Jubilee

CELEBRATION OF 1700TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EDICT OF MILAN HAS BEGUN
The Man who Baptized Europe
The famous act officialized religious tolerance in the empire, prohibited persecution of the heterodox and Christian church was given the right to act publically. It is one of the most significant dates in the entire history of Christian church and civilization. Throughout this year, eyes of at least two billion christened people will be looking at Niš, the former Naisus, birthplace of the emperor who adopted this law and who was gaining victories under Christian insignia, because the official centre of the celebration will be located exactly there. And what have Niš and Serbia prepared for this occasion?

By: Daša Marjanović
Photographs: Archives and reporters of ”National Review”

A lot of time has passed. Empires were created and destroyed, wars broke and ended in peace, old wounds healed and new were made, victories and defeats were strung, construction and demolition. Naisus has gown into Niš, Mediolanum has gown into Milan, at the expense of magnificent esthetics and for the benefit of functional plainness. Everything has changed, but the essence remained the same. For more than two millennia, fine philosophy of Christianity – written in the trinity of Faith, Love and Hope – has been honing the sharp edges of existence, giving it a meaningful value. And 1700 years has already passed since Christianity, through approval from the top of the Roman Empire, entered Europe through the main door. We could say that exactly this was the first and complete baptizing of Europe. It was done by a ruler who had sufficient lucidity and wisdom to recognize the Heavenly Sign, and enough courage to ay ”unconditional Yes to his own destiny”.

313

Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, later called the Great, was a Roman emperor, for Orthodox people holy emperor and isapostolic, dedicated (based on the accounts of historians of that time) and a skillful leader (as contemporary analysts would assess).
He led battles to strengthen the shaken empire. Before the battle against the Roman tyrant-usurper Maxentius, on October 28, 312, waiting for a favorable sign from heaven, Constantine had a mystical experience. Jevsevije, Constantine’s contemporary, says: ”In the light of the day, the Emperor saw a shining cross, ornamented with stars, holding an inscription: Win with this! The emperor then ordered a large cross to be forged, similar to the one from his vision, and to be carried before the army.” With the power of the cross, he won victory over the more numerous enemy, triumphantly entered Rome and became the ruler of the entire Western world.
Since the wise emperor found in cross the motivation for himself and his exhausted warriors, and made the famous victory, he soon started another battle. In order to put an end to religious persecutions and to ensure peace of mind for Christians, exactly seventeen centuries ago, Constantine in Mediolanum (today Milan) adopted the law on religious tolerance, today known as the Edict of Milan. This Edict prohibited the persecutions of the heterodox, gave Christian church the right to act publicly, increased privileges of the clergy, and divided the government into lay and spiritual. Although Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire some time later, during the reign of emperor Theodosius, Constantine released the first spark, maybe not even sensing that 1700 years later its flame would still be alive.

2013

There are more than two billion Christians in the world today. Two billion sparks that make the shine of Constantine’s halo resistant to centuries. Exactly for this reason, the centre of celebration of this great jubilee, 1700th anniversary of the adoption of one of the most important document in the history of Christianity, is located in Niš, the birthplace of the great emperor Constantine.
It is a flattering and demanding task for the citizens of Niš. They will have to show that they are worthy Constantine’s successors and in this use the unique opportunity to impress the world with the beauties of Serbian south. At least two billion pairs of eyes will be looking at them. Roads were repaired, bicycle lanes, pedestrian zones, tourist signboards, a monument to emperor Constantine was built, the building of the Old Officer’s House was reconstructed, Mediana is regaining its former glory, monographs of the imperial city are in print, and various spiritual and cultural manifestations are being prepared. Passers-by and pilgrims in Niš will encounter liturgies, performances, concerts, exhibitions, music and folklore events, numerous lectures and scientific gatherings on the Edict of Milan, handing out of prestigious annual award of the city of Niš in the area of study, protection, presentation and affirmation of cultural, historical monumental heritage...
The celebration will last throughout the year, and therefore the list of activities and events is constantly being updated, In December, the Office for the Edict of Milan was opened in Niš, where citizens, with their proposals and good ideas, can fill possible gaps in the dense jubilee calendar.

