Sfinţii Împăraţi Constantin şi Elena
desen de Daliana Pacuraru
Sfintii Constantin si Elena, "cei intocmai cu Apostolii", sunt pomeniti in Biserica Ortodoxa pe 21 mai.
Sarbatoarea Sfintilor Constantin si Elena este strans legata de taina
si puterea Sfintei Cruci – semnul central al religiei crestine.
Sfantului Constantin i s-a aratat pe cerul amiezii semnul Crucii spre
biruinta (In hoc signo vinces – “Intru acest semn vei invinge”), in
pragul infruntarii cu paganul Maxentiu, iar Sfinta Elena, mama sa, a
descoperit la Ierusalim Crucea pe care Mantuitorul a fost rastignit.
Sfanta Imparateasa Elena a trecut la Domnul la anul 327, putin dupa
intoarcerea de la Ierusalim, iar Sfantul Imparat Constantin in 337, dupa
31 de ani de domnie.
The 21st
of May is a very big holly day as we celebrate the saints Constantin
and Elena. Constantin the Great was a leader of the Roman Empire who
lived around 300 A.D. He was the son of Queen Elena and the first
Christian Roman Emperor.
He
established the new capital of Rome at the old Greek town of Byzantium,
which he renamed after himself (Constantinople) and which would be the
capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. He raised Christianity
to the status of a “permitted religion.” He took a direct interest in
matters of doctrine and called the first Ecumenical Council of the
Catholic Church at Nicaea.In traditional calendar, this event is known as Constantine Starling
(Constantin Graur) or Cubs’ Constantine (Constantin al Puilor). Elders
say that on this day birds teach their offspring to fly. May 21 is also
an occasion for Romanians to celebrate their name day.
Known as those who made Christians free, the two emperors Constantine
and Helen became true protectors of the Christians. During his reign,
Emperor Constantine adopted a series of measures in favor of the Church
and priests. They say his mother, Queen Helena,used to help oppressed
Christians.
