St. Constantine the Great, Emperor and Equal-to-the-Apostles

Flavius Valerius Constantinus, known as St. Constantine the Great or St. Constantine I, Emperor and Equal-to-the-Apostles (February 27, 272 to May 21, 337) was first Christian Emperor, responsible for spreading the faith all over the Empire. The Orthodox Church keeps his feast on May 21, along with his mother, Empress Saint Helen, as Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles.

St. Constantine the Great and his Mother St. Helen 

Constantine is perhaps best known for being the first Roman Emperor to endorse Christianity, traditionally presented as a result of an omen — a chi-rho in the sky, with the inscription "By this sign shalt thou conquer" — before his victory in the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312, when Constantine is said to have instituted the new standard to be carried into battle, called the labarum.

Christian historians ever since Lactantius have adhered to the view that Constantine "adopted" Christianity as a kind of replacement for the official Roman paganism. Though the document called the "Donation of Constantine" was proved a forgery (though not until the 15th century, when the stories of Constantine's conversion were long-established "facts") it was attributed as documenting the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity for centuries. Even Christian skeptics have accepted this formulation, though seeing Constantine's policy as a political rather than spiritual move.

By the end of the 3rd century, Christian communities and their bishops had become a force to contend with, in urban centers especially. Christians were preferred for high government positions; the Church was granted various special privileges; and churches like the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem were constructed. Christian bishops took aggressive public stances that were unknown among other cult leaders, even among the Jews. Proselytism had had to be publicly outlawed, simply to maintain public decorum. In the essential legions, however, Christianity was despised as womanish, and the soldiers followed pagan cults of Mithras and Isis. Since the Roman Emperors ruled by "divine right" and stayed in power through the support of the legions, it was important for them to be seen to support a strong state religion. The contumely of the Christians consisted in their public refusal to participate in official rites that no one deeply believed in, but which were an equivalent of an oath of allegiance. Refusal might easily bring upon all the Roman people the loss of the gods' support; such were the usual justifications for occasional lynchings of Christians by Roman soldiers, the fare of many martyrologies.

Constantine and Licinius' Edict of Milan (313) neither made paganism illegal nor made Christianity a state-sponsored religion. What it did was legalize Christianity, return confiscated Church property, and establish Sunday as a day of worship. Though the church prospered under Constantine's patronage, it also fell into the first of many public schisms. He called the First Ecumenical Council to settle the problem of Arianism, a dispute about the personhood and Godhood of Jesus Christ. It produced the Nicene Creed, which favored the position of Athanasius, Arius's opponent, and became official doctrine.

In medieval times, Constantine was presented as an ideal ruler, the standard against which any king or emperor could be measured.

From his recent illness, Constantine knew death would soon come. Within the Church of the Holy Apostles, Constantine had secretly prepared a final resting-place for himself. It came sooner than he had expected. Soon after the Feast of Pascha in 337, Constantine fell seriously ill. He left Constantinople for the hot baths near his mother's city of Helenopolis (Altınova), on the southern shores of the Gulf of Nicomedia (present-day Gulf of İzmit). There, in a church his mother built in honor of Lucian the Martyr, he prayed, and there he realized that he was dying. Seeking purification, he became a catechumen and attempted a return to Constantinople, making it only as far as a suburb of Nicomedia. He summoned the bishops and told them of his hope to be baptized in the River Jordan, where Christ was written to have been baptized. He requested the baptism right away, promising to live a more Christian life should he live through his illness. The bishops, Eusebius records, "performed the sacred ceremonies according to custom". He chose the Arianizing bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, bishop of the city where he lay dying, as his baptizer. In postponing his baptism, he followed one custom at the time which postponed baptism until after infancy. It has been thought that Constantine put off baptism as long as he did so as to be absolved from as much of his sin as possible. Constantine died soon after at a suburban villa called Achyron, on the last day of the fifty-day festival of Pentecost directly following Pascha on 22 May 337.

The Church of the Holy Apostles was second in size and importance only to the Hagia Sophia among the great churches of the capital Constantinople. When Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453, the Holy Apostles briefly became the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Three years later the dilapidated edifice was abandoned, and the patriarchate was moved to the Theotokos Pammakaristos Church. In 1461, the church of the Holy Apostles was demolished by the Ottomans to make way for the Fatih Mosque.

To celebrate St. Constantine's feast day, you can read

"The Life of Saint Constantine" by Euphemia Briere

"The Story of Saint Constantine" 

Troparion (Tone 8)

Having seen the figure of the Cross in the heavens, And like Paul not having received his call from men, O Lord, Your apostle among rulers, the Emperor Constantine. Has been set by Your hand as ruler over the Imperial City That he preserved in peace for many years, Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O only lover of mankind.

