Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 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

The new week starts with some clouds

Monday will be mostly sunny with scattered high clouds. The lowest temperatures will be between 0° and 5°C; in Sofia - about 1°C, and the highest will reach between 13° to 18°C; in Sofia - about 14°C. In the mountains it will..

published on 11/3/24 6:15 PM
Slavi Trifonov

ITN launches petition for partial cassation of the elections

On the first day of the 51st parliament, ITN will initiate the collection of signatures for submitting a complaint to the Constitutional Court concerning the partial cassation of the elections, party leader Slavi Trifonov announced on..

published on 11/3/24 3:42 PM
Kostadin Kostadinov

Vazrazhdane party calls for recount of the votes in the elections

Vazrazhdane calls for a recount of the votes from the early parliamentary elections, party leader Kostadin Kostadinov has told BNR. "It will perhaps show that there are protocols that do not match with the contents of the bags with..

published on 11/3/24 3:00 PM