Saint Helena
Eastern Orthodox icon of Saint Constantine the Great and Saint Helena, his mother
Mother of Constantine the Great
Born	ca. 250
Died	ca. Events By Place Roman Empire A group of Franks penetrate as far as Tarragona in Spain (approximate date 330
Venerated in	Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran authorities. Events By Place Roman Empire May 11 — Constantine I refounds Byzantium, renames it New Rome The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther
Canonized	Her canonization precedes the practice of formal Canonization by the Pope[1] or the relevant Orthodox and Lutheran churches. Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints
Feast	August 18 (RC), May 21 (L & O), May 19 (L), 9 Pashons (Coptic Orthodox)
Attributes	Cross
Patronage	archeologists, converts, difficult marriages, divorced people, empresses, Helena, the capital of Montana
Saints Portal

Flavia Iulia Helena Augusta, also known as Saint Helena, Saint Helen, Helena Augusta or Helena of Constantinople (ca. The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and 8 Pashons - Coptic calendar - 10 Pashons Fixed commemorations All fixed commemorations below are observed on 9 Pashons by the Coptic History of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Apostolic foundation Egypt is identified in the Bible as the place of refuge that the Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings Each Saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern 250 – ca. Events By Place Roman Empire A group of Franks penetrate as far as Tarragona in Spain (approximate date 330) was consort of Constantius Chlorus, and the mother of Emperor Constantine I. Events By Place Roman Empire May 11 — Constantine I refounds Byzantium, renames it New Rome Flavius Valerius Constantius ( March 31 c 250&ndash July 25 306) was an emperor of the Western Roman Empire (305&ndash306 The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine She is traditionally credited with finding the relics of the True Cross. A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which by a Christian tradition are believed to be from the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified

Family life

Helena's birthplace is not known with certainty. The sixth-century historian Procopius is the earliest authority for the statement that Helena was a native of Drepanum, in the province of Bithynia in Asia Minor. Procopius of Caesarea ( Προκόπιος ο Καισαρεύς, c Trapani ( Tràpani in Sicilian) is a city on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. Description Several major cities sat on the fertile shores of the Propontis (which is now known as Sea of Marmara) Nicomedia, Chalcedon, Cius Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black Her son Constantine renamed the city "Helenopolis" after her death in 328, giving rise to the belief that the city was her birthplace. ^[2] Although he might have done so in honor of her birthplace, Constantine probably had other reasons for doing so. The Byzantinist Cyril Mango has argued that Helenopolis was refounded to strengthen the communication network around his new capital in Constantinople, and was renamed to honor Helena, not to mark her birthplace. Cyril Alexander Mango (born 14 April 1928 in Istanbul) is a British Scholar in the History, art, and architecture ^[3] There is another Helenopolis, in Palestine, but its exact location is unknown. ^[4] This city, and the province of Helenopontus in the Diocese of Pontus, were probably both named after Constantine's mother. The Diocese of Pontus ( Latin: Dioecesis Pontica, Διοίκησις Πόντου / Ποντικής) was a diocese of the later ^[5]

The bishop and historian Eusebius of Caesarea states that she was about 80 on her return from Palestine. ^[6] Since that journey has been dated to 326–28, Helena was probably born in 248 or 250. Little is known of her early life, perhaps because Constantine suppressed the information. ^[7] Fourth-century sources, following Eutropius' Breviarium, record that she came from a low background. For the Byzantine officer see also Eutropius (Byzantine official (396-397 Ambrose was the first to call her a stabularia, a term translated as "stable-maid" or "inn-keeper". Saint Ambrose (c 338 &ndash 4 April 397) was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the fourth century ^[8] She was a woman of personal dignity, mystical piety and emotional passion.

