Saint Constantine was born in 274 AD and was a military man by profession. He was distinguished for his bravery and rose very quickly to the highest offices. With God’s help he defeated his enemies and moved the capital of the Roman state to Constantinople. He sent his mother Helen to the Holy Land to find the Holy Cross. He was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Shortly before he died he was baptized a Christian. He passed away in peace in 327 AD, at the age of 63.
Saint Helen, mother of Saint Constantine, was born in Drepano in Asia Minor in 247 AD. She is remembered for finding the Holy Cross and rebuilding many Christian churches. She was also distinguished for her great charity activity. After completing her mission in Jerusalem, she settled in Nicomedia, where she died at the age of 80.
A shoulder blade of Saint Constantine is located in the Monastery of Constamonitou on Mount Athos. Fragments of the Holy Relic of Saint Constantine can be found in Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus and in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity – Saint Sergius in Moscow and Saint Alexander Nevsky in Saint Petersburg.
The Saints are patron saints of Kastelorizo and the Orthodox Christian Church honors their memory on May 21 of each year.
They are almost always depicted together, with the Holy Cross between them.