Kontakion (Tone 3)
Today Constantine and his mother Helen
Reveal the precious Cross,

The weapon of the faithful against their enemies.
For our sakes, it has been shown to be a great sign, and fearsome in battle.

St. Reginos of Skopelos

St. Réginos was born in Livadeia in central Greece, in the late 3rd century to Christian parents, who instilled in him the love of virtue and zeal for truth. When the old Bishop of Skopelos passed away, Saint Réginos was acclaimed as the new Bishop by all of the people. As the Arian heresy continued to rage after the Council of Nicaea (325), a new council was called at Sardica (now Sofia, Bulgaria) in 343, during which St. Réginos distinguished himself by his ability to refute the heretics.

In the year 361 a persecution broke out against the Christians under Emperor Julian the Apostate. The Prefect of Greece had Bishop Reginos and other prominent Christians arrested. The Prefect alternated between words of flattery and threats to try to persuade the Bishop to deny the Lord Jesus, thinking that by his conversion to paganism many would follow. However, all this was done in vain, for it only increased his zeal to remain steadfast in the truth. Seeing his resolve, the Prefect had Bishop Reginos beheaded on February 25, 362.

 

The beheading of St. Réginos the Martyr 

He is commemorated on February 25, which is a local holiday on the island of Skopelos . At the Monastery of Saint Réginos, which houses the relics of the saint, thousands of faithful gather each year on February 25 from the surrounding islands of Skiathos and Alonissos as well as from the coastal port city of Volos, to pay homage to the martyr. The saint has shown his love for his flock by performing several miracles of healing according to the locals, several of which name their children after him (Réginos or Regina).

The procession of the old treasured icon of Saint Reginos at "Old Bridge" where he was beheaded

The church of Saint Reginos, the patron saint of Skopelos, was rebuilt in 1728, most likely over the ruins of an old Byzantine monastery, and is one of the island’s most important attractions. In the courtyard of the present-day church, which was built in 1960, the visiting worshipers can see the sarcophagus of Saint Reginos, a martyr and first bishop of the island (4th c. AD). The sacred relics of Saint Reginos are kept at the Nativity Metropolitan Cathedral (Genissi Christou). During the persecutions under Julian the Apostate, Saint Reginos was martyred. Skopelitians buried the holy relics of the bishop a few kilometers southwest of the diocese. During the 5th or 6th century, the first church of the island was built next to the tomb of the patron saint.

The tomb of Saint Reginos in his Monastery at the Nativity Metropolitan Cathedral

 A sacred relic of Saint Reginos, kept in the Sacred Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ

The stone-built katholikon of the Sacred Monastery of Saint Reginos

The ancient skete/shrine of Saint Reginos in Pyrgos, Greece

The interior of the katholikon of the Sacred Monastery of Saint Reginos

Saint Reginos is the patron saint of Skopelos in Greece

Skopelos Island, Greece

St. Reginos of Scopelos

One way to commemorate Saint Reginos's Feast Day it to color a dragon that he fought

Try and recreated food specialties of the island which include a local cheese pie, and the tasteful blackfish casserole with onions (stifado). 

Traditional Cheese pie of Skopelos 

Skepelos Blackfish Stew 

Greek Salad with local Feta (Choriatiki)

Avgato Plum Preserve

St. Helena of Serbia

Saint Helena (Elena) was a pious mother to her sons Stephen Milutin and Dragutin. Saint Stefan was the younger son of king Stefan Urosh I, and grandson of First-Crowned King Saint Stefan (Comm. 24 September). He ruled Serbia from 1275 to 1320. Stefan Miliutin received the throne from his elder brother Dragutin, a true Christian, who after a short reign transferred power over to his brother, and he himself in loving solitude withdrew to Srem, where he did secret ascetic deeds in a grave-pit, dug by his own hand. During his righteous life, Saint Dragutin toiled much over converting the heretic Bogomils to the true faith. His death occurred on 2 March 1316.

Saint Stephen (Stefan) Miliutin, King of Serbia, his brother Dragutin, and their mother Elena (Helen):

She devoted her whole life to religious deeds after the death of her husband. She built a shelter for the poor, and a monastery for those who wished to live in purity and virginity. Near the city of Spich, she built the Rechesk monastery and endowed it with the necessities.

Before her death, Saint Helen received monastic tonsure and departed to the Lord on February 8, 1306.

