Saints Constantine and Helen
07 Sts. Constantine and Helen
May 21
Constantine the Great was the son of Caesar Con -
stantius and Helen. He was born in 274 and died in
337. He succeeded his father as Caesar of Galatia
and Britannia in 305. He became a great general
and politician. In 312 he defeated his rival Maxentius
at a decisive battle just outside Rome and was pro -
claimed emperor. He was this important battle
through a vision of the Christian Cross in the sky.
After he became emperor, he stopped all persecu -
tions against the Christians and favored the Christian
Church. About twenty years later, he moved the
capital of his empire to the site of the little city of
Byzantium on the Bosporus (330). The new capital
was named Constantinople (Constantine's City) and
the empire was named Byzantine Empire.
Constantine was greatly interested in the welfare
and affairs of the Church. He build several
churches, convoked the First Ecumenical Synod, and
practically made Christianity the official religion of
the empire.
His mother Helen became a Christian in her youth
and was the one who greatly influenced Constantine to
have such a favorable attitude toward the Christian
faith. At on old age, she made a pilgrimage to Jeru -
salen where she succeeded in finding the Cross upon
which Jesus was crucified. She also build the Church
of the Resurrection on the spot where Jesus was
buried, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and
the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives.
**My Friend You Are A Unique And Rare
Individual Who Is Very Precious To Me**
You're a very special friend to me
And I really cherish
All the wonderful qualities you have;
The ones that shine so bright
For everyone to see,
And the more personal ones…that are only known to the lucky people
Who are close to you
You've got so many good things going for you
And the more I know of this world
And of the people in it
The more I know that you're really one of a kind
I think I could search the world over
And never find
A more wonderful friend then you.