Empress Helena contributed to legitimizing and spreading the Christian religion worldwide. Let’s get to know her better!
I. Saint Helena, née Flavia Iulia Helena, was born in Bithynia (today Turkey) in 248 circa and died after a long and fruitful life in 329.
II. She is well known as her the mother of the first Christian emperor, Constantine I the Great, who probably was the one to evangelize the future saint. By extending the religious toleration to the Christian religion, his Edict of Milan of 313 brought the Roman persecutions against Christians to an end.
III. Her husband, Constantius Chlorus, divorced her for political reasons in 289 in order to marry a noblewoman. Though when her son became emperor, in 306, she received the title of “Augusta”, the dowager empress.
IV. Saint Helena encouraged to spread of Christianity by supporting the construction of several churches. Especially at places where crucial events of Christ’s life occurred. So, the Church of the Nativity has been built on the site of His birth, and the Church on the Mount of Olives was erected where He was crucified.
V. She is most acceptable with founding the True Cross. After this discovery, the cross started to spread as a symbol of Christianity. The other relics she found in the course of her pilgrimage to the Holy Land were brought to Rome and are now kept in the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre now stands on the site where she found the True Cross.
VI. The feast day of St. Helena is on 18 August. She is the Patron Saint of the lost things, converts, and difficult marriages, among others.
VII. Saint Peter’s Basilica houses the most important shrine dedicated to this Saint, represented by a magnificent marble statue holding the Cross.