Saint Constantine the Great was the first Christian emperor who became by the grace of God, and as the Church called him, “the Messenger of the Lord among kings.”

Parents, place and time

 He was the son of a brilliant Roman general named Constans Chlorus and his mother, Saint Helena. He was born around the year 280 AD. His headquarter is not clearly defined. There are those who say that it is in Tarsus or Naesus, near the Dardanelles, or Athens or York in the English country, or elsewhere there. It seems that he grew up on the battlefields and learned from his father not only the art of war, but also the wisdom of ruling those subject to him and being compassionate toward Christians. What is reported from his father is that when he was governor of the English countries and Gaul (France), he received instructions to attack the Christians.

As for him, he did not sentence a single person to death because he was a Christian, even though he himself was not a Christian. The rulers subject to him, who attacked some Christians on their own, were soon stopped by a number of them. If a number of his officers and servants were Christians, he gave them a choice between sacrificing to idols and losing their jobs and favor with him. Some of them chose their interests over their faith and sacrificed. From that moment on, he despised them and exempted them from his service because he said that those who prefer their own interests and betray their God cannot remain faithful to Him. Accordingly, he kept those who held on to their faith and Christ. These, and no others, he trusted himself and his rule. Ambassadors also came from Emperor Theoculsian accusing him of saying that his state treasury was empty and that he did not care about public money. He gave them some time, then spread the news among his friends and the people that he needed to borrow sums of money to return to them after a few days. Immediately his house was filled with gold, silver, and precious gems. When he sent for the ambassadors, they were astonished, so he asked them to bear witness to what they had seen, and that the love and wealth of the people for the prince was the best treasure. It was also reported that Constans, Constantine's father, had great compassion for the poor Christians. There are those who say that before he took his last breath, he believed in one God.

This is about his father. As for his mother, Helena, there are many sayings about her upbringing, perhaps the most prominent of which is that she is the only daughter of Cole, the English king, to whom the building and beautification of the walls of the city of Colchester is attributed. From him, it is said, this city borrowed its name. She is the first wife of Constance Clore and Constantine is her eldest son. It appears from Ephesus of Caesarea, the author of “The History of the Church,” that she did not become a Christian until after Constantine, her son, achieved a miraculous victory over his enemies. It seems that he pursued Christian perfection with great diligence, especially in piety and doing charity. Rufinus the historian says about her faith and holy zeal that they were unparalleled. Saint Gregory the Great also confirmed, in the sixth century AD, that it ignited the same fire that burned in it, in the hearts of the Romans. She was forgetting her destiny as an empress, so she took the initiative to support the churches and walked among the people in ordinary, modest clothing. She became a mother to the needy and distressed. She built churches and enriched them with decorations and precious utensils.

Under the care of these two virtuous parents, Constantine grew up with noble qualities, noble conduct, generosity in dealing with others, fairness in justice, and compassion for those in need. He was ready to forgive those who were prejudiced against him after he broke their burden, unless they went too far. These advantages, in addition to his compassion for Christians, were characteristic of him before he knew Christ, and when he knew him, they took from him and increased.

In custody

Constantine spent most of his life in Nicomedia, the eastern capital of the Roman Empire, as a prisoner. The reason for this is that Emperor Diocletian appointed his father, Constans Chlorus, as Caesar in the West, over Britain, Gaul, and Spain. In order to ensure his safety, he kept his son Constantine - perhaps as was the custom at that time - as an honorable prisoner in Nicomedia, but under supervision. Constantine's youth was spent in a pagan environment in the palace of Diocletian and then Galerius after him.

Some of its advantages:

They said about him that he was majestic and strong in battle. His good morals and quality endeared him to all who knew him. He rose above the usual path of conspiracies and meanness in the palaces of kings. But his good qualities moved the envious, especially Galerius Caesar, who feared him and wished he could get rid of him in a clean, “heroic” way. So he was often involved in dangerous battles. But by God's plan, he emerged victorious every time and rose high in the eyes of the people.

Time of conflicts:

Finally, Constantine was able to evade Galerius's restrictions on him, and quickly turned to the West. His father was about to die. But he was assigned the throne of power in the West, and the military declared him emperor on July 25, 306 AD. As a result, his father died in York, and Constantine entered into a conflict with the emperors and Caesars who were ambitious to rule both the East and the West. The most important of these conflicts was his confrontation with Maxentius, who took over from his father Maximian in Rome, and who was an oppressor and an insolent man. The people of Rome sought refuge from Constantine, whose capital at that time was French Arles. He climbed the Alps and easily invaded the cities of Italy from the north, and continued his march until he reached the outskirts of Rome, where Maxentius gathered forces that outnumbered Constantine.

It was said that Constantine ascended to a high place and saw his enemies and recognized their superiority, so he was confused. Suddenly, a huge cross appeared in the sky at noon, made up of stars, and around it were clearly visible the following words in Greek: “By this sign you will overcome.” Then, the next night, the Lord Jesus himself appeared to him and commanded him to prepare a cross similar to the cross he had seen in the vision and to raise it as a banner at the head of his army. Then the sign of victory shone again in the sky. Constantine believed with all his heart that Jesus Christ is the only God, the Creator of heaven and earth, who gives victory to kings and guides everyone to the end that he had previously seen before the world existed.

Thus, as soon as the day broke, Constantine began preparing a large silver cross and gave the order to place it on the head of the soldiers instead of the royal eagles. As a sign of victory over death and a monument to immortality. Since then, Constantine began learning Christianity and devoted himself diligently to reading the holy books. When the fateful battle took place at the Melpheus Bridge, known today as “Ponte Mole,” two miles from Rome, on October 28, 312 AD, Constantine, by the grace of God and the power of the cross, achieved a sweeping victory and Maxentius and his officers drowned in the River Tir.

Constantine entered Rome triumphantly, and the crowds greeted him as a liberator, savior, and benefactor. The banner of the cross was raised above the main monuments in the city, and a statue of the emperor was erected holding the cross in his hand instead of a spear, a sign of victory and an emblem of the authority he received from Christ. At the base of the statue was placed this inscription: “By this sign of salvation, which is the sign of true courage, I saved your city from the yoke of the tyrant and prepared for the sheikhdom and the people of Rome its former glory.

Constantine returned to the Christians all the property that Maxentius had previously confiscated from them. He also returned the exiles and freed the prisoners. He instructed the search for the remains of the martyrs who fell during the great persecution. Christians, after this victory, and after long-term humiliation and persecution, were able to emerge from the shadows and enjoy the protection of the ruler. Months later, Constantine met Emperor Licinius, Emperor of the East, in Milan (313 AD). The two signed a decree that put an end to the persecution of Christians and allowed them to practice their faith freely throughout the empire. What was stated in that decree:

“As we realized a long time ago that religious freedom must not be deprived of anyone, but must be left to the judgment of each individual and his desire to fulfill his religious duties according to his choice, we issued orders that every human being, whether Christian or otherwise, must retain his faith and religion... Therefore, we decided With a sound and upright intention, that no one should be deprived of the freedom to choose and follow the religion of Christians, and that freedom should be given to each one to embrace the religion that he deems appropriate for himself, so that God may show us in all things His usual kindness and usual providence.

Moreover, we order regarding the places where Christians used to meet previously... If it appears that someone bought them either from our store or from any other person, they must be returned to these Christians without delay or hesitation, and without requiring compensation from them. If someone has accepted those places as a gift, they must be returned to them as soon as possible...

In order for everyone to know the details of these compassionate orders, we ask that you spread our message everywhere and announce it to everyone...”

Saint Constantine, for his part, not only granted freedom of worship to Christians, but also began to promote Christianity. Granting the church cash assistance to build new churches and decorate the shrines of martyrs. He also returned to the confessors what had previously been confiscated from them. He gave the property of the martyrs who had no heirs to the church. He also restored the respect of the bishops, received them to his table, and supported the local councils to bring about peace and agreement.

But, while the light of truth began to shine in this way, in the West the darkness of paganism and abuse intensified over the Church in the East. Maximius of Daya was one of the fiercest persecutors of Christians. In the context of the struggle for power, he rose up against Licinius, and the latter defeated him and declared himself the undisputed master of the empire in the East. Licinius, who had previously concluded an agreement with Saint Constantine, quickly turned against him. So the persecution of Christians raged again. What he aimed for was to get rid of Constantine so that he would be the sole emperor of the entire empire. Christians, Constantine's allies and courtesans, must therefore be strangled. For this reason, Licinius imposed restrictions on the bishops in the East, closed the churches, exiled the Christians who came into his hands, confiscated their property, and brutally punished all those who dared to extend a helping hand to those arrested. It was also obligatory for senior officials to offer sacrifices to idols. Corruption, injustice and violence in all areas of administration.