Saint Jelena, Princess of Serbia

  

Princess Jelena (Elena) Branković-Berislavić was the wife of the Despot Stephen Štiljanović who is also venerated as a Saint. After his death around 1515, she fled to Germany in order to escape from the Turks.

Later, a light appeared at his grave by night, which led to the discovery of his holy relics. The Saint's body was kept for a long time in the monastery of Šišatovacnto at Fruška Gora. When she learned that her husband's incorrupt relics had been uncovered, Saint Jelena went to the monastery to venerate them. After witnessing the miracles which took place at his grave, she decided to remain there with the monastic name Jelisaveta. 

The only known historical source mentions Jelena Bogdanović in 1535. When, as a sign of gratitude for his loyalty, King Ferdinand granted the estate of Ešćen in Srem. There is no reliable information that they had offspring.

According to tradition, Princess Jelisaveta founded the Monastery of Petkovica in 1522.

As a nun, she lived in a monastery near Šišatovac, spending her days in fasting and prayer. She was buried in the vestibule of the Šišatovac Monastery Church, on the left side of the Relic of St. Stefan Štiljanović.

Petkovica Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located on Mount Fruška Gora, in the province of Vojvodina, northern Serbia. 

After a life of asceticism, Saint Jelena reposed in 1546 on October 4. There is reason to believe that she was buried at the Convent of the Most Holy Theotokos in Sremski Karlovci. 

Šišatovac Monastery Church situated on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina.

St. Sergius of Radonezh the Wonderworker

 

Saint Sergius of Radonezh (Russian: Се́ргий Ра́донежский, Sergii Radonezhsky; 14 May 1314 – 25 September 1392), also known as Sergiy Radonezhsky, Serge of Radonezh and Sergius of Moscow, was a spiritual leader and monastic reformer of medieval Russia. Together with St. Seraphim of Sarov, he is one of the Russian Orthodox Church's most highly venerated saints. He is also the founder of Russian monasticism. 

His medieval biography states that he was born to Kiril and Maria, a boyar family, near Rostov (Yaroslavl Oblast), on the spot where Varnitsy Monastery now stands.

Trinity-Sergius Varnickiy Monastery

Sergius received the baptismal name of Bartholomew in honor of the Apostle Bartholomew. Although an intelligent boy, Bartholomew had great difficulty learning to read. His biography states that a starets (or spiritual elder) met him one day and gave him a piece of prosphora to eat, and from that day forward he was able to read. Orthodox Christians interpret the incident as being an angelic visitation.

When the Principality of Rostov fell into the hands of Prince Ivan Danilovich of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, his parents Kirill and Maria became impoverished and moved to Radonezh together with their three sons, Stefan, Bartholomew, and Peter. 

Upon his parents' death, Bartholomew went to Khotkovo near Moscow, where his older brother Stefan was a monk. He persuaded Stefan to find a more secluded place to live the ascetic life. In the deep forest at Makovets Hill they decided to build a small monastic cell and a church dedicated in honor of the Trinity. Thus started the history of the great Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

Village Khotkovo in Russia

In time, Stefan moved to a monastery in Moscow. Varfolomei (Bartholomew) was tonsured a monk and given the name Sergius, following which he spent more than a year in the forest alone as a hermit. Soon, however, other monks started coming to him and building their own cells. After some time, they persuaded him to become their hegumen (Abbot) and he was ordained to the priesthood. Following his example, all the monks had to live by their own labor. Over time, more and more monks and donations came to this place. Nearby, there appeared a posad, which grew into the town of Sergiev Posad, and other villages.

When the news of Sergius's accomplishments reached Patriarch Philotheus of Constantinople, Philotheus sent a monastic charter to Sergius. During the reign of Dmitri Donskoi, his disciples started to spread his teaching across central and northern Russia. They settled intentionally in the most impracticable places and founded numerous monasteries, of which Borisoglebsky, Ferapontov, Kirillo-Belozersky and Vysotsky monasteries could be mentioned. Sergius was also connected with the foundation of two monastic communities in Moscow, Andronikov and Simonov monasteries. All in all, the disciples of Sergius founded about 40 monasteries, thus greatly extending the geographical extent of his influence and authority. Metropolitan Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow asked Sergius to become his successor but Sergius declined, preferring to remain a simple monk rather than be a bishop.