Despite her humble birth, she married Constantius Chlorus, a Roman general in 270 and gave birth to Constantine I in 272. Flavius Valerius Constantius ( March 31 c 250&ndash July 25 306) was an emperor of the Western Roman Empire (305&ndash306 The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Events By Place Roman Empire Quintillus briefly holds power over the Roman Empire and is succeeded by Aurelian. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Events By Topic Roman Empire Emperor Aurelian reconquers the kingdom of Palmyra, composed of Syria, Egypt In 293, Constantius was ordered by emperor Diocletian to divorce her in order to qualify as Caesar of the Western Roman Empire, and he was married to the step-daughter of Maximian, Theodora. Events By Place Roman Empire March 1 — Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate Caesar (plural Caesars Latin: Caesar (plural Caesares is a Title of imperial character The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius (c 250 &ndash c Flavia Maximiana Theodora (known as Theodora was the stepdaughter of Maximian. Helena never remarried and lived in obscurity, though close to her only son, who had a deep regard and affection for her.

Constantine was proclaimed Augustus of the Roman Empire in 306 by Constantius' troops after the latter had died, and following his elevation his mother was brought back to the public life and the imperial court, and received the title of Augusta in 325. Augustus (plural augusti) Latin for "majestic" "the increaser" or "venerable" was an Ancient Roman The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Events By Place Roman Empire July 25 — Constantine I is proclaimed Emperor by his troops Augusta was the feminine form of the title Augustus. It was usually given to the wives or relatives of the Roman Emperors. Events By Place Roman Empire Gladiatorial combat is outlawed in the Roman Empire Helena died in 330 with her son at her side. Events By Place Roman Empire May 11 — Constantine I refounds Byzantium, renames it New Rome Her sarcophagus is on display in the Pio-Clementino Vatican Museum. A sarcophagus is a Funeral receptacle for a Corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone The Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani in Viale Vaticano in Rome, inside the Vatican City, are one of the greatest museums in the world since they display works During her life, she gave many presents to the poor, released prisoners and mingled with the ordinary worshippers in modest attire, exhibiting a true Christian spirit.

Sainthood

The shrine to Saint Helena in St. Peter's Basilica

She is considered by the Orthodox and Catholic churches as a saint, famed for her piety. The Basilica of Saint Peter (Basilica Sancti Petri officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as St The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Her feast day as a saint of the Orthodox Christian Church is celebrated with her son on May 21, the Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen, Equal to the Apostles. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. ^[9] Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church falls on August 18. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Her feast day in the Coptic Orthodox Church is on 9 Pashons. History of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Apostolic foundation Egypt is identified in the Bible as the place of refuge that the 8 Pashons - Coptic calendar - 10 Pashons Fixed commemorations All fixed commemorations below are observed on 9 Pashons by the Coptic Eusebius records the details of her pilgrimage to Palestine and other eastern provinces (though not her discovery of the True Cross). In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. She is the patron saint of archaeologists. The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos The names "Saint Eleanor" and "Saint Eleanora" are usually synonymous for Saint Helen.

Relic discoveries

Helena's sarcophagus

In 325, Helena was in charge of a journey to Jerusalem to gather Christian relics, by her son Emperor Constantine I, who had recently declared Rome as a Christian city. Events By Place Roman Empire Gladiatorial combat is outlawed in the Roman Empire Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Jerusalem was still rebuilding from the destruction of Hadrian, a previous emperor, who had built a temple to Venus over the site of the Jesus' tomb, near Calvary. Publius Aelius Hadrianus (January 24 76 &ndash July 10 138 as emperor Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, and Divus Hadrianus after Venus was a major Roman Goddess principally associated with Love, Beauty and fertility, the equivalent of the Greek goddess Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) "Golgotha" redirects here For other uses see Golgotha (disambiguation.