JOURNAL OF CELEBRATIONS

Generally temperamental southern spirit will have to be accelerated even more, in order to successfully synchronize 1700 years of the jubilee with one year of its celebration. Pompous ceremonies and small celebrations alternate, writing the pages of the ceremonial journal. And during the breaks, there is the South, hearty and full of flavor. There is history embedded in the remains of Mediana. And the one that is yet to unwind the tangle of time under the steps of thousands visitors of the emperor’s Niš.
Celebration of the jubilee covered with gold for 17 times began exactly on the 17th day of January. It was opened with a concert of spiritual chanting of the choir of Russian Candlemas Monastery at the National Theatre in Niš. The next major celebration is scheduled for February 27, the birthday of Constantine the Great. The emperor’s birthday will be celebrated by the premiere of production Constantine: Signs of an Angel, written by Dejan Stojiljković, an author from Niš and an associate of National Review. The performance will presented by the ensemble of the National Theatre in Niš, with Tanasije Uzunović in the lead role. On the same day, a public lecture dedicated to the life of the great emperor will be held in all schools.
And on May 18 in Viminatium, the site that saw the biggest number of Roman emperors, exhibition Constantine and His Time will be opened, presenting the best artworks from Constantine’s era that re held in Serbian museums. On the same place and that same day, only in the evening, the performance of Verdi’s Aida will be presented. Evenings of classical music will ensue in the weeks to follow.
On June third, on the day of the Holy Emperor Constantine and Empress Jelena, the Saint Day of the city of Niš, Sanja Ilić and ”Balkanika” will have a concert of neoclassical music Konstantinus Magnus. On June 15, on the Niš Fortress, Belgrade Philharmonic will play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and two weeks later, on Vidovdan, the same place will be filled with the sounds of Verdi’s Troubadour. The last in the series of musical events will be the premiere of opera In hoc signo in ”Arena” in Belgrade.
In addition to the cultural one, an important aspect of the celebration of the jubilee is the spiritual and liturgical aspect. Exactly because of the liturgy, it is expected that Niš will host more than one hundred thousand people. A liturgy is announced for September 21, which will most probably be held on the runway of the Niš Civil Airport ”Constantine the Great”, in order to provide sufficient space for all pilgrims that were invited by the Roman Catholic Church.
As the final part of the ceremony, the holy liturgy that would be served by heads of all Orthodox churches, is planned for October 6, as the crown of all other events. <

***

Patriarch
”This celebration tonight in Niš, as well as all other that will take place in this city, but also in Belgrade and other places during the year, will help us to ensure that the words of the Edict of Milan, today, after 1700 years, are heard and sound contemporary, because, unfortunately, persecutions and sufferings are contemporary throughout the world, in our neighborhood, and even in our country, and especially in Kosovo and Metohija. This is a stimulation for us to be even more persistent in witnessing Jesus Christ, so the others would follow, after seeing our good deeds”, said His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej on January 17 in Niš, at the ceremony that marked the celebration of the great jubilee. ”Thanks to Emperor Constantine, Christians gained their freedom... This 2013 is an opportunity to see how much we belong to Christ, how much God is with us and how much we are with him. We are here to, in the year of the great jubilee, show that we are capable of overcoming every crisis. Emperor Constantine was a spiritual role model for later rulers, especially those from this region. And members of the Nemanjić dynasty often compared themselves with Constantine...”

***

President
”Freedom of religion is an important issue in the contemporary world. It is not easy to live honorably, with one’s religion, with one’s convictions, if it does not please those in power. Let me paraphrase the French academician, Serbian friend, Jean Detour: ‘Why not die in order to save the endangered honor?’” said Tomislav Nikolić, president of Serbia, on January 17 in Niš, at the ceremony that marked the beginning of celebration of 1700th anniversary of the adoption of the Edict of Milan. ”Serbia today lives in accordance with principles of the Edict of Milan. Its citizens have constitutionally and legally guaranteed freedom of religion or, as Emperor Constantine wrote in the Edict of Milan, the right to follow and believe without harassment. This jubilee year is for us not a mere demonstration of the culture of remembrance, but true glory of one of the most significant documents in the history of civilization... ‘Everybody should believe by following their hearts.’ With these Constantine’s words, faith of many of us has become the faith of live and free people.”

***

Imperial Summerhouse
Mediana, formerly a magnificent imperial summerhouse in the suburbs of Naisus, is today an archaeological site located five kilometers to the East from the centre of Niš. The luxurious imperial residence with villas and other buildings was built in the early 4th century by Constantine the Great, and it was later used as a residence by other Roman emperors who were coming to Naisus.
In the eve of the great jubilee, necessary restorations and conservations were conducted on the site, the structure called ”Doors of Constantine’s Mediana” was built with a box office, souvenir shop, information desk and a sanitary block. The goal is that the major pat of this archaeological treasure becomes available to visitors.

***

Signs of an Angel
On the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of the Edict of Milan, the National Theatre from Niš is preparing the production Constantine: Signs of an Angel, written by Dejan Stojiljković, author of bestseller Constantine’s Crossroads and an associate of National Review. The audience will be able to see on the stage the most important moments from the emperor’s life – the Battle at the Milvije Bridge, vision of the cross on the Roman sky, the First Ecumenical liturgy, adoption of the Edict of Milan, construction o Constantinople... The story is based in historical facts, but also Christian accounts and legends. Constantine is shown as a warrior and holy emperor, but also as a man of flesh and blood, who suffers, loves and errs.