On May 21, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine the Great and Queen Elena. In this country this day is the holiday of dozens of churches that bear the name of the saints, including the rock church in the Yailata Reserve, the famous monastery near Varna, ancient churches built over the centuries in Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Sofia and others.

Constantine (280-337) was the son of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Helen (ca. 250-ca. 330), who according to some sources was the daughter of an innkeeper. After the death of Constantius, his son Constantine inherited Britain, Gaul and other Roman provinces. He reigned in Rome and Byzantium, establishing a new Christian capital - Constantinople. From the very beginning of his reign, he adhered to a policy of peace when it came to Christians, because he viewed them as diligent and trustworthy people. In 313, the Edict of Mediolanum (modern day Milan), issued by Licinius and Constantine the Great, declared Christianity equal to other religions. The persecution of Christians was abolished and confiscated church property was restored.

It is not known exactly how Constantine adopted Christianity, but after the age of 40, he declared himself a Christian. In history he is remembered as the first Christian Roman emperor to zealously affirm the spirit of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. He also convened the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325, which declared the teachings of Arius as heretical and dangerous. According to some sources, Constantine sent his pious mother Helen, who was already 80 years old, to Jerusalem on a mission to find Christian relics in the devastated city. According to legends, Helen pointed to a place where three crosses were found, including the Holy Cross on which Christ was crucified. According to Helen’s instructions and with funds provided by her, several churches were built - in Bethlehem, on Mount Eleon and others. The work of St. Helena is revered by the Catholic and Coptic churches.

On May 21, people in Bulgaria who bear the names Konstantin, Elena and their derivatives such as Elka, Elenko, Lena, Lenka, Lenko, Kostadin, Kostadinka, Dinko and others, celebrate. The Nestinari (fire-dancers) in Strandzha Mountain dance barefoot on glowing embers holding the icon of the saints, although the church has never recognized this custom. Traditionally, the "fire ritual" is performed on June 3, when the feast of Saints Constantine and Helen used to be celebrated according to the old style calendar.

English: Alexander Markov