Song 6

Irmos:I will pour out a prayer to the Lord, and to Him I will proclaim my sorrows, for my soul is filled with evil, and my stomach is approaching hell, and I pray like Jonah: from aphids, O God, lift me up.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Thou hast gathered the blessed face of the God-bearing Fathers gloriously, and with those, Constantine, Thou hast strengthened the hearts of all, who are alone in praising the One who gave birth to the Word, and are co-throne.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Having believed in the Lord, you are alive, and you were the giver of all, the vile and vain idols of death, you cast off your service, and you joyfully accepted, Elena, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Glory:With Thy hand we are nourished, O Word, the deepest darkness of ignorance and the fiercest godlessness of the storm, which reigned by Thy, has been cast aside, and brought to quiet havens of piety, rejoicing.

And now:Heal my heart, which is incurably ailing and wounded by the grip of the evil one, O Maiden, and grant Thy healing, and save me, who trusts in Thee, through Thy prayers, O Most Pure One.

Pray to God for us, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, as we diligently resort to you, as a quick helper and prayer book for our souls. ( Bow)

Lord have mercy (Three times) Glory, and now

Kontakion, tone 3

Ikos

Constantine, faithfully, we will honor the matter: David, having heard these words, on the cedar, and the tree, and the cypress, having known the three-compound Cross, with which the saving passion followed, and having presented all the Jews, prepared to show people the great justification, hidden for the sake of envy and hatred of those , and having found this, they showed it. For this reason, he appeared to all in victory, bearing an invincible weapon, a great sign and a formidable sign in battle.

Song 7

Irmos:The Jewish youths in the furnace boldly crushed the flame, and turned the fire into dew crying out: Blessed are you, O Lord God, forever.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Keeping Your commands, I obey Your law Constantine. Also, overthrow the wicked, crying out to You: Lord God, blessed are You.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

The tree that most miraculously brought everyone out of the pit of destruction, raked by envy, is revealed to us, burying the all-destructive demons forever.

Glory:You have created divine deeds in your heart, the church of God, Elena, and you have made sacred temples for Him, where passions will arouse us for the sake of the most pure flesh.

And now:Having sinned by my will and been enslaved by placeless customs, I now flow to Your usual mercy, save me desperately, Most Holy Theotokos.

Pray to God for us, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, as we diligently resort to you, as a quick helper and prayer book for our souls. ( Bow)

Song 8

Irmos:With the sevenfold, the Chaldean tormentor furiously kindled the cave of the pious, and seeing that they were saved by the best power, they cried out to the Creator and Savior: fathers, bless, priests, sing, O people, exalt to all ages.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Like a purple robe, gloriously clothed with mercy, and like a chlamys, a crown of good meekness, you were adorned with a crown of virtues and a perfect mind, and reposed from earth to the highest Kingdom, calling: priests, bless, people, exalt Christ forever.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Those who see you rejoicing with your God-wise son, glorious Elena, in the Kingdom of God, we magnify Christ, who showed us your honorable holiday, more than the rays of the sun illuminated us, faithfully singing: people, exalt Christ forever.

Glory:How wonderful is your desire and divine disposition, glorious Elena, praise to your wives: having reached places that have raised honest passions, you have fertilized the Lord of all temples with beautiful ones, crying out: people, exalt Christ forever.

And now:My soul's eyes, blinded by many crimes, Mother of God, enlighten, calm my mind and heart, I pray, confused by manifold sweets, and save me, crying out: priests, bless, people, exalt the Pure One forever and ever.

Pray to God for us, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, as we diligently resort to you, as a quick helper and prayer book for our souls. ( Bow)

Song 9

Irmos:The heavens and the ends of the earth were terrified at this, for God had appeared as a man in the flesh, and Your womb was more spacious than the heavens. Thus Thea, the Mother of God, the Angels and the people of the ranks are magnified.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

The coffin, where the sacred lies, Constantine, and your honorable body, always exudes the dawn of divine healings to those who come purely, driving away the darkness of various passions, and illuminating those praising you with an unevening light.

Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Elena, pray to God for us.

Having ended your holy life, you now dwell with the saints, filled with sanctification and enlightenment. Likewise, you always flow rivers of healing, and you burn passions, O blessed Helen, and you melt our souls.

Glory:To the Most Immortal King, You have vouchsafed the Kingdom on High, whom You have justified in pious times of old on earth to reign, O Lord, of those who truly loved You, Saint Helena and the great Constantine, and with their prayers you have been generous to all.

And now, Mother of God: Having conceived all the King and Creator, O Virgin, you gave birth, and now, like the Queen at His right hand, the Pure One, stand. Moreover, I pray to Thee: deliver me in the hour of judgment, and be numbered among the sheep on the right hand.

Pray to God for us, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, as we diligently resort to you, as a quick helper and prayer book for our souls. ( Bow)

Troparion, tone 8

Having seen the image of Your Cross in heaven, and like Paul the title was not received from man, Your apostle has become king, O Lord, put the reigning city in Your hand, which you always save in the world through the prayers of the Mother of God, who alone loves mankind.

