Ss. Constantine and Helen Cathedral of Chicago has been celebrating during these days. The patron saints were celebrated in a special way once again this year. The celebration began on Saturday evening, May 18, with Vespers celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae and the Cathedral clergy. The responses were given by a group of singers of the Metropolitan Cathedral. His Eminence Nicolae recalled the event which took place one year ago, in May 2023, when the Cathedral celebrated its 20th anniversary. On that occasion, Father Abbot Melchisedec of Putna Monastery brought for veneration parts of the relics of St. Jacob of Putna which were then offered to St. Dimitrios the New Monastery in Middletown, NY. Metropolitan Nicolae spoke about the life and mission of St. Jacob of Putna, who is celebrated on May 15.
The feast continued on Sunday, May 19th, with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy served by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae and the Cathedral priests. After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicolae spoke first about the Sunday of the Myrrbearing Women Sunday:
"St. John Chrysostom calls these women the Apostles of the Apostles because it was they who proclaimed the Resurrection to the Apostles. If we follow the Gospels carefully, we see that St. Peter was the first to reach the tomb after receiving the proclamation from the miraculous women. These faithful women were the first to receive the news of the Resurrection and they met the Risen Christ together, and Mary Magdalene separately. For their love, faithfulness and courage they were granted this encounter and the words of the Risen Christ: "Rejoice and do not be afraid" (Matthew 28:9-10).
We can imagine the state of mind of these faithful women who came to perform the anointing ritual early in the morning and received the earth-shaking news that Christ had risen. They left, no doubt with much misunderstanding and fear about what had happened... Meeting their Risen Master was certainly a unique experience, it was an emotional and joyful experience. They recognized their Master and received confirmation of what they had been learning for more than three years about His Passion and Resurrection. Now, what they had heard and not understood made sense. Their joy was because they had met their Teacher, but it was especially because of the fact that this Teacher was God who had conquered death. This joy was proclaimed to the Apostles by the Myrrh-bearing women and then to the whole world. They were the first to offer us the greeting Christ is risen, this proclamation that became a confession."
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae then spoke about the patron saints of the Cathedral: about the awareness of the choice from above of St. Emperor Constantine to bring peace and unity to the Empire, about the freedom granted to Christians by the Edict of Milan and the many laws in favour of Christianity, laws which established the beginning of a Christian Empire. All accomplished with the advice of his mother, St. Empress Helena, which earned them the honor of "like the Apostles".
After the service, there was a festive meal, an artistic moment organized by the Sunday school students and the awarding of the winners of the Religion Olympiad, in the Metropolitan phase. Metropolitan Nicolae also presented merit diplomas and the icon of the 2024 Memorial Year, dedicated to the Pastoral Care of the Sick, to several of the faithful who have worked on preparing the ceiling of the Cathedral for painting in recent months. The principal of the new St. Three Hierarchs Orthodox High School in the Chicago area, Mrs. Elisabeth Kotis, also attended the agape meal. She thanked His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae for his role in coordinating the efforts to establish the High School and several Cathedral faithful for their support of the project. Special thanks were extended to all Cathedral supporters for preparing this beautiful celebration!
The feast of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chicago continued on Monday evening, May 20, with Vespers and Litia, and on Tuesday, May 21, with the Hierarchical Liturgy.
The clergy and faithful of the Metropolitan Cathedral raise prayers of thanksgiving to the patron saints Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena for this blessed feast day!