When Constantine heard of the changing conditions in the East and the arbitrary measures facing Christians, he gathered a strong army under the banner of the Holy Cross and headed towards the East, defeating Licinius first in Adrianopolis and then in Chrysopolis once and for all. That was on September 18, 324 AD.

Peace of East and West:

In this way, the nightmare was lifted from the shoulders of the Church in the East as well, just as it had previously lifted from Christians in the West. In a decree issued by Constantine and broadcast throughout the empire, he declared that God alone should be considered the author of his victories and that he was chosen by divine providence to be at the service of goodness and truth. He appointed new rulers over the provinces, forbade them from offering pagan sacrifices, and sent to all regions subject to his authority evidence of his accusation of paganism and his incitement to conversion to Christ. He urged all his followers to follow suit, but without forcing anyone to do so.

new city:

This Christian empire, whose rule lasted a thousand years and more, was befitting a new capital that was more compatible, geographically speaking, than Rome and free from memories of paganism and abuse. As Constantine received, as was reported, a divine sign, he chose a small city - at that time - called Byzantine, which occupied a pivotal position between the East and the West. He instructed Ophrata, his chief engineer, to spare no effort or money to equip the city with all the monuments and public roads that he wanted to surpass in grandeur and glory all other cities in the world.

During the laying of the foundation stone for the new city on November 8, 324 AD, it was given the name Constantinople, New Rome, and was later dedicated to the Mother of God. In the center of the royal palace rose a massive cross decorated with precious stones. In the square, a statue of Constantine was placed on top of a porphyry marble column in which sacred remains were claimed. At the foot of the column were also placed the baskets that were said to have been used in the miracle of multiplying bread. The work went very quickly. On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Constantine’s accession to power, that is, on August 11, 330 AD, he celebrated with great pomp the inauguration of the new capital.

Council of Nicaea:

After Constantine achieved his victory over Licinus, his first concern was to restore and consolidate the unity of the Church, after it had been threatened by the heresy of Arius, the Egyptian priest. To achieve this goal, he sent, through Hosius, Bishop of Cordoba, letters to Alexandros of Alexandria and Arius in which he expressed his pain over the ongoing division. Then he invited all the bishops of the world to Nicaea for the first holy ecumenical council, in the year 325 AD. This meeting, the first of its kind, which brought bishops from around the world, was a complete expression of the fullness of the Church and the unity of the Christian empire. The Emperor sat in the midst of the bishops, studded with jewels. He opened the sessions by thanking God for this meeting and urging the participants to make peace and resolve the differences that Satan had sown in the house of God. He also participated in the deliberations, and succeeded, with his gentleness and poise, in reconciling the dissenters. Then the council condemned Arius and his followers. It was also decided to celebrate the glorious Easter wherever, on one date, it serves as a sign of the unity of faith. After the sessions were concluded, Constantine invited the holy fathers, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of his reign, to a great banquet, after which he presented them with generous gifts and returned them safely to their diocese.

Emperor of Christ:

The following year, 326 AD, Empress Helena was baptized. Then she made a pilgrimage to Palestine. After Saint Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, explained the condition of the holy places and the wood of the cross, which Emperor Adrian covered in 126 AD under dust and rubbish. Constantine ordered the construction of a luxurious basilica (small church) in the place, which he named the Church of the Resurrection. It was inaugurated in the year 337 AD, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of his accession to power.

In addition, Saint Helena visited other holy places and built churches in Bethlehem and the Mount of Olives. It was also reported that she released the prisoners and squandered the good deeds throughout the East. After she completed her quest, she fell asleep in the Lord at the age of eighty. Her burial ceremony took place in Constantinople and her body was later transferred to Rome, where her sarcophagus is seen today in the Vatican Museum.