St. Sergius didn’t just start a monastery – he created a new system of monastic community. For example, monks had previously been prohibited from leaving the monastery to beg for food; thus, many monks became beggars and lived among laymen. Instead, every time food ran out, Sergius and his brethren fervently prayed for “daily bread”, and every time the monks were delivered from starvation. “Through his lengthy solitude, filled with toil and hardship, in the heart of a dense forest, he prepared to be the leader of the other monks,” historian Vasily Klyuchevsky wrote. The monks had a strict schedule; all of them, including Sergius himself, worked tirelessly – built churches, prepared food, split wood, sewed clothing, and fully sustained themselves. The monks lived a poor life and sometimes spent days without bread, but they were friendly to each other and, most importantly, kind to all those who visited them.

For his selfless monastic devotion, from the 15th century St. Sergius was already honored in Rus’ as “venerable” – meaning a monk who, through praying, fasting and toil, strove to be like Jesus Christ.

“Triptych. The Work of Sergius of Radonezh”, 1890s

As an ascetic, Sergius did not take part in the political life of the country. However, he blessed Dmitry Donskoy when he went to fight the Tatars in the signal Battle of Kulikovo field, but only after he was certain Dmitry had pursued all peaceful means of resolving the conflict. Some historians interpreted his political stance as aspiring to make peace and unite Russian lands under the leadership of Moscow.

The most exceptional feature of the life of St. Sergius is his humility. To relieve his brethren, he undertook the most lowly tasks in his monastery. He wore threadbare, patched garments so that people who met him failed to recognize him as the renowned abbot of Radonezh.

St. Sergius died on September 25, 1392. In the place where the Holy Trinity Cathedral is now located, his holy relics were uncovered. Not just his body, but also his clothes were completely incorrupt, although there was water all around. With a large confluence of pilgrims and clergy, in the presence of Prince Yuri Dimitrievich of Zvenigorod, on July 5, 1422, the precious remains were removed from the ground and temporarily placed in the wooden Holy Trinity Church. His incorrupt relics were found in 1422 and placed in the new cathedral of Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra which he founded.

Original Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra Dormition Cathedral (Trinity Lavra of St Sergius)

Next to the Dormition Cathedral on Sobornaya Ploschad is the lavra's most ancient and important cathedral - the Trinity Cathedral. It was built in 1422 and was originally decorated with frescos by Andrey Rublev and Daniil Chyorny. These frescos were restored in the 17th century and at other periods, however original icons painted by Andrey Rublev remain in the cathedral's iconostasis. Also housed inside is the lavra's most sacred religious relic - the relics of St Sergius of Radonezh and you will often see queues of believers waiting to be able to pray at his shrine. The cathedral holds services daily, all year round.

St. Sergius of Radonezh is not only the patron saint of Russia, he also guides us on our life and helps in the search for our own spiritual path.

To Celebrate his feast day on September 25, you can visit a monastery and Divine Liturgy service. 

You can read "The Wonderful Life of Russia's Saint Sergius of Radonezh."  

You can even watch a video or two about the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh the Wonderworker. 

Troparion — Tone 4
Athlete of virtues, / true warrior of Christ God, / you struggled mightily against the passions in this temporal life; / in psalmody, vigils, and fasting, you were an example to your disciples; / therefore, the most Holy Spirit dwelt in you, / and you were radiantly adorned by His activity. / Since you possess boldness before the Holy Trinity, / remember the flock which you gathered wisely, / and do not forget to visit your children as you promised, O Venerable Sergius our Father.

Troparion — Tone 8
In the purity of your life, you combined the stream of your tears with later ascetical contests of faith, / thereby exuding a spiritual font, O Venerable Sergius, / in which you wash the spiritual and bodily impurity of all those who lovingly revere your memory. / Therefore, we your children cry out to you: “O Father, pray to the Holy Trinity for our souls.”

Kontakion — Tone 8
Wounded by love for Christ, O venerable one, and following Him with unwavering desire, / you despised all carnal pleasures, and as the sun, you shone upon the land of your birth. / Therefore, Christ has enriched you with the gift of working miracles. / Remember us who honor your most illustrious memory, / that we may call to you: “Rejoice, O divinely-wise Sergius." 

St. Julian the Martyr of Galatia and 40 Martyrs with him

 

The Holy Martyr Julian lived during the fourth century not far from the ancient city of Ancyra in Turkey. A report was made to the governor of the district of Galatia that the Presbyter Julian was hiding in a certain cave with 40 others of the same persuasion, and that he was celebrating divine services there. They arrested Saint Julian and demanded that he reveal where the remaining Christians were hidden, but he refused.

The pagans ordered the holy priest to offer sacrifice to their gods, but he would not consent to this, either. Then they stripped him and placed him on a red-hot iron grate. The martyr signed himself with the Sign of the Cross, and an angel of the Lord cooled the flame. But Saint Julian remained unharmed.

