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The Week of Whitsunday [Pentecost]

Saint Helena, Mother of Constantine (May 21st)

Scripture Readings for the Week:

  • Today – First Peter 4:7-11 & John 14:23-31
  • Monday – Acts 10:42-48 & John 3:16-21
  • Tuesday – Ezekiel 47:1-12 & Acts 2:14-36
  • Wednesday – Isaiah 45:18-21 & Acts 2:37-47
  • Thursday – Isaiah 45:22-25 & John 14:1-22
  • Friday – Jeremiah 9:23-26 & John 15:1-25
  • Saturday – Isaiah 44:6-8 & John 16:31-17:26

About this Saint:

Despite many of the details of her life being uncertain, one thing is for sure; Saint Helena was one of the most important and influential believers of the early Christian Church.

The facts of her early life and middle age are much in dispute. Her birthplace is given as somewhere in Syrian Palestine, or in Bithynia in Asia Minor, or near present-day Nottingham, England, as a princess of a king of ancient Britain. Her birth date could be anywhere between A.D. 246 and 250. She was either a stable-maid or an Anglo-Saxon Queen. She either became the full wife or the legal consort of Emperor Constantius I. Perhaps she became a Christian believer early in her life, and helped convert her only son, Constantine, to the true faith, or he converted her after his own conversion following his victory at the battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312. The truth is most probably a mixture of parts of all these.

This much we know for sure; once her son became sole Emperor of Rome he bestowed on her the impressive title Flavia Iulia Helena Augusta, and he gave her unlimited funds to be used to find and recover relics of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Kings, Apostles, and Christ in the Holy Land.

She is unquestionably credited to locating and having churches built on the site of Jesus’ Nativity, His refuge in Egypt, His boyhood home, His crucifixion and burial, and His Ascension. She also provided for the construction of a chapel at Mt. Sinai on the traditional site of the Burning Bush. She is said to have discovered the “true Cross,” that is, the very Cross upon which Christ was executed. Whether that is true or not, she did return to Rome with substantial pieces of a cross, along with numerous other supposedly holy relics. She also built churches in and around Rome and was known far and wide for her piety and charity. She died August 18th, 330, at more than 80 years old – a remarkable age in those days.

Introit: I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that Day. There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the LORD, the Righteous Judge, shall give me. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting-down and rising-up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son (+) and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forever and ever. Amen.

Collect: O almighty God, Who has built Your Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Head Cornerstone, grant us to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine that we may be made a holy temple acceptable unto You; through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, even one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Various Feasts and Festivals of the Church

Feast Days of the Christian Church are days which are celebrated in commemoration of the people and events recorded in the history of our salvation, in memory Christ's apostles, martyrs, and confessors.

Primary feasts commemorate the principal historic facts of our religion, or celebrate the death of a saint.

Secondary feasts focus on a particular aspect of an event or life of an Apostle.

Within these two classes, the feasts directly relating to Christ take the first place, then follow the feasts of the Jesus' Mother, the Holy Angels, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, the Apostles and Evangelists, and others.

"Festivals" are naturally any other commemorations by the church that do not fit in the category of "Feast."

"Apostle" refers to the original Twelve men chosen by Jesus during His earthly ministry to begin the work of carrying His Gospel into the whole world. Obviously, Judas is missing, replaced by Bartholomew. In addition, Saul of Tarsus, now known as St. Paul, is added since Jesus personally choose him on the road to Damascus.

"Evangelist" refers the writers of the Four Gospels. Since two of these were also Apostles they can be designated by either or both titles.

"Martyr" refers to believers who were killed as a direct result of their faith in Christ. Of course, there have literally been millions of martyrs in the history of the Christian Church. Those commemorated by the Church are usually quite early and their lives and deaths also quite noteworthy in some special manner.

"Confessor" refers to a person in the history of the Church who made a very notable confession of faith in the face of great danger or hardship. Quite often the entire adult lives of these believers are full of great expressions of faith. They are also very often reformers of the Church, or those who help settle great theological controversies for the Church.

"Teacher" or "Doctor of the Church" are those leaders in the history of the Church who explained and or defended important teachings of Christianity. Very often they left behind Bible translations or books of doctrine for future generations.

"Missionary" is a designation for believers who were very zealous to carry the Gospel into places where it was not as yet known, or to greatly expand the Gospel kingdom in places where it has been limited and hemmed in before they came with their energetic efforts.

Using the Historic People & Events of the Christian Church as a Guide for Weekly Devotions

The focus will be on:
+ Non-Sunday Feast Days of our Savior Jesus Christ,
+ Festivals of various Apostles, Bishops, Martyrs, Missionaries, and Teachers of the ancient Church
+ Important Events in the History of the Christian Church

There are a number of highpoints in the earthly life of Christ which are not commemorated on any particular Sunday of the Church-Year, but never-the-less are very important for believers to take note of in the carrying out of God's plan of salvation through the ministry of His only-begotten Son, the God-Man, Jesus of Nazareth. These occasions will form one part of the observances which will be the focus of this series of weekly devotional guides.

In addition, there will be a larger number of faithful believers who will also get attention. The purpose of observing special days during the Christian Church-Year for these individuals is not to honor or glorify a particular human being, such as we might a former President of our country, a military hero, a great scientist, inventor, or other remarkable person. Nor are even the particular virtues and accomplishments of these people to be the main focus of the attention, so as to extol them alone. No, these days are to be observed solely to the glory of God, Who graciously gave these servants to His Church on earth, and by Whose power alone great things were accomplished through mere weak, imperfect mortals. In this regard it must always be remembered that the term "Saint" can rightfully be applied to each and every believer in Jesus Christ. These individuals are called such only as an historical judgment of the church-at-large as to their over contribution to the work of the Christian Church.

Finally, a few notable events which had a very major impact on the growth and progress of the Christian faith are also used as a focal-point of these devotions.

The Readings, Introits, and Collects may be very specific to the event or person noted, or may be more generally applicable to the Sunday or season of the Church-Year nearest these days.

The object is to use this material as a guide for our daily devotions in God's Word. Begin with the Introit, followed by the two readings for the day of the week, and conclude with the Collect. As always, other thoughts and prayers can be added as well. Follow the pattern throughout the week, with two different Readings each day, and repeating the Introit and Collect.

May God richly bless our meditations!

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Service Times & Map

Second Saturday of every month: Private Confession & Absolution at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM, or by special appointment with the Pastor.

Sunday

Worship: 9:30 AM

Fellowship: 10:30 AM

Bible Class and Children's Bible Time: 11:00 AM

Wednesday

Bible Break: 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM

Thursday

Youth Instruction: 6:00 PM

Wednesday Worship during Advent and Lent

6:00 PM - Light Supper

7:00 PM - Vesper Service

Trinity Orthodox Lutheran Church
4422 Snyder Boulevard
Sierra Vista, Arizona 85635
P: (520) 458-5897

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