Happy name day, Constantine and Elena!
Faith represents one of the basic pillars supporting the edifice called Life. “I have faith!” for this statement thousands of years ago, some Saints were severely punished by paying with their lives so that today we can say these words freely, without fear and truly believing in their significance.
Today, May 21th, Christianity celebrates the Holy Emperors Constantine and Elena.
1,800,634 Romanians have these holy and historical names.
Saint Constantine, together with his mother Elena, ruled the Roman Empire, bringing Christianity to its golden age. The two leaders adopted a series of measures favorable to this religion, offering freedom to those who worshiped God. Some priests say that during that period the virtues that should dominate humanity took root: love for the ones around us, forgiveness and mercy.
The laws that Constantine the Great imposed during his reign are still up to date. He proposed that Sunday should be a free day, in which we should bring glory to God, he prohibited the army from bloody practices, he freed the slaves. At the Council of Nicaea, Emperor Constantine decided that Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon of the spring equinox, which is still observed today.
Tradition says that on the day we celebrate the Saints Constantine and Elena, the birds teach their chicks to fly, that’s why this celebration is also called Constantin Graur or Constantine of the baby bird.
On this day, farmers do not work the land because it is considered that this fact would upset Constantine the Great, which would send the starlings to destroy the harvest. In order to protect themselves from evil spirits that could haunt the houses, the women sprinkle with holy water all the rooms. Today is the day when the shepherds get together and decide what will be the feast and where they will stop with their flocks of sheep this year. The peasants are lighting fires on the hill, considering that those who pass in front of the fire will be protected from bad luck throughout the year.
The names Constantin and Elena have Latin roots and special meanings. Thus, Constantin suggests firmness, seriousness and Elena, flame, torch, sacred fire.
Hotel Alpin wishes a sincere and warm happy birthday to all those who bear these holy and blessed names. Let the light penetrate your soul, love more, forgive and forget feelings like hate that only make your soul cold and old.
The Holy Emperors Constantin and Elena fought so that we could think and believe in God without being oppressed. Respect them and worship their names.
Happy birthday, Constantin, happy birthday Elena!!
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