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

Increase in toll taxes will seriously affect Bulgarian carriers

The increase in toll taxes seriously affects international carriers and all those involved in this activity in the country. Despite the meeting between representatives of carriers and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Ivan Ivanov,..

published on 4/4/25 10:20 AM
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (L) and King Abdullah II of Jordan in Sofia, April 3.

Sofia hosts Aqaba Process meeting with focus on Balkans

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Jordan's King Abdullah II will be hosting a high-level meeting under the Aqaba Process initiative, focusing on security challenges in the Balkans. King Abdullah II of Jordan visits Sofia to co-chair high-level..

published on 4/4/25 7:35 AM

Festival of antiquity starts in Hisarya

The second edition of the festival of antiquity "Diocletianopolis - Crossroads of Time" will be held from April 4 to 6, 2025 in the city of Hisarya. The modern city of Hisarya arose on the ruins of the ancient Roman city of..

published on 4/4/25 7:05 AM