Icon of St. Julian the Martyr of Galatia and 40 Martyrs with him

When the governor asked who he was and how he had quenched the fire, the martyr said: “I am a servant of God.” The torturers brought forth an old woman, the mother of the saint, and they threatened her that if she did not persuade her son to offer sacrifice to idols, then they would torture her. The brave woman answered that if they defiled her body against her will, this would not make her guilty of sin before God. On the contrary, it would constitute an act of martyrdom.

The humiliated torturers sent the old woman away, but they condemned Saint Julian to death. In his prayer the saint gave fervent thanks to God and asked that he be given strength to endure the sufferings. Saint Julian also asked a special grace from God: that those who take earth from the place of his burial be granted forgiveness of sins
and deliverance from passions, and that harmful insects and birds might not descend upon their fields.

Commending himself to God with the words: “Lord, accept my spirit in peace!” the martyr bent his neck beneath the sword, and a Voice summoned the martyr to the Heavenly Kingdom. This Voice was heard also by the 40 Christians who had hidden themselves in the cave. Emboldened, they come forth to the place of Saint Julian’s sufferings, but they found him already dead. They all confessed themselves to be Christians, and they were arrested and brought to the governor, who ordered them beheaded.

"You commingled the swear of your aesteticism with your contests, Receiving a twofold crown Julian." 

Saint Julian’s feast day is commemorated on September 12.

St. Seraphim of Sarov

"Where there is God, there is no evil. Everything coming from God is peaceful, healthy and leads a person to the judgment of his own imperfections and humility."
Saint Seraphim was born in the Russian town of Kursk in 1759. From his childhood he was under the protection of the most holy Mother of God, who, when he was nine years old, appeared to him in a vision, and through her icon of Kursk, healed him from a grave sickness from which he had not been expected to recover. At the age of 19, he entered the monastery of Sarov, where he amazed all with his obedience, his lofty asceticism, and his great humility. In 1780 the Saint was stricken with a sickness which he manfully endured for three years, until our Lady the Theotokos healed him, appearing to him with the Apostles Peter and John. He was tonsured a monk in 1786, being named for the holy Hieromartyr Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion (Dec. 4), and was ordained Deacon a year later. In his unquenchable love for God, he continually added labors to labors, increasing in virtue and prayer with titan strides. Once, during the Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday, he was counted worthy of a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who appeared encompassed by the heavenly hosts. After this dread vision, he gave himself over to greater labors.

The animals in the forest especially loved Seraphim, and he fed them even as legend says that they fed him, too. Among his animal friends was a bear often depicted with him on one of the icons that commemorate his life. An annual animal blessing is in honor of St Seraphim as their patron saint. 

As extraordinarily harsh as Seraphim often was to himself, he was kind and gentle toward others — always greeting his guests with a prostration, a kiss, and exclaiming "Christ is risen!", and calling everyone "My joy." 

With a body ailing and broken from innumerable hardships, and an unspotted soul shining with the light of Heaven, the Saint lived less than two years after this, falling asleep in peace on January 2, 1833, chanting Paschal hymns. He died while kneeling before an Umilenie icon of the Theotokos which he called "Joy of all Joys". This icon is kept currently in the chapel of the residence of the Patriarch of Moscow.

Twenty years after his canonization, the Soviets occupied the Sarov monastery and desecrated everything. St. Seraphim’s relics were placed in a crate and transported off to an anti-religious museum, where they lay hidden (but not forgotten) for 70 years. In 1990 the relics were found. In 1991, in a 450-mile-long procession they were taken to Diveyevo Monastery (Sarov was part of a security area that was off limits to the general public). Thus another one of St. Seraphim’s prophecies was fulfilled.

Here is a short video about St. Seraphim (Russian)

Read St. Seraphim of Sarov by Georgia Kalogerakis

Troparion (Tone 4)

Thou didst love Christ from thy youth, O blessed one,

and longing to work for Him alone thou didst struggle in the wilderness with constant prayer and labor.

With penitent heart and great love for Christ thou wast favored by the Mother of God.

Wherefore we cry to thee:

Save us by thy prayers, O Seraphim our righteous Father.

Kontakion (Tone 2)

Having left the beauty of the world and what is corrupt in it, O saint,

thou didst settle in Sarov Monastery.

And having lived there an angelic life,

thou wast for many the way to salvation.

Wherefore Christ has glorified thee, O Father Seraphim,

and has enriched thee with the gift of healing and miracles.

And so we cry to thee:

Rejoice, O Seraphim, our righteous Father.