THE
COMMEMORATION OF THE FOUNDING OF CONSTANTINOPLE
May
11th
Τα
γενέθλια, ήτοι τα εγκαίνια της Κωνσταντινουπόλεως
In 324 the holy Emperor Constantine (May 21)
decided that the imperial capital had to be closer to the Eastern provinces, and
yet have direct communication with the West. The city of Byzantium fulfilled
these requirements, and on November 8, 324 the site of the new capital was
consecrated.
Tradition tells us that the Emperor was tracing the boundaries of the city with
a spear, when his courtiers became astonished by the magnitude of the new
dimensions of the capital. "Lord," they asked, "how long will you keep going?"
Constantine replied, "I shall keep going until the one who walks ahead of me
stops."
Then they understood that the emperor was being guided by some divine power.
There is an iconographic sketch by Rallis Kopsides showing an angel of the Lord
going before St. Constantine as he traces the new boundaries of the city.
Construction of the main buildings was begun in 325, and pagan monuments from
Rome, Athens, and other cities were used to beautify the new capital. The need
for the new city is partially explained by the changing requirements of
government, the Germanic invasion of the West, and commercial benefits, but the
new city was also to be a Christian capital. For this, a new foundation was
required.
In 330, the work had progressed to the point where it was possible for
Constantine to dedicate the new capital. The dedication took place on May 11,
followed by forty days of joyous celebration. Christian Constantinople was
placed under the protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, and overshadowed pagan
Byzantium. St. Constantine was the first Emperor to submit voluntarily to
Christ, and Constantinople became the symbol of a Christian Empire which lasted
for a thousand years.
Source:
OCA
