The Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate informs us:

On 7 September 2011, the working session of the Standing Meeting of Saint Constantine and Helen decided to submit to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church for approval the proclamation of the year 2013 as Homage Year of Saints Constantine and Helen, because in 2013 it is 1700 years since the issue of the Edict of Mediolan (313), by which the religious persecutions in the Roman Empire ceased.

Some other reasons for proclaiming the year 2013 as Homage year of Saints Constantine and Helen are: the piety of Saint Emperors Constantine and Helen proved when defending the righteous faith and building places of worship in Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem and some other parts of the world too, their dedication for the Christian education, and their generosity for supporting the social philanthropic work of the Church.

The proposal of the Standing Meeting of the Church National Council comprises a large pastoral cultural and missionary programme for the year 2013, which can be successful only if the preparations begin two years before.