Saint Helena

Helena was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great and an Empress of the Roman Empire. She is from Drepanum in Asia Minor and born into a poor family and lower class of the Roman culture.

Despite her background, she married Constantius Chlorus, with whom she had her only child, Constantine, around the year 274. Over the next 20 years, her husband got swept up in his rising stature, divorced her and married the step-daughter of the emperor to advance his standing in society.

Constantine was forever loyal to his mother. Following the death of his father, Constantine became Emperor and summoned his mother back into the inner circle of society where she received the title of Augusta and he ordered all to honor her.

Through her son’s influence, she began to embrace Christianity. With her new title, she was given free reign over the treasury and tasked with locating relics of Christian tradition.

For 2 years she took a trip to the Holy Places in the Middle East and had many churches constructed, including the one at the site of Jesus’ birth, the Church of Nativity and another at the site of his ascension, Church of Eleona on the Mount of Olives.

Jerusalem was still being rebuilt and Emperor Hadrian had a temple built over the site of Jesus’ death which was dedicated to Venus. She had it destroyed and excavated the site which led to the discovery of the 3 crosses. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built. She also discovered the nails of the crucifixion and had one placed in Constantine’s helmet and one in the bridle of his horse.

She also found Jesus’ tunic and pieces of the rope used to tie Jesus to the cross. Parts of the True Cross were stored in her palace’s chapel which was converted to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and can be viewed today.

She died around 330 and was renowned for helping not only individuals but entire communities through her works of charity. She was a very devout servant of God and through her influence and work, Christianity continued to spread throughout the known world.

She is the patron saint of converts, difficult marriages, divorced individuals, empresses, and the Diocese of Helena, Montana.

For God’s Glory.