BROOKLYN – The Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn marked the feast of its patron saints with a solemn celebration of Festal Vespers on May 20, drawing faithful and community leaders to commemorate the legacy of the Roman rulers who ushered in a new era for Christianity.
During the service, Cathedral Dean Fr. Evagoras Constantinides reflected on the enduring contributions of Saints Constantine and Helen to the Christian faith. He highlighted their pivotal role as the first Roman rulers to recognize and embrace Christianity, not only personally but also politically, by promoting religious freedom across the empire.
“Though Saint Constantine was not baptized until the end of his life, he championed the right of every citizen to worship freely,” Fr. Evagoras noted. “In doing so, he played a vital role in ending the persecution of Christians and bolstering the growth of the Church. Saint Helen, his mother, supported these efforts by commissioning the construction of churches throughout the empire and encouraging the catechesis of new believers.”
Fr. Evagoras also emphasized Saint Helen’s historic pilgrimage to the Holy Land, during which she is believed to have discovered the True Cross and initiated the construction of several of Christianity’s most significant pilgrimage sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Nativity.
The Vespers service was attended by members of the Cathedral’s Parish Council, including President Constantine Paravalos, who received name-day well-wishes from parishioners. Paravalos extended his own blessings to all those celebrating the feast, expressing his hope that the saints may continue to guide and protect the community. He also invited the Greek-American public to participate in the Cathedral’s annual festival, set to take place from June 2 through June 8.
Lambrini Gementzopoulos, President of the Philoptochos Society, offered her own wishes to the faithful, invoking the example of Saint Constantine’s steadfast faith and Saint Helen’s compassion as a model for charitable works. She extended her gratitude to Society members who prepared and served food and desserts for parishioners following the Vespers and the Divine Liturgy.
The feast day observances concluded on May 21 with Orthros and the Divine Liturgy, presided over by His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos. The services were followed by a communal meal, reinforcing the Cathedral’s role as both a spiritual and cultural cornerstone for the local Greek Orthodox community.