From what was said about Saint Helena, she was gentle, good-natured, gentle, and friendly to all groups of people, especially to those who were in a position of church service. To these people, as the historian Rufinus said, she showed such respect that she would sometimes serve them herself while they were at the table, as if she were one of the female slaves. They put down the dishes, pour the drink, and grab the bowl of water to wash their hands. It was said that she built a monastery for the holy virgins in Jerusalem. She also beautified the city of Drepanum in Bithynia, in honor of Saint Lucius, so much so that Saint Constantine the King later named the city after his mother (Helenoplis).

Returning to the talk about King Constantine, we say that, by the grace of God, he succeeded, with wisdom drawn from above, in spreading peace and providing security on the borders, to the point that those who were called “barbarians” turned their swords into agricultural tools. Thus, the man of God devoted himself to establishing the foundations and institutions of the Christian empire. He encouraged, by all available means, the spread of Christianity, and also profoundly transformed Roman laws, subjecting them to the spirit of evangelical compassion. Since he ascended the throne, he decided that Sunday would be a holiday throughout the empire. He also removed the penalty of death by crucifixion, banned gladiatorial games, and severely punished rape and indecency. He then encouraged the institution of the family as a basis for social structure, restricting divorce, condemning adultery, and enacting new laws regarding inheritance rights. He also abolished the laws that prevailed against those who did not leave a trace, thus encouraging monasticism, which witnessed an important development in his days, and he allocated generous gifts to the consecrated virgins. He had great respect for these people. When the administration moved to Constantinople in 330 AD, Constantine banned the celebration of pagan holidays and prevented the pagans from assuming responsibility in the state.

He was also generous with his distribution to everyone in need, to Christians and non-Christians alike, supporting widows and offering himself as a father to orphans. He also cared about protecting the poor from blackmail by the powerful, and favored the prosperity of his people, reducing the annual tax by a quarter. He also reconsidered the estimation of property values in order to redistribute the financial burdens.

Personal features:

Constantine was calm, calm, and master of the passions that oppressed powerful people in general. On the coins, he is shown standing with his gaze to the sky, as if to emphasize that the ruler must be a man of prayer, a mediator of peace and agreement in his kingdom. In his palace, as was said, he created a hall in which he would retreat to pray and meditate on the Holy Bible. He also sometimes spent his nights writing hadiths in which he urged the people to love truth and virtue. One day, when he learned that someone had thrown a stone at a drawing representing him and he was asked to punish the perpetrator severely, he passed his hand over his face and smiled, saying: “I do not feel any injury to my face while I am in good health.” Then he let the accused go on his way. Everyone who approached him seeking a blessed service was confident of obtaining it. At that time, as many holy fathers expressed, it could be said that God was already ruling among people.

His baptism and ascension:

Shortly after Constantine celebrated his thirtieth accession to the throne in the year 337 AD, Shapur II, King of the Persians, attacked the Christians in his kingdom. Then, denying his alliance with Constantine, he invaded Armenia. Therefore, the pious emperor prepared a strong army and went out in person to defend the Christians. But he fell ill in Helenopolis and was quickly transferred to the outskirts of Nicomedia, where he was baptized. Baptism at that time was postponed by believers until an advanced age, and a little until before they fell asleep, out of reverence for the sacrament of baptism and thinking that after being baptized, the believer would not be permitted to sin, otherwise he would no longer have forgiveness. His death was on the glorious day of Pentecost in the year 337 AD. He was still wearing white like the newly baptized. There is a prayer attributed to him before his death, which says: “Now I know that I am truly blessed. Now I know that I am worthy of eternal life. Now I know that I share in the divine light.”

Upon his death, the body of Saint Constantine, the Equivalent of the Apostles, was transferred to Constantinople, where prayers were held over him in a large popular presence. Then it was deposited in the Church of Saints Apostles, amid the empty stone shrines of the Twelve Apostles.

The lives of the saints are taken from the book “The Synaxarium,” Part Three

Troparia in the eighth tune
O Lord, when Constantine, who is your messenger among the kings, witnessed the drawing of your cross in the sky with his own eyes and like Paul before the call, he was not a human being, and he entrusted the royal city into your hand, so save it in safety at all times, through the intercessions of the Mother of God, O Lover of humanity alone.

Qandaq with the third tune
Today, Constantine, along with his mother Helena, show us the cross, the most venerable symbol, which is a disgrace to all the Jews, and a weapon for the faithful kings against the enemies, because it appeared for us as a great and terrible sign in wars.