St. King Constantine

St. King Constantine

November 3rd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. King Constantine the Great +337 and his mother St. Helena +328 according the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Constantine the Great was the son of Flavius Constantius & Helena. He was brought up in Drepanum his mother’s birthplace. With his Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, the three-centuries-long persecution came to an end. The external threat of the persecution by the Roman government ended However the internal threat of the Arian heresy sprung forth. Constantine convened the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea to combat the Arian heresy in 325AD. The council repudiated the Arian heresy and formulated the statement of faith known as "The Nicene Creed" Constantine’s adherence to Christianity was closely associated with his rise to power. He fought the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (according to Eusebius, during the campaign against Maxentius) in the name of the Christian God, having received instructions in a dream to paint the Christian monogram (Cross) on his troops’ shields to invoke the help of Christ. In the Syriac Orthodox Church the prayers on the feast of the Holy Cross on 14 September allude to this event. In addition the Sh'himo prayers of Friday say, "May the cross of light that was shown to Constantine in the sky be a high wall to the churches and the monasteries." He issued numerous laws relating to Christian practices. He extended several privileges to the clergy. Emperor Constantine died on 21 May A.D. 337 at Ancryona, Izmit, Turkey. Shortly before his death, he was baptised by Eusebius of Nicomedia. After his baptism he refused to wear the imperial purple and died wearing the white baptismal robe. He was entombed in the church of the Holy Apostles. Biography courtesy "Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of The Syriac Orthodox Church" Oh Mor Constantine plead for us before God's throne of grace! May the power of the true Holy Cross protect us from the evil one and all his forces. Amen BL14504