Feast of St. Constantine and Helen at the Episcopal Cathedral in Saint-Hubert

 A Witness of Living Faith in History

On May 21st, the Orthodox Church solemnly commemorated the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen, "Equal to the Apostles" – pillars of the true faith and providential instruments of ecclesial order in history. On this occasion, the Episcopal Cathedral in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, dedicated to St. George the Great Martyr and St. Epictetus and Astion, became once again a place of prayer and spiritual elevation.

The liturgical celebrations began on the eve of the feast with the service of Great Vespers with Litia, presided over by His Grace Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada. On the day of the feast, May 21st, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated, with the participation of Rev. Fr. Mircea Panciuk Protopresbyter Emeritus, Protosyncellus Maxim Morariu - ecclesiarch, and Deacon Valentin Boțu. Liturgical responses were offered by Mădălina Enache, Theodor-Alexandru Coza, and Nun Ana.

In his homily, the Romanian hierarch highlighted the sanctifying vocation of the two saints, who, amid a pagan and persecutory world, opened a new era of light for the Church of Christ.

"The apostolate of St. Emperor Constantine is similar in many ways to that of St. Apostle Paul. Although they did not personally know Christ the Savior, both had a special calling and demonstrated extraordinary zeal in preaching the Gospel message and implementing it," said the hierarch.

The providential work of St. Constantine the Great was emphasized - who, enlightened by God, granted freedom to Christians through the Edict of Milan (313) and convened the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea (325), thus laying the foundations of the Nicene Creed. St. Helen, his mother, was also remembered as an icon of imperial piety and devotion, whose fervent search led to the discovery of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross.

His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian emphasized that the example of St. Constantine and Helen transcends history of their generation, remaining alive and active in the Church’s consciousness as a witness that God’s work in the world is accomplished through those who love Him with pure hearts. The faithful were exhorted to follow their confessing and sacrificial faith, preserving the Orthodox treasure unaltered and bearing witness in the contemporary world.

Thus, through prayer, communion, and theological reflection, the celebration in Saint-Hubert became a moment of deep spiritual experience and reaffirmation of the true faith, under the protection of the two royal saints whose legacy remains a blessing and foundation for all Christian world.

Glory to God for everything!

Notes by

Protos. Maxim Morariu