Kontakion, voice of the same

Glory:Constantine today with the matter Helena the Cross is revealed, the all-honorable Tree, which is a shame for all Jews, and a weapon against the contrary faithful people; For our sake, a great and terrible sign appeared in battle.

Glory, even now, to the Mother of God: Who for our sake was born of the Virgin, and endured the crucifixion, the Good One, who overthrew death with death, and the resurrection was revealed, as God, who did not despise what Thou didst create with Thy hand, show Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One, accept the Mother of God who gave birth to Thee, praying for us, and save, our Savior , people are desperate.

June 3 2018- date (when, what date is the holiday)

Memory of the ruler of the Roman Empire, Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine, and his mother, Queen Helena Orthodox Church honors June 3rd annually. Having been raised by a Christian mother and a father who did not allow the persecution of adherents of the Christian religion, Constantine from childhood imbibed a special respect for faith. Having become a ruler, he directed all his efforts to ensure that the freedom to confess faith in Christ was proclaimed in all countries under his control.

Queen Helena, the mother of Constantine, also accomplished a huge number of good deeds for the Church, she built churches and, at the insistence of her son, even brought from Jerusalem the very Life-Giving Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, for which she was also awarded the title Equal to the Apostles.

A beautiful day of goodness and peace -
Saints Helena, Constantine.
They gave light all their lives,
They prayed for less trouble for everyone.

Let's help
Wish each other well.
And maybe on a holy and clear day,
The world will become a little more beautiful.

On this day for you, Elena,
We wish from the bottom of our hearts
Fast, fun, with enthusiasm
Eliminate all adversity.

So that happiness fills
Your days are full to the brim,
Well, everything I dreamed of,
It would be performed without words.

Today we praise Konstantin,
And mother - beautiful Elena.
Their faith, strength, kindness
For centuries now they have been imperishable.

Let the saints help you,
When there is no other hope.
Let me keep you from sadness,
From pain, sorrows and troubles.

On St. Helen's Day, on the Feast of Constantine
Let joy rush to your beautiful home.
The whole picture will become more fun than life,
May you remain like this forever!

I congratulate you and wish you happiness,
Faith is sacred in souls, carefully preserved,
So that everything turns out great,
You live in goodness, comfort, a glorious world!

Happy Saints Helena, Constantine,
Saints, beautiful women, men.
Let the rest of you too on this day
There will be strength to overcome all troubles.

Not knowing any of life's difficult obstacles,
Not knowing longing, sadness, sadness and loss,
Let the spring of life flow,
Let every new moment be beautiful.

Happy Saints' Day, faithful to each other
Konstantin and Elena!
Congratulations to the human race
And my advice is simple:

Be happy, loved,
Not angry, not vulnerable,
So that evil does not touch you,
But the sun was smiling!

On the day of Helen and Constantine
Kindness will reign all around!
After all, for every Christian
This holiday has always been important!

I wish you peace and light,
May good dreams come true!
Let your hearts be warmed with happiness!
I wish everyone purity in their souls!

Konstantin and Elena
Today we remember.
Health and goodness to you
On this day I wish.

May the saints protect
They will give you strength.
With their intercession troubles
Don't let them hit you.

Saints Helen and Constantine
Let us honor the entire Christian world,
And in each temple before the cross
We will light bright candles.
Fire will cleanse our souls
The world will become kinder and better.
Mother and son by holy power
They bring goodness to our big world.
I wish you on Saints' Day
Honor their memory with prayer.

Let your faith be in your heart
Always huge, indestructible.
I wish you well from the bottom of my heart
I am on the day of Elena, Constantine.

I wish you joy and happiness,
Blessings from heaven
Pray sincerely, from the heart -
A world of miracles will open up for you.

Congratulations: 37 in verse.

Not long ago, the collection of my artifacts was replenished with a Roman coin dating back to the 4th century with the image of St. Helena. From history we know who Helen was and what contribution this woman made to the spread of Christianity.

Flavia Julia Helena Augusta (lat. Flavia Iulia Helena, c. 250-330) - the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine I. She became famous for her activities in spreading Christianity and her excavations in Jerusalem, during which, according to Christian chroniclers, they were found The Holy Sepulcher, the Life-Giving Cross and other relics of the Passion.

Helen is revered by a number of Christian churches as a saint among the Equal-to-the-Apostles (Holy Queen Helen, Equal to the Apostles, Helen of Constantinople).

The exact year of Elena's birth is unknown. She was born in the small village of Drepan (lat. Drepanum) in Bithynia (near Constantinople in Asia Minor), as Procopius reports. Later, her son, Emperor Constantine the Great, in honor of his mother, “made the former village of Drepana a city and named it Elenopolis.” Today this settlement is identified with the Turkish city of Hersek, near Altinova, Yalova province.

According to modern historians, Elena helped her father at the horse station, poured wine for travelers waiting for the horses to be re-harnessed and re-mounted, or simply worked as a servant in a tavern. There she apparently met Constantius Chlorus, who under Maximian Herculius became the ruler (Caesar) of the West. In the early 270s, she became his wife, or concubine, that is, an unofficial permanent cohabitant.

