St. Constantine the Emperor beeswax icon

The beeswax icon is hand-carved with great attention to details. Thanks to the addition of incense during the manufacturing process the icon exudes a light aroma, which is firmly associated in our minds with the calming atmosphere of church rooms.

Constantine the Great and his mother, Saint Helena, are great figures in the history of Church. By his earthly deeds, Constantine the Great ensured freedom of religion for Christians and put an end to persecution (Edict of Milan, 313).

Constantine, son of Constantius Chlorus, was born in 274 in the city of Naissus (today Niš) in present-day Serbia. His mother Helen was a Christian and tried to positively influence his attitude toward the persecuted religion.

After his victory over the emperor Licinius in 324, he became a monarch and gained the right to impose his laws on the empire. He did not immediately become a Christian, in order to be considered emperor of all citizens, but he took all necessary favorable measures to protect and stop the persecution of Christians. In the meantime, St. Helen was working for the good of the Church; she has initiated excavations in Jerusalem, thus fulfilling her great desire, which was to find the True Cross.

Constantine the Great convened the First Ecumenical Council in 325 at Nicaea, Bithynia, which condemned the blasphemous heresy of Arius, who rejected the triune God. He moved the capital of the empire to Byzantium, later Constantinople, severing all ties with Rome's pagan past.

In 337 he sensed his end approaching and wished to be baptized and receive communion. He remained clothed in a white baptismal garment and never again donned the imperial robes until his death. His memory is commemorated on May 21, along with his mother, Saint Helen.