From Events of History Comments on the Feasts of the Week
The Feast of Constantine the King: On the 28th of Baramhat, the second day of the departure of Saint Macarius the Great, the Church celebrates “the feast of the departure of the righteous King Constantine.” The first comment on this news is that the Church celebrates Constantine, despite some mistakes he made as a beginner in the faith and as a political man not specialized in religion. It is enough that he issued the Edict of Milan in the year 313 A.D., in which he declared Christianity to be one of the religions whose worship is practiced without persecution from the Roman state… And it is enough that he tried with all his effort and sincerity to resolve the internal disputes in the Church and met the fathers, the bishops, in the holy Ecumenical Council of Nicaea with all respect. And it is enough that he gave freedom to his mother, Saint Helena, to go around doing good, building churches, restoring monasteries, and helping the poor, and she is the one who discovered the Holy Cross. For this reason the Church calls him “the Righteous.” It composes for him doxologies and praises. Some Greek churches are built in his name, although some Arian bishops influenced him, leading him to command Saint Athanasius, then Saint Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople, to accept Arius, yet this did not happen! But overall he was a kind man whom the Lord used to spread His kingdom. His political and religious circumstances did not allow him to do more than this… Such was his stature.
Saint Mary of Egypt: And the Church celebrates on the 6th of Baramouda (April 14) the commemoration of the departure of Saint Mary the Penitent… then on the 9th of Baramouda (April 17) the commemoration of Saint Zosima the priest, who wrote the life of this great saint, who gave her the Holy Mysteries before her departure, received blessing from her, and knew her story. This gives us the idea that the path of holiness is open to all. And that a sinful, corrupt woman who caused many young men to stumble and fall does not become merely repentant, but becomes a great saint whom the Church celebrates and seeks her blessing… And we also take the idea that grace can be given abundantly and generously, and that “the Spirit is not given by measure”… Mary of Egypt transformed from a sinner, to a penitent, to a nun extremely ascetic, and even to a wanderer in the deserts… All the past ended. The Lord Himself no longer remembers it. And the beautiful, radiant present is the only thing standing before God. And Mary of Egypt was not the only example, for she has many counterparts in repentance and holiness. There is Saint Pelagia, And also Saint Thaïs, And Mary, the niece of Saint Abraham, And among men there is Saint Augustine, and also Saint Moses the Black… and many others. The Synaxarium was not only for prophets and apostles and great men of priesthood… But also for a repentant sinner like Mary and for a secular king like Constantine.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
Comments on the Feasts of the Week
From Events of History
Comments on the Feasts of the Week
The Feast of Constantine the King:
On the 28th of Baramhat, the second day of the departure of Saint Macarius the Great, the Church celebrates “the feast of the departure of the righteous King Constantine.”
The first comment on this news is that the Church celebrates Constantine, despite some mistakes he made as a beginner in the faith and as a political man not specialized in religion.
It is enough that he issued the Edict of Milan in the year 313 A.D., in which he declared Christianity to be one of the religions whose worship is practiced without persecution from the Roman state…
And it is enough that he tried with all his effort and sincerity to resolve the internal disputes in the Church and met the fathers, the bishops, in the holy Ecumenical Council of Nicaea with all respect.
And it is enough that he gave freedom to his mother, Saint Helena, to go around doing good, building churches, restoring monasteries, and helping the poor, and she is the one who discovered the Holy Cross. For this reason the Church calls him “the Righteous.” It composes for him doxologies and praises. Some Greek churches are built in his name, although some Arian bishops influenced him, leading him to command Saint Athanasius, then Saint Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople, to accept Arius, yet this did not happen! But overall he was a kind man whom the Lord used to spread His kingdom.
His political and religious circumstances did not allow him to do more than this… Such was his stature.
Saint Mary of Egypt:
And the Church celebrates on the 6th of Baramouda (April 14) the commemoration of the departure of Saint Mary the Penitent… then on the 9th of Baramouda (April 17) the commemoration of Saint Zosima the priest, who wrote the life of this great saint, who gave her the Holy Mysteries before her departure, received blessing from her, and knew her story.
This gives us the idea that the path of holiness is open to all.
And that a sinful, corrupt woman who caused many young men to stumble and fall does not become merely repentant, but becomes a great saint whom the Church celebrates and seeks her blessing…
And we also take the idea that grace can be given abundantly and generously, and that “the Spirit is not given by measure”…
Mary of Egypt transformed from a sinner, to a penitent, to a nun extremely ascetic, and even to a wanderer in the deserts…
All the past ended. The Lord Himself no longer remembers it. And the beautiful, radiant present is the only thing standing before God.
And Mary of Egypt was not the only example, for she has many counterparts in repentance and holiness.
There is Saint Pelagia,
And also Saint Thaïs,
And Mary, the niece of Saint Abraham,
And among men there is Saint Augustine, and also Saint Moses the Black… and many others.
The Synaxarium was not only for prophets and apostles and great men of priesthood…
But also for a repentant sinner like Mary and for a secular king like Constantine.
For better translation support, please contact the center.