The Apostles of the Cross
"We though preach Christ crucified, to the Jews indeed a scandal, but to the Greeks folly..."--1 Cor 1:23 Christ is risen! He Who was crucified for our sins has trampled death and risen again, and yet still the Cross is His sign. By His Resurrection great power was given to the Cross, and it is for this that Constantine heard: "By this sign you will conquer." And today we celebrate St. Constantine and his mother Helena, apostles of the Cross. We laud these two saints as "Equals to the Apostles." Why do we do so? Because of their immense effect in spreading the Gospel throughout the world. On those who devotedly gave themselves to the apostolic duty of evangelization, we bestow this title, as we do to Mary Magdalane and Sts. Cyril and Methodius. What did Constantine and Helena do to earn this title? Constantine was the Roman Emperor, and, like most Emperors, he was a pagan. Yet as he prepared for a battle with his usurper, Const...