St. Constantine I (the Great)
Roman Emperor who legalized Christianity in
the Roman Empire
Feast Day: May 21

St. Constantine (Flavius Valerius Constantinus), was probably born in Naissus, Serbia, on February 27, 272 or 273 AD. After his father's death in 306, Constantine was made emperor by the army and Praetorian Guard. In 312, after defeating his archrival Maxentius at the Milvanian Bridge, Constantine became senior ruler of the Roman Empire. It was at this battle that Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky outside Rome with the inscription, "By this you shall win." In 313, Constantine and his other rival Licinius met at Milan and issued the Edict of Milan, which recognized the Christian Church as a legal religion and tolerated all religions equally without any interference from the state. In 324, Constantine defeated Licinius and became undisputed ruler of the Roman Empire. At this time, he moved the capital of the Empire from Rome to the town of Byzantium, which he rebuilt and renamed Constantinople.

Constantine's policy from the beginning was to create a close relationship between Church and State. As a result, he became concerned with the internal affairs of the Church even though he was not a baptized Christian himself, and was not baptized until he was on his deathbed. In 316, he became the first Roman Emperor to adjudicate an internal dispute within the Church. This opened the door for a de facto identification between Church and State and granted Constantine as head of state the right to intervene in the internal affairs of the Church and to issue binding decisions on the Church. At this point, Christianity became the de facto state religion of the Empire.

Constantine was later to intervene in the Arian controversy, a more serious dispute, by calling the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea during June, 325. Constantine presided over this council, which resulted in the statement of doctrine known as the Nicene Creed. This creed rejected the Arian teaching that Christ was a created being and not coeternal with the Father.

Constantine died on May 22, 337, near Nicomedia on his way east to fight the Persians. For his services to the Church, Constantine is venerated as a saint.

Apolytikion
Plagal of the Fourth Tone
He beheld the image of Your Cross in the Heavens and, as Paul, he too did not receive the call from men. Your Apostle among Kings placed the care of the Royal City in Your hands. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Loving Lord, keep it ever in peace.

Kontakion
Third Tone
Today, Constantine with his mother Helen present the Cross, the most precious wood. It shames unbelievers. It is a weapon of faithful kings against their adversaries. A great sign has come forth for us which is awesome in battle.