Patriarchate of Jerusalem: The Feast of the Holy, Glorious, Great, Divinely-Crowned Sovereigns and Equals-to-the-Apostles, Constantine and Helen

On Tuesday, 21st May / 3rd June 2025, the Patriarchate commemorated the memory of the Holy, Glorious, and Great Divinely-Crowned Sovereigns and Equals-to-the-Apostles, Saints Constantine and Helen, at their Patriarchal and Monastic Church in Jerusalem. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, with the Overseer of the Church Order, Archimandrite Alexios and the presiding priests of the church concelebrating with him. Also in attendance in prayer were Hierarchs, Hieromonks, and Monks of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, together with faithful Christians of Jerusalem.

This feast is especially celebrated by the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre and the Patriarchate because Saint Constantine and Saint Helen founded the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and other Holy Shrines and appointed the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre and the Romiosyne (Greek Orthodox faithful) guardians over them.

After the Divine Liturgy, a liturgical procession ascended to the Patriarchate, led by the Patriarch and the concelebrating Hieromonks in full vestments, followed by others bearing ecclesiastical insignia and chanting the Apolytikion (Dismissal Hymn) of the Saints:

“Constantine, today, with his mother Helena, reveal the Cross,
the all-venerable Wood;
which is a reproach to all the Jews,
but a weapon for the faithful against their enemies.
For it has been shown unto us,
a great sign and fearful in battle.”

As the procession passed through the monastery’s main gate, the baker and Abbess, Nun Seraphima, distributed the traditional blessed loaves to those present.

In the Throne Hall, His Beatitude addressed the gathering with the following words:

“By preserving the divine faith, I partake of the light of truth. Being led by the light of truth, I come to know the divine faith.” (Eusebius, Life of Constantine, Book 4, Chapter 9)

This passage reflects the thought of Saint Constantine the Great, who declared: “By keeping the divine faith, I gain the light of truth; and being guided by the light of truth, I come to a full understanding of the divine faith.”

Your Excellency, Honourable Consul General of Greece, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos,
Reverend Holy Fathers and Brethren,
Pious Christians and Pilgrims,

“Let our mouth speak the praise of the Lord” (cf. Psalm 146:2, KJV: “While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being”) on the occasion of today’s festal commemoration of the Holy, Glorious, Great, Divinely-Crowned, and Equal-to-the-Apostles Saints Constantine and Helen, who established the Church of Christ and opened up the most holy shrines in the Holy Places, above all the tomb that stands as the sacred memorial of the Passion and Resurrection of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“Be diligent to write to us, that by your letter the most marvellous place in the world, which stands in need of every kind of support, may be rightly adorned and made glorious,”
Saint Constantine the Great wrote to Macarios, Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem.

This testifies that Constantine the Great was firmly convinced of the truth revealed through the Christian faith and of the salvific Gospel mission of the Church in the world. Noteworthy in this regard is the issuing of the imperial edict of Milan in 312 AD, which recognised freedom of religious worship, especially for Christianity. Equally significant was his convocation of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea of Bithynia in 325 AD, where Saint Constantine was personally present.

Constantine the Great is the one who altered the course of history by establishing and spreading throughout the known world the spiritual Helleno-Christian civilisation of Romiosyne (the Greek Orthodox Christian tradition). For this reason, the Holy Church of Jerusalem, together with the venerable Order of the Studious (Spoudaioi), founded by Saint Helen, adopted Saint Constantine the Great and his mother Saint Helen as “Patrons” of the Holy Places and of the Orthodox Christian faithful living therein.

With gratitude, therefore, our Venerable Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre celebrated a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in the monastic Church named after the Saints Constantine and Helen, presided over by Our Mediocrity, concelebrated by fellow priests and Hierodeacons, and prayerfully attended by the Most Reverend Hierarchs and a multitude of devout, Christ-named faithful, together with pious pilgrims visiting from afar.

Glory and thanksgiving were offered to the Holy Triune God for His infinite mercy and divine compassion. We also offered fervent prayer for the cessation of hostilities in the war-torn region of Gaza and for peace throughout the Middle East.

Together with the hymnographer, let us say:

“O pre-eternal, immortal King,
Thou didst deem worthy of Thy heavenly kingdom
those whom Thou didst of old justify on earth in godliness—
those who loved Thee in sincerity, O Lord—
Saint Helen the holy, and Constantine the Great.
By their intercessions, have mercy on us all.”

Amen. Many happy returns, in peace and health!”

A monastic festal meal followed.

From the Chief Secretariat

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem