These days Ss. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Chicago was adorned with joy for the feast of its heavenly protectors. The patron saints of the Cathedral were honored with great reverence this year. The feast started Saturday, May 20th, with Vespers officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae and the priests of the Cathedral.
The feast continued on Sunday May, 21, 6th Sunday after Pascha, with the Divine Liturgy celebrated again by His Eminence Nicolae and the priests of the Cathedral. In his sermon, His Eminence spoke first about the spiritual vision that every Christian can acquire through the encounter with Christ at the Divine Liturgy. Then about the patron saints of the Cathedral: about the consciousness of the high election of the Emperor Constantine to lead peace and unity in the Empire, the freedom granted to Christians by the Milan Edict and the many laws favorable to Christianity, laws by which he established the beginning of a Christian Empire. HE Nicolae then interpreted the icon of Ss. Constantine and Helen, guarded by the Holy Cross.
The banquet that followed the Divine Liturgy also included a special cultural program prepared by the children of the Cathedral. His Eminence thanked the volunteers that helped to organize such beautiful feast days. He then recalled the April 30th enthronement event and thanked those who had worked so much for his preparation, sharing the joy of many guests who attended the event. A presentation of pictures of the 14-year history of the Cathedral completed the celebration.