Helena, also called Helen, (born c. 248, Drepanon?, Bithynia, Asia Minor—died c. 328, Nicomedia; Western feast day August 18; Eastern feast day [with Constantine] May 21), Roman empress who was the reputed discoverer of Christ’s cross. (See also True Cross.)
What is saint Helen the patron of?
Helena is the patron saint of difficult marriages, divorced people, converts, and archaeologists. Her Feast Day is August 18.
How did St Helena find the True Cross?
When the woman touched the first and second crosses, her condition did not change, but when she touched the third and final cross she suddenly recovered, and Helena declared the cross with which the woman had been touched to be the True Cross.
Why is Saint Helena a saint?
According to (Christian) tradition she made a pilgrimage to Syria Palestina, during which she discovered the True Cross of Jesus’ crucifixion. As a result she is revered as a saint by the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, the Anglican and the Lutheran churches.
How was the cross of Jesus found?
According to legend, St. Helena — the mother of Emperor Constantine — found the cross in Jerusalem and distributed pieces of the wood to church leaders in Jerusalem, Rome and Constantinople (present-day Istanbul in Turkey).
Who was Emperor Constantine’s wife?
Faustam. 307 AD–326 AD
Minervinam. 303 AD–307 AD
Constantine the Great/Wife
What important legacy did Helena leave to us?
Helena, who converted as well, oversaw the construction of churches on Holy Land sites. She would later be credited with discovering the cross upon which Jesus Christ is believed to have been crucified. St. Helena died circa 328 in Nicomedia (present-day Turkey).
Why did Constantine boil his wife?
In 326, Fausta was put to death by Constantine, following the execution of Crispus, his eldest son by Minervina. Later he locked his wife Fausta in overheated baths and killed her, because his mother Helena blamed him out of excessive grief for her grandson.
Why did Constantine killed his wife?
Constantine did kill his wife Fausta – and rightly so, since she had imitated Phaedra of old, and accused his son Crispus of being in love with her and assaulting her by force, just as Phaedra accused Theseus’ son Hippolytus. And so according to the laws of nature, as a father he punished his son.
What is the story of St Helena?
Synopsis. Born in Bithynia, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), circa 248, St. Helena was married to Roman Emperor Constantius and had a son who would become Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to become a Christian. St. Helena, who converted as well, oversaw the construction of churches on Holy Land sites.
Who was St Helen?
Commemorated on May 21 St. Helen was the mother of St. Constantine the Great, and was born at Drepanum (Helenopolis) in Asia Minor to parents of humble means. She married Constantius Chlorus, and their son Constantine was born in 274. Constantius divorced her in 294 in order to further his political ambitions by marrying a woman of noble rank.
What is St Helena the patron saint of?
St. Helena, also called Helen, (born c. 248, Drepanon?, Bithynia, Asia Minor—died c. 328, Nicomedia; Western feast day August 18; Eastern feast day [with Constantine] May 21), Roman empress who was the reputed discoverer of Christ’s cross. (See also True Cross.)
What did St Helen do to help the poor?
She was also known to generously help the poor. Because of her piety, she exerted a great influence over Constantine and he held her in high esteem. St. Helen is often depicted in art as an empress, holding a cross.
