Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church

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Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church614 Oakridge Avenue, Fayetteville, NC 28305
Church: (910) 484-2010 Hellenic Center: (910) 484-8925

History Of Our Church
In 1908 we trace the first Greeks in Fayetteville, three brothers; Constantine (Charles), Arthur, and Thomas Havelos. The first Greek business was the Busy Bee Cafe on Market Square on the corner of Green and Person Street. Thomas Havelos was one of its co-owners. Most of the Greeks that followed opened up cafes in the Hay Street area. Notably Steve and Nick Fasul came in 1920 soon operating Steve's Restaurant, next to the old post office. There were many other restaurants run by Greeks: The Central Cafe, owned by Charlie Kalevas and run by Gregory (Harry) Kalevas and Thomas Havelos; The New York Restaurant, run by Mr. James Kanos; the Rainbow Restaurant, run by Mr. Bill Pappas, Mr. John Moutos, Mr. Nick Phillos, and Danny Psillos; and the Royal Palm, run by Mr. Harry Daskal.
For over twenty years Father George Stephanis of the Raleigh parish served our needs. The Greeks of Fayetteville wanted a place of their own. In 1954 the Parish Council and Board of Directors for the Hellenic Community Center, Inc., signed the contract to build the Hellenic Center on the northern edge of Oakridge Avenue.
William Saunders was the architect for the 250' front by 358' deep building which included fellowship hall, classroom and chapel, and porch opening to a spacious lot and stage. Player Construction Company was the builder.
In 1956 the Reverend Kallinikos Hatzilambrou was assigned to Fayetteville and began holding services in a classroom converted to chapel in the front room of the Hellenic Center.
Sadly for our young parish, Father Hatzilambrou passed away. Reverend Papazisis, who had just retired from Jacksonville, Florida to his home in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, was asked to serve our parish until another priest could be found. Services during the holidays were held in the Hellenic Center in front of the stage.
In the summer of 1961 Reverend Chrysostom Manuel, graduated, married, and was ordained. He began his service as a priest in Fayetteville in September 1961. On April 12, 1964, Bishop Aimilianos visited our parish for the groundbreaking ceremonies for our new church building.
On June 17, 1984 our parish was consecrated by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos.
In August of 2000 Reverend Chrysostom Manuel retired and Reverend Dimitrios Moraitis began his service.
The Reverend Dimitrios Moraitis served our parish until July of 2004. He was called to serve at St. Paraskevi Church in Greenlawn, New York. On September 1st, 2004, Reverend Konstantinos Kostaris assumed the spiritual leadership of our parish.

The Livesof Sts. Constantine & Helen
Holy, Glorious, Great, God-Crownedand Equaltothe Apostles, Emperor Constantine and Helen

This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, if which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).
As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.
ApolytikionPlagal of the 4th Tone
He beheld the image of Your Cross in the Heavens and, as Paul, he too did not receive the call from men. Your Apostle among Kings placed the care of the Royal City in Your hands. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Loving Lord, keep it ever in peace.

Today, Constantine with his mother Helen present the Cross, the most precious wood. It shames unbelievers. It is a weapon of faithful kings against their adversaries. A great sign has come forth for us which is awesome in battle.
Send An Iconogram for the nameday of Saints Constantine and Helen.

* The Lives of the Saints taken from the Online Chapel of the web site for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America