Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

We honour the Equals of the Apostles, Saints Constantine and Helena

Photo: BGNES

Today the Orthodox Church worships Saints Constantine and Helena, who are venerated as the Equal of the Apostles because, like the Apostles, they dedicated themselves to spreading the teachings of Christ. 

Saint Constantine was the founder of the Byzantine Empire and its first emperor in the 4th century. He made the Christian religion official in Byzantium. 

His mother Helena discovered the cross on which the Saviour was crucified and built several monasteries in the Holy Land. The discovery of the Holy Cross is considered the most important event in the history of the Christian Church, and Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena were canonized as saints. 

According to their biographies, St Constantine had not yet received Holy Baptism when he began to care for the welfare of the Church, which adds to the brilliance of his merit, the Bulgarian Patriarchate said.


In Bulgaria, the day of Sts. Constantine and Helena is associated with Nestinari dances on embers, which combine Christian and pagan traditions in one celebration.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

President Radev opposes sending troops to Ukraine in any form

As Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, I firmly oppose sending troops to Ukraine in any form, said President Rumen Radev during a celebration of the 35th anniversary of the establisment of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in..

published on 2/18/25 1:04 PM
Discoverer supercomputer

Experts want to create AI factory in Sofia

We are working with the INSAIT Institute in Sofia. If they approve our project, in 2026 we will build an AI factory, Petar Statev from the Supervisory Board at Sofia Tech Park has told the Bulgarian National Radio. The..

published on 2/18/25 12:19 PM

Less than 1/3 of Bulgarians expect positive changes from the policies of the new US president

According to the regular sociological survey by Gallup International Balkans in January 2025, society has moderate expectations for positive changes in Europe and Bulgaria from the policies of the new US President Donald Trump. 30.4%..

published on 2/18/25 9:49 AM