On February 27, 272, in the city of Naiss (modern Serbian Niš), Helen gave birth to a son, Flavius ​​Valerius Aurelius Constantine, the future Emperor Constantine the Great, who made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. Nothing is known about whether Elena had any more children.

In 293, Constantius was adopted by Emperor Maximian and separated from Helen, marrying Maximian's stepdaughter Theodora. After this and before the beginning of the reign of her son, there is no information about Elena’s life. She probably did not move far from her homeland, since her son Constantine began his rise from Nicomedia (the center of Bithynia), from where he was called to the west in 305 by his father, who became emperor of the western part of the Roman Empire. It is possible that Helen moved west closer to her son in Trevir (modern Trier), which became the residence of Constantine after he inherited the westernmost part of the Roman Empire from his father. A pamphlet published by the episcopate and clergy of Trier Cathedral reports that St. Helena “gave part of her palace to Bishop Agritius” for a church, becoming the founder of Trier cathedral St. Peter's.

When Constantine converted to Christianity (after his victory at the Milvian Bridge in 312), Helen, following his example, also converted to Christianity, although by that time she was already over sixty. The testimony of a contemporary, Eusebius of Caesarea, has been preserved about this. The first coins depicting Helen, where she is titled Nobilissima Femina (lit. “most noble woman”), were minted in 318-319. in Thessalonica. During this period, Helena probably lived at the imperial court in Rome or Trier, but there is no mention of this in historical chronicles. In Rome she owned a vast estate near the Lateran. In one of the premises of her palace, a Christian church was built - the Helena Basilica (Liber Pontificalis attributes its construction to Constantine, but historians do not exclude the possibility that the idea of ​​rebuilding the palace belonged to Helena herself).

In 324, Helen was proclaimed Augusta by her son: “he crowned his godly mother, Helen, with the royal crown, and allowed her, as a queen, to mint her coin.” Eusebius noted that Constantine entrusted Helen with managing the royal treasury at her discretion. There is also evidence of the emperor’s great respect for his mother from a non-Christian historian. Aurelius Victor tells the story of how Constantine killed his wife Fausta because of Helen's reproaches against her.

In 326, Elena (already at a very old age, although in good health) undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem: “this old woman of extraordinary intelligence hurried to the east with the speed of a youth.” Eusebius spoke in detail about her pious activities during the trip, and echoes of it were preserved in the 5th century rabbinical anti-evangelical work “Toldot Yeshu”, in which Helen (Constantine’s mother) was named the ruler of Jerusalem and attributed the role of Pontius Pilate.

Elena died at the age of 80 - according to various assumptions, in 328, 329 or 330. The place of her death is not known exactly; it is called Trier, where she had a palace, or even Palestine. The version of Helen's death in Palestine is not confirmed by the message of Eusebius Pamphilus that she “ended her life in the presence, in the eyes and in the arms of such a great son who served her.”

At the age of about 80, Elena took a trip to Jerusalem. Socrates Scholasticus writes that she did this after receiving instructions in a dream. The Chronography of Theophanes reports the same thing: “she had a vision in which she was commanded to go to Jerusalem and bring to the light of the divine places closed by the wicked.” Having received support in this endeavor from her son, Elena went on a pilgrimage:

«… Divine Constantine sent blessed Helen with treasures to find the life-giving cross of the Lord. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Macarius, met the queen with due honor and together with her looked for the desired life-giving tree, remaining in silence and diligent prayers and fasting».

(Chronography of Theophanes, year 5817 (324/325)

In search of relics of the Passion of Christ, Elena undertook excavations at Golgotha, where, having excavated the cave in which, according to legend, Jesus Christ was buried, she found the Life-Giving Cross, four nails and the title INRI. Also, a 9th century legend, not based on historical chronicles, connects the origin of the holy staircase with Helen’s pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her discovery of the Cross marked the beginning of the celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross. Help in the excavations of Helena was provided by the Bishop of Jerusalem Macarius I and the local resident Judas Cyriacus mentioned in the apocrypha.

This story is described by many Christian authors of that time: Ambrose of Milan (c. 340-397), Rufinus (345-410), Socrates Scholasticus (c. 380-440), Theodoret of Cyrus (386-457). ), Sulpicius Severus (c. 363-410), Sozomen (c. 400-450) and others.

Helen's journey and charity during the pilgrimage are described in the Life of Blessed Basileus Constantine by Eusebius of Caesarea, written after the death of Constantine to glorify the emperor and his family (Discovery of the Life-Giving Cross by Helen in Jerusalem, Agnolo Gaddi, 1380).

Traveling throughout the entire East with royal splendor, she showered countless benefits both on the population of the cities in general, and, in particular, on everyone who came to her; The right hand generously rewarded the troops and helped the poor and helpless a lot. She provided monetary benefits to some, provided others with clothing in abundance to cover their nakedness, freed others from shackles, relieved them of hard work in the mines, ransomed them from lenders, and returned some from imprisonment.