Empress – Mother of Constantine – Equal to the Apostles
πͺ§ Title: Empress, Mother of Saint Constantine, Equal to the Apostles, Protector of the Holy Places
π Born: c. 246 AD, Drepanum (later renamed Helenopolis), Bithynia, Asia Minor
π️ Died: c. 330 AD (aged ~80), Nicomedia or Rome
π Venerated in: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Catholicism, Oriental Orthodoxy, Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church, Church of the East
π Canonized: Pre-Congregation
⛪ Major Shrine: The shrine to Saint Helena in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
π Feast Days:
• 18 August (Catholic Church)
✨ Attributes: Crown, Cross, Nails
πΏ Patronage: Archaeologists, converts, difficult marriages, divorced people, empresses, new discoveries, Saint Helena Island, Noveleta (Cavite), Hagonoy (Bulacan)
“She sought the True Cross and became a mother of faith for the Christian world.”
St. Helen, revered as a pivotal figure in early Christianity, is traditionally believed to have been born in Britain, possibly around 250 AD. According to English historians such as William of Malmesbury and the anonymous Saxon author of her life in 970, Helen was the daughter of King CoΓ«l (or Coilus), a British ruler who maintained amicable relations with the Romans while holding his sovereignty under their authority. The city of Colchester, which CoΓ«l fortified with walls, claims her as a native, its arms featuring a knotty cross between four crowns in her honor, commemorating her discovery of the True Cross. Some sources, however, suggest York as her birthplace, supported by English orators at the Councils of Constance and Basel, and possibly alluded to by an anonymous panegyrist of her son, Constantine.
Helen’s early life saw her marry Constantius Chlorus, then a modest officer in the Roman army, who later rose to prominence. Their union produced Constantine, who would become the first Christian Roman emperor. As a mother, Helen played a significant role in Constantine’s early education, fostering his development under her watchful eye before the tumultuous events of the Roman Empire reshaped their lives.
To understand Helen’s significance, it is essential to consider the state of the Roman Empire during her lifetime. By 284 AD, the empire was in turmoil following the reigns of Carinus and Numerianus, sons of Emperor Carus, whose infamous vices alienated their subjects. Dioclesian (Diocletian), a Dalmatian of humble origins, ascended to power on September 17, 284, marking the start of the “Era of the Martyrs.” To strengthen his rule, Diocletian appointed Maximian Herculeus as co-emperor in 286, assigning him the western provinces, including Italy, Spain, and Africa. In 293, they further delegated authority to two Caesars: Galerius Maximian in the East and Constantius Chlorus in the West, the latter governing Gaul and Britain.
Constantius, Helen’s husband, was a noble and virtuous man, descended from Emperor Claudius II and Vespasian. However, as part of the political alliance, he was compelled to divorce Helen to marry Theodora, Maximian’s daughter-in-law. This separation marked a significant personal sacrifice for Helen, yet it did not diminish her influence on her son, Constantine. The empire under Diocletian and Maximian was marked by heavy taxation, extravagant building projects, and, later, severe persecution of Christians, particularly under Galerius’s influence in 302, which aimed to eradicate Christianity.
Helen’s conversion to Christianity is believed to have occurred after Constantine’s miraculous victory over Maxentius in 312 AD, inspired by a divine vision of the cross. Though she embraced the faith later in life, her conversion was profound, marked by heroic piety and devotion. Eusebius notes that she embraced “all the heroic practices of Christian perfection,” particularly excelling in piety and almsdeeds, which spurred Constantine’s own efforts to promote Christianity.
Proclaimed Augusta by Constantine, Helen used her imperial status not for personal glory but to serve the Church. She attended divine services in humble attire, mingling with the faithful, and delighted in prayer and worship. Her generosity was boundless; she distributed alms profusely, supported the poor, and enriched churches with precious vessels and ornaments. Rufinus describes her serving religious communities, acting as a servant to the “hand-maids of Christ,” despite being empress. Her humility and charity made her a beloved figure, inspiring Romans and others, as noted by St. Gregory the Great.
In 326, at the age of approximately 80, Helen undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, motivated by a desire to honor the sites of Christ’s life and passion. Sources like Rufinus attribute her journey to divine visions, while others, such as Socrates and Theophanes, cite admonitions or divine warnings. Constantine tasked her with overseeing the construction of magnificent churches, including those on Mount Calvary and Mount Olivet, and commissioned Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem to search for the True Cross.
The search for the Cross was fraught with challenges. Pagans had buried the site under a heap of earth and erected a statue of Venus, which was removed under Helen’s direction. Three crosses were uncovered, creating uncertainty about which was Christ’s. According to St. Chrysostom and St. Ambrose, the title placed above Christ’s Cross and the marks of nails provided clues, but a definitive miracle resolved the issue. Bishop Macarius, guided by divine wisdom, suggested a miraculous test. Helen, accompanied by Macarius, brought the crosses to a sick woman, who was instantly healed upon touching the True Cross, confirming its authenticity. Some accounts, like those of Sozomen and Sulpicius Severus, mention an additional miracle of a dead person being raised to life, though this is less substantiated.
Helen venerated the Cross, not as an object but for the Savior who died upon it, as St. Ambrose eloquently states: “She adored not the wood, but the King, Him who hung on the wood.” She enshrined part of the Cross in a silver case in a sumptuous church built on Calvary, where it was venerated annually. Another portion was sent to Constantine in Constantinople, and one of the nails was incorporated into a bridle, another into a diadem, and a third was cast into the Adriatic Sea to sanctify it, as noted by St. Gregory of Tours.
Throughout her travels in the East, Helen displayed royal magnificence while showering favors on cities, soldiers, the poor, and those in distress. She freed prisoners, clothed the naked, and supported the condemned, earning her the title of “common mother of the indigent and distressed.” She founded a convent for virgins in Jerusalem and adorned the city of Drepanum (renamed Helenopolis by Constantine) in honor of St. Lucian, a martyr. Her contributions to the Church extended beyond Jerusalem, as she enriched and beautified sacred sites across the empire.
Helen’s death occurred in August 328 (or possibly 326, per some sources), in the presence of Constantine and her grandchildren. She imparted final instructions to her son on governing according to God’s law, leaving a legacy of faith and service. Constantine honored her with a grand funeral, interring her in a porphyry urn in a magnificent mausoleum in Rome. Statues and crosses erected in Constantinople and Daphne further commemorated her.
St. Helen’s relics were later translated to the Abbey of Hautvilliers in 849, as recorded by Notker in 1095. His account details miracles attributed to her intercession, many of which he witnessed or learned from credible sources. Her feast day is celebrated on August 18 in the Roman Martyrology, marking her enduring veneration. Her life exemplifies humility, charity, and devotion, making her a model for Christian rulers and believers alike.
St. Helen’s journey from a British princess to a Christian empress is a testament to her faith and resilience. Her discovery of the True Cross, establishment of sacred sites, and boundless charity transformed the early Christian world. Her legacy endures through the churches she built, the relics she uncovered, and the inspiration she provided to her son, Constantine, and generations of faithful. St. Helen remains a towering figure in Christian history, her life a radiant example of devotion and service to God
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