Saints Constantine and Helen are very important in the Greek Orthodox Church. Their feast days are celebrated by many people and they are considered very holy. You can learn more about their feasts from this article. It also explains the importance of relics and how you can support your church from wherever you are using a computer or mobile device.
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Keeping the Royal City in Your Hands
The Greek Orthodox Church commemorates two early Christian saints. One is the Saint of the Holy Church of Aetolia, the other is Constantine and Helen, better known as St. Constantine the Great. Both are considered to be the founding fathers of modern day Christianity. They have aided and abetted in the spread of the gospel throughout the known world.
The Saint of the Holy Church of Aetolia is actually the daughter of the martyred saint Constantine the Great. Her mother, St Helen, was an avid pilgrim, leading more than 80 churches in the Holy Land. After Constantine ascended to the throne, his mother took part of the Holy Cross with her to Constantinople.
While in Jerusalem, Helen uncovered one of the most impressive feats in the Holy Lands – the untold story of the Holy Cross. This event reportedly took place in 326 AD. Although there’s no documentation of this feat, there’s anecdotal evidence that a large basil plant in the shape of a cross had been discovered.
Feast days
The Feast days of Saints Constantine and Helen are celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Church, although they were not a part of the church at the time of their birth. However, they did make contributions to Christianity.
They are also celebrated for their contributions to the arts, science and technology. Some people have named the Feast days of Saints Constantine and Helios, or the Feast days of Saints Constantine the Great and Helen the Great, to name a few. For instance, you may have heard of Saint Basil, St John of the Cross, or Saint Gregory the Great.
While the most popular saints of the day are the ones whose names we know, there are many lesser known heroes and heroines in the faith. This includes the Saints who fought and died for their faith, but there are those who remained behind and continued the work of God.
Relics of the saints
If you are familiar with the Orthodox Church, you probably already know that we venerate the relics of the saints. But what exactly are relics?
Relics are material remains of a saint after death. They are represented by a vial of holy myrrh, or the bones of a saint’s skull on cotton. There are also other objects that contain relics, such as cloth, and rosaries owned by a saint.
The earliest examples of human relics date back to the early Christian period. In the West, Augustine and Ambrose developed a cult of relics. After a theological settlement of the Iconoclastic controversy at the Council of nicaea ii (787), the cult of relics developed.
After the death of a saint, relics are taken from the body, collected, and piously buried. At that time, relics were used in early liturgies in catacombs. Today, they are placed on altars.
Support your church from wherever you are using a computer or mobile device
The Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Webster, Massachusetts has a claim to fame amongst local congregations. In fact, the community is a microcosm of the larger Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Among the many offerings is a plethora of religious education, including a seminary, a high school and a grade school. As such, a plethora of patrons are clamoring for some form of edification.
This is especially true of the youngsters. With the influx of immigrants, especially in the suburbs, it is important to ensure a solid education quotient. For this reason, the community is fortunate to be served by Theo C. Auman Funeral Home in Reading, PA. Those in the know are all in awe of the staff. They are a dedicated team of pious professionals devoted to the sanctification of the Holy Name.
Fr Timothy
The Archangel Michael honoree of the Metropolis of Atlanta, Fr Timothy McLaughlin, is a member of the Orthodox Theological Society, Alleluia Community, and Brotherhood of St. Symeon the New Theologian. He is an author and a professor, and has taught at several colleges.
He is a former member of the Board of Trustees for Hellenic College and the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. He also serves on the board of the Tull Charitable Foundation and the Georgia Boys Scouts of America.
In 2004, he was assigned to Twelve Holy Apostles Church in Duluth, Minnesota. From there, he served as deacon to Metropolitan Methodios for three years before returning to his home parish, Saints Constantine and Helen of Washington D.C. During his time there, he developed a program called Orthodox Professionals in Action.