According to legend, Helena entered the temple with Bishop Macarius, ordered the temple torn down and chose a site to begin excavating, which led to the recovery of three different crosses. Saint Macarius of Jerusalem was Bishop of Jerusalem from 312 to shortly before 335 according to Sozomen. Refused to be swayed by anything but solid proof, a woman from Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought; when the woman touched a cross suddenly recovered and Helena declared the cross with which the woman had been touched to be the True Cross. The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which by a Christian tradition are believed to be from the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified On the site of discovery, she built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, while she continued building churches on every Holy site. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sanctum Sepulchrum also called the Church of the Resurrection, ( Greek: Ναός της Αναστάσεως Naos tis Anastaseos

She also found the nails of the crucifixion. To use their miraculous power to aid her son, Helena allegedly had one placed in Constantine's helmet, and another in the bridle of his horse. Helena left Jerusalem and the eastern provinces in 327 to return to Rome, bringing with her large parts of the True Cross and other relics, which were then stored in her palace's private chapel, where they can be still seen today. Events By Place Roman Empire In order to resolve the shortage of labour in the provinces Constantine I decrees that rural slaves can only Her palace was later converted into the Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. Santa Croce in Gerusalemme is a Basilica in Rome. It is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.

Depictions in British folklore

Helena on a coin.

In Great Britain, later legend, mentioned by Henry of Huntingdon but made popular by Geoffrey of Monmouth, claimed that Helena was a daughter of the King of Britain, Cole of Camulodunum, who allied with Constantius to avoid more war between the Britons and Rome. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands For Earl Henry father of two Scottish kings see Henry of Scotland 3rd Earl of Huntingdon Henry of Huntingdon (c Geoffrey of Monmouth ( Gruffudd ap Arthur or Sieffre o Fynwy) (c Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 A legendary king of Celtic Britain, about all that can be said about Old King Cole with any certainty is that Old King Cole was a merry Camulodunum is the Roman name for the ancient settlement which is today's Colchester, a town in Essex, England. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Geoffrey further states that she was brought up in the manner of a queen, as she had no brothers to inherit the throne of Britain. Monmouth and Huntingdon's source may have been Sozomen. Salminius Hermias Sozomenus (Σωζομενός (c 400 - c 450 was a Historian of the Christian church However, Sozomen doesn't claim Helena was British though he does claim in Historia Ecclesiastica that her son, Constantine I, picked up his Christianity there. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine ^[10] There is no other surviving evidence to support this legend^[11], which may be due to confusion with St. Elen, wife of the later Emperor, Magnus Maximus. Magnus Maximus (ca 335&ndash August 28, 388) also known as Maximianus, was an Hispanic usurper of the Western Roman Empire

At least twenty-five holy wells currently exist in the United Kingdom that are dedicated to Saint Helen or Elen. A spring is a point where Groundwater flows out of the ground and is thus where the Aquifer surface meets the ground surface The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located She is also the patron saint of Colchester and Abingdon. Colchester ( /ˈkəʊltʃɛstə/ is a town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester, in Essex, England.

Depictions in fiction

Helena is the main character of Priestess of Avalon (2000), a fantasy novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson. Priestess of Avalon is a 2000 Novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley and completed posthumously by Diana L Fantasy is a Genre that uses magic and other Supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley ( June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was an American author of Fantasy novels such Diana L Paxson (born 1943) is a novelist and author of nonfiction primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. She is given the name Eilan and depicted as a trained priestess of Avalon. A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Avalon (probably from the Celtic word abal: apple see Etymology below is a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend, famous for its beautiful Helena is also the protagonist of Evelyn Waugh's novel Helena. Arthur Evelyn St John Waugh (ˈiːvlɪn ˈwɔː (28 October 1903 &ndash 10 April 1966 was an English Writer, best known for such darkly humorous and Helena, published 1950, is the sole Historical novel of Evelyn Waugh. In the anime and manga, Hellsing, the Nail of Helena is a powerful artifact used by the Paladin Alexander Anderson to gain supernatural power. (anime in Japanese, ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is a Japanese Manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano.

References

External links

• A more detailed biography of the Augusta based on the historical sources
• Coinage of Helena
• The Lives of Sts. Constantine & Helen
• St. Constantine and St. Helen
• Saint Helen, and Emperor Constantine the Great
• Reference to Saint Helen as Saint Eleanor