Saint Helena
![[painting of Saint Helena]](http://saints.sqpn.com/sainth01.jpg "6kb jpg painting of Saint Helena with the Cross, date unknown, artist unknown")
Also known as
- Elene
- Helen
- Flavia Julia Helena Augusta
Profile
Converted to Christianity late in life. Married Constantius Chlorus, co-regent of the western Roman empire. Mother of Constantine the Great. Her husband put her aside for a second marriage with better political connections. On his death, her son ascended to the throne, brought her home, and treated her as royalty. She used her high position and wealth in the service of her religious enthusiasm, and helped build churches throughout the empire.
At the age of 80 she led a group to the Holy Land to search for the True Cross. She and her group unearthed three crosses in 326. At the suggestion of Saint Macarius of Jerusalem, she took them to a woman afflicated with an incurable disease, and had her touch each one. One of them immediately cured her, and it was pronounced the True Cross. She built a church on the spot where the cross was found, and sent pieces to Rome and Constantinople; the Feast of the Holy Cross on 14 September celebrates the event. Thus in art, she is usually depicted holding a wooden cross.
Born
- c.248 at Drepanon, Bithynia, Asia Minor
- c.328 in Nicomedia of natural causes
Name Meaning
- light; torch
- archeologists
- Birkirkara, Malta
- converts
- difficult marriages
- divorced people
- empresses
- Helena, Montana, diocese of
- cross
- cross in hand
- woman, usually wearing a crown or otherwise vested as royalty, holding a cross
Storefront
- Commercial Links related to Saint Helena
Additional Information
- Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Encyclopedia Brittanica
- Goffine’s Devout Instructions
- New Catholic Dictionary
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
- Patron Saints for Girls
- Society of Anglican Archbishop Justus,
- Story of the Discovery of the Cross,
