Holy Places and Relics

Saints Constantine and Helena in the history of Christianity


St Constantine the Great (324 – 337) is a most prominent figure among the canonized saints in the history of the Christian Middle Ages. The time of his reign brought the end of the three centuries of persecution of Christians within the boundaries of the Roman Empire. Euthymius, Patriarch of Bulgaria, referred to him in his Laudatory Orations as the pride of kings, and held him up as a model to be imitated by the last Bulgarian kings of the Second Bulgarian Empire. At the end of 3^rd and the beginning of the 4^th centuries AD Constantine was one of the four Caesars that succeeded to the throne of the Roman Empire after one of the most ferocious enemies of Christianity – Emperor Diocletian (284 – 305). More about Saints Constantine and Helena

The Holy Spring The Holy spring (agiazmo) is situated in the altar behind the Communion table! People have many things in their life for nothing. These are things given by Our Lord and people haven’t taken pains over them. People were given many things by God for their own good. These are the earth and sky, the air and sun, water ... The monastery church was constructed on the spot of the holy spring and it is unique nowadays, there is no information about such a church in Europe; a church with a holy spring under the very Communion table, the place where the Holy Liturgy, the Sacrament of All Sacraments is celebrated. Believe, and saved you will be! Let it be to you according to your faith - says Our Lord in the Gospel. More about Holy Spring

Saint Martyr Valentine's Relics Today pilgrims in the monastery can worship the small piece of St Martyr Valentine’s relics and ask for his prayers and protection. In the 3^rd century in Ombria, an Italian region, in the town of Intermna, the Bishop was Saint Valentine, a man ordained by God with the gift of cure. Curing people of all kinds of illnesses and infirmities by prayer and invoking the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ, he converted the infidels from idolatry to God. At that time the pagan polytheism still dominated over the world and impious kings in the West and East persecuted the Christians. More about Saint Martyr Valentine

Holy Reverend Martyr Maria Gatchinskaya 1874 - †1932 Among the names of the Russian new martyrs and confessors the name of nun Maria Gatchinskaya is somewhat prominent both because of her unusual feat which she carried and the circumstances of the last two months of her life spent in the prison hospital where she died already condemned ... More about Holy Reverend Martyr Maria Gatchinskaya

The Holy Seven Youths (the Seven Sleepers) of Ephesus: Maximilian, Jamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Eksakustodian (Constantine) and Antoninus The Seven Youths of Ephesus: Maximilian, Jamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Eksakustodian (Constantine) and Antoninus lived in the 3rd century. Saint Maximilian was the son of the governor of Ephesus, the remaining six boys - sons of other noble citizens of Ephesus. Young men had been friends since childhood, and all were military men. When the emperor Decius (249-251) came to Ephesus, he ordereded all citizens to come to sacrifice to pagan gods; tortures and death expected the recalcitrants. Denounced by people who curried favour with the emperor, the seven youths of Ephesus were also called to response to him. Brought before the emperor, the holy youths confessed their faith in Christ. More about the Holy Seven Youths