The Feast of the Honorable Cross
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
(Galatians 6:14)
The Story In A Minute
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Saint Helen the Empress
She was born in the city of Raha (Edessa in Turkey) to Christian parents in the third century (about year 247 A.D). When Emperor Constantius the First came to the city of Raha, and heard about her, he sought her out and married her. She gave birth to Constantine, who became the first Christian Emperor.
Emperor Constantine the Righteous
Queen Helen gave birth to her son Constantine in 272 A.D. at Naissus (modern day Niš in Serbia). After his father’s death, he received the kingdom and he reigned with justice and integrity.
The Vision of The Cross
During the war, Constantine saw in the heaven, in the middle of the day, a Cross made of stars, and on it was written in Greek words: “With this you shall conquer.”
The First Christian Emperor
When Constantine established himself in Rome, he and most of his soldiers were baptized by the Pope of Rome. In the seventeenth year of his reign, the Holy Council of the Three Hundred and Eighteen bishops assembled at Nicea in the year 325 A.D.
Finding The Holy Cross
During the reign of her son, Queen Helen saw a vision at night of someone saying to her: “Go to Jerusalem and search carefully for the Honorable Cross and the Holy places”.
Their Departure
Saint Helen led a righteous life, and she donated many endowments to the churches, monasteries and the poor. She departed at the age of eighty.
The Feasts
The Coptic church celebrates:
+ The commemoration of the departure of Saint Helen on May 17th
+ The commemoration of the departure of Saint Constantine on April 6th
+ The Commemoration of the Appearance of the Honorable Cross on March 19th
+ The Commemoration of the consecration of the church of the Honorable Cross on September 27th