Saint Constantine and Helen. Photo: Pixabay/Dimitris Vetsikas 21 May 2021 8:34am Today is the Feast Day of Saints Constantine and Helen. It is also the name day of those named Constantine, Constantinos, Con, Connor, Tino, Dino, Dean, Constantina, Konstandina, Tina, Constance, Helen, Helena, Helene, Eleni, Elena. Saint Constantine was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the western-most parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: “By this shall you conquer”, “Εν τούτω Νίκα». The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance.