Saint Helen
Saint Helen (also: Helena; born c. 248 AD in Drepanum, Bithynia, modern Turkey; died c. 330 AD in Nicomedia or Rome) was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great and the first great pilgrim of the Holy Land. She converted to Christianity late in life, and around 326–328 AD she undertook a pilgrimage to Palestine and is credited — in Christian tradition — with discovering the True Cross of Christ, the Holy Sepulchre, the site of the Nativity at Bethlehem, and the site of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives. She founded basilicas over these holy sites, many of which still stand. She is patron of archaeologists, converts, and difficult marriages. Her feast day is August 18.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Helen
| Saint Helen | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 18 |
| Profession | Empress; pilgrim; foundress of holy sites; mother of Constantine |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Eastern Church; converted to Christianity c. 312 AD; pilgrim to the Holy Land c. 326–328 |
| Patronage | Archaeologists; converts; those in difficult marriages; divorced people; empresses; mothers of difficult children; the Holy Land; England (claimed as a daughter of a British king in medieval tradition); Trier (Germany); Poitiers (France) |
| Attributes | True Cross (her primary symbol); royal crown (empress); nail from the Crucifixion; Church of the Holy Sepulchre; pilgrim's staff |
| Birthplace | Drepanum (later renamed Helenopolis), Bithynia, modern Turkey |
| Death Place | Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern İzmit, Turkey) or Rome, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died c. 328–330 AD; accounts vary on location |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome — her personal palace chapel; holds relics she brought from the Holy Land; one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome; her tomb (sarcophagus) is in the Vatican Museums |
| Liturgical Class | Memorial (Roman Calendar, August 18) |
| Historic Class | Feast (August 18) |
Biography
Helen (Helena) was born around 248 AD at Drepanum in Bithynia (modern Turkey), a city that Constantine later renamed Helenopolis in her honor. She was of humble origin — ancient sources describe her as an innkeeper's daughter or a stabiana (stablewoman). She became the concubine or common-law wife of Constantius Chlorus (later one of the four co-emperors of the Roman Empire), and around 272 AD bore him a son — the future Emperor Constantine.
When Constantius was elevated to the imperial rank and required a politically suitable wife, he set Helena aside and married Theodora (c. 289 AD). Helena lived in relative obscurity until her son Constantine won the Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 AD) and became master of the Western Roman Empire. Constantine elevated his mother to the rank of Augusta (empress) and gave her virtually unlimited access to the imperial treasury.
She converted to Christianity — probably after Constantine's conversion, so c. 312 AD or later, making her a convert in old age. She became deeply devout. Around 326–328 AD, at approximately 80 years of age, she undertook a remarkable pilgrimage to Palestine. She is credited with: - Identifying the site of the Holy Sepulchre and overseeing excavations that led to the discovery of what was identified as the True Cross - Identifying the site of the Nativity at Bethlehem - Identifying the site of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives - Commissioning the construction of major basilicas at all these sites
She distributed extraordinary charity throughout the Eastern provinces — paying ransoms for prisoners, giving alms to the poor, endowing churches. She returned to Rome with relics from the Holy Land, which she deposited in her palace chapel at the Sessorian Palace — now the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.
She died around 328–330 AD. Her sarcophagus — of Egyptian porphyry, carved with battle scenes — is now in the Vatican Museums. The feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross (May 3, traditional) and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) both derive from the tradition of her discovery.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Drepanum (later renamed Helenopolis), Bithynia, modern Turkey
Death location: Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern İzmit, Turkey) or Rome, Italy
Notable location:
Notable location: She identified the site of Christ's birth and directed construction of the original Church of the Nativity (c. 327 AD); built over the cave of the Nativity; the church survives (with major later rebuilding) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the grotto beneath preserves the cave she identified (Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories)
Notable location: She directed construction of a basilica over the site of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives (c. 326 AD); this has been rebuilt many times; the Chapel of the Ascension now marks the site (Church of the Eleona (Ascension), Mount of Olives, Jerusalem)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
| Helen |
|---|
|
|
| This map created from a Cargo query () |
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint of the Day: August 18th - Saint Helen, Empress | 5–15 minutes | Butler's Lives of the Saints |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome — her palace chapel; True Cross relics; one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem — the greatest shrine she commissioned; still the holiest site in Christianity.
- Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem — she identified and built over the site of Christ's birth.
- Trier Cathedral (Dom), Trier, Germany — claims her as patron; holds the Holy Robe (Heiliger Rock).
Feast day
August 18
Veneration
Saint Helen is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church on August 18 as a Memorial, in the Orthodox Church on May 21 (with Constantine), and in the Eastern Catholic Churches. She is one of the most important saints in the history of Christian pilgrimage and Holy Land devotion.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.