Today, the Orthodox Church commemorates the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helena, while also marking the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, known in Bulgaria as Spasovden.
Emperor Constantine, who ruled between 274 and 337, remains one of the central figures in early Christian history. During his reign, Christianity received official freedom within the Roman Empire through the Edict of Milan in 313, a turning point that ended the persecution of Christians and allowed the faith to spread openly.
His mother, Helena, is honored for her pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where she founded churches and monasteries connected to the life of Jesus Christ. Tradition holds that she discovered the Holy Cross on which Christ was crucified, an event regarded as one of the most significant moments in the history of Christianity. Because of their role in strengthening and protecting the Christian faith, both Constantine and Helena were later canonized by the Church.
The Orthodox calendar also marks the Ascension of Christ, celebrated exactly 40 days after Easter. According to Christian belief, the feast commemorates the moment when Jesus Christ ascended into heaven following His resurrection, completing the earthly mission of salvation. For this reason, the holiday is also widely known as Savior’s Day.
