During the historic feast of the Holy Patriarchal Cathedral, Patriarch Daniel of Romania spoke about the respect that Saint Constantine the Great showed toward the bishops whom his predecessors had persecuted.
Referring to the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, the Patriarch emphasized that this great event was initiated and presided over by Saint Constantine:
“When he opened the council, he did not sit on the throne but stood upright, out of respect for the many bishops who had been persecuted. Some had lost an eye, others a hand or a leg, having been mutilated or beaten during the persecutions against Christians,” the Patriarch explained.
Saint Constantine’s faith was strengthened after his victory over Emperor Maxentius.
“Saint Constantine the Great, seeing that he had defeated an army far larger than his own, realized that the help had come directly from Jesus Christ. That is why he became a lover of Christ, a protector of persecuted Christians,” said the Patriarch.
Thus, in the year following his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, in 313 AD, together with the Eastern Emperor Licinius, Constantine the Great issued the Edict of Milan, which granted religious freedom to all citizens.
“This edict of tolerance or freedom for all the inhabitants of the Empire was of great significance. It marked the end of the persecutions against Christians,” explained the Patriarch of Romania.
Saint Constantine carried out a restorative mission
Moreover, Saint Constantine returned to the Church the properties that had been confiscated during the persecutions, brought back bishops and priests from exile, and donated public buildings to the Church—known as Basilicas (the “House of the Emperor”)—to serve as places of worship.
The Patriarch noted that these public buildings were transformed into churches, as many churches had been demolished under Emperor Diocletian and many priests had been killed.
“So, Saint Constantine performed a restorative mission—he repaid and compensated for the damage done to Christians by the previous emperors, who had been persecutors,” he stressed.
He gave a Christian character to the laws
Saint Constantine also provided the Church with material means to care for the poor, orphans, and widows, and he issued numerous social laws aimed at supporting the needy, Patriarch Daniel noted.
“He strengthened the Christian family, forbade adultery and the killing of infants or abortion, which were widespread practices in the pagan Roman Empire. In 321, Saint Constantine established Sunday as a day of celebration and rest throughout the Empire,” His Beatitude reminded.
The Patriarch also emphasized that Saint Constantine imparted a Christian character to the new laws he promulgated in the Empire:
“For example, he forbade torture, the crucifixion of convicts, the breaking of legs, and branding with hot iron. Why? Because all these acts were humiliations of the image of God in man,” added Patriarch Daniel.
Saint Helena, builder in the Holy Land
In his homily, the Patriarch highlighted the construction efforts of Saint Helena.
After discovering the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, Saint Helena initiated the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Resurrection, which was completed after her death.
“In addition to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Resurrection of the Lord, she also built the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives, from where Christ ascended into Heaven while blessing His disciples, and a church in memory of the Mother of God in Gethsemane, which covers the tomb where the Theotokos was laid and, after three days, was found to have been taken up into Heaven by her Son.”
“She also built a church in Bethlehem, where the Savior Jesus Christ was born, and one in Nazareth.”
Saint Helena undertook all these works to show her reverence and honor for the Holy Places, the Patriarch emphasized.
Saint Helena, a model mother
Saint Helena is also a model mother and educator, according to the Patriarch:
“She educated her son, inspired him in his governance of the Empire, and possessed deep piety.”
In his sermon, Patriarch Daniel also recalled Saint Constantine’s connections to Romania. His birthplace was the city of Naissus in the province of Dacia Mediterranea—modern-day Niš in Serbia—near ancient Dacia Felix.
The Patriarch noted that Saint Constantine reconquered the territory of modern-day Romania from the Goths and made a peaceful agreement with them on the condition that they no longer persecute Christians.
Alongside the Patriarch, ten other Romanian hierarchs concelebrated at the outdoor altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral during the feast day. The Divine Liturgy concluded with the awarding of prizes to the winners of two national competitions organized by the Romanian Patriarchate.
Source: basilica.ro
