Tomorrow, March 19, in the Orthodox calendar,

is the day of commemoration of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles

Constantine and his mother Elena

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Constantine was the son of Caesar (later Augustus) Constantius I Chlorus and St. Equal-to-the-Apostle Helen.

At that time, the Roman Empire was divided into Western and Eastern, and two independent emperors stood at the head, who also had co-rulers.

Constantine's father ruled the western part of the Roman Empire, becoming emperor in 305.

Although he was a pagan, he was tolerant towards Christians and did not persecute them in his lands.

In 306, Constantius, being on his deathbed, ordered his son Constantine to succeed him.

After becoming the emperor, he began to fight for his reign and the confrontation with the emperor Maximian Herculius ended in 310.

In 312, Constantine was involved in a new war.

Once on the battlefield, he saw a cross in the sky with the inscription "Victor with this".

He ordered such crosses to be made on all his banners, and after the victory, entering Rome, he ordered his statue with a cross on the square to be placed on the square, on which there was an inscription: "With this saving flag I saved the city from the yoke of the tyrant."

Then he also issued the first manifesto, which allowed everyone to accept Christianity without fear.

The mother of the emperor, Queen Elena, was a Christian.

When she was about 80 years old, she decided to travel to Jerusalem and look for the Lord's Cross there.

She received the instruction to do this in a dream.

The woman found the Cross and divided it into two parts: one she left in Jerusalem, and the other she placed in a silver vault and took with her.

On the way back, she also started several monasteries, where she left parts of the relics found earlier.

Signs of March 19

Folk signs on March 19 / Photo: Pexels

  • Clouds float fast and high in the sky - wait for good weather.

  • If you heard the knocking of a woodpecker, spring will come late.

  • The hares still have a white fur coat - the snowfall will continue.

  • A frosty day to a dry and hot summer.

What can't be done tomorrow

On this day, it is not allowed to quarrel, swear, or slander.

Also, try not to gossip or drink alcohol.

It is very important to treat the well with respect - under no circumstances spit into the water.

What can be done tomorrow

On this day, the villagers waited for the swallows to return from the nest, and to make them return faster, they sang freckles to them.

There was such an interesting belief - if a swallow makes a nest under the roof of a house, there will be no fires in it.

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