Sts Constantine and Helen Equal-to-the-Apostles

Sts. Constantine and Helen Equal-to-the-Apostles Feast Day and Greek Name Day

Sts. Constantine and Helen Equal-to-the-Apostles are honored in the Orthodox Christian Church for their historic role in supporting Christianity and helping establish the Christian faith throughout the Roman Empire. Their feast day is celebrated on May 21, and on this day people named Constantinos, Konstantinos, Kostas, Gus, Dino, Dean, Constantine, Eleni, Helen, Helena, Ellen, and Dina, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Were Sts. Constantine and Helen

St. Constantine the Great was the Roman emperor who ruled during the early 4th century and became one of the most important figures in the history of Christianity.

His mother, St. Helen, was known for her deep Christian faith and for supporting the spread of Christianity throughout the empire.

Constantine and the Rise of Christianity

St. Constantine is remembered for issuing the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which granted religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire and ended the official persecution of Christians.

He later supported the construction of churches and helped strengthen the position of Christianity throughout the empire.

The Discovery of the True Cross

St. Helen is traditionally remembered for traveling to Jerusalem and overseeing the search for the True Cross, the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

According to Christian tradition, her efforts led to the discovery of the cross and the construction of important Christian sites in the Holy Land.

Greek Name Day for Constantine and Helen

Because Sts. Constantine and Helen Equal-to-the-Apostles are commemorated on May 21, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Constantinos

Konstantinos

Kostas

Gus

Dino

Dean

Constantine

Eleni

Helen

Helena

Ellen

Dina

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When Sts. Constantine and Helen Are Celebrated

The feast day of Sts. Constantine and Helen Equal-to-the-Apostles is observed each year on May 21 in the Greek Orthodox Church. They are remembered for their role in the rise of Christianity and for their lasting influence on the history of the Church.