Profile
Helena converted to Christianity late in life. She married Constantius Chlorus, co-regent of the western Roman empire. She was the 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.
In her late 70’s, 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
Died
c.328 in Nicomedia of natural causes
interred in the Church of Santa Maria di Aracoeli, Rome, Italy
Canonized
- Pre-Congregation
Patronage
- against epilepsy
- against fire
- against storms
- against thunder
- archeologists
- converts
- difficult marriages
- divorced people
- dyers
- empresses
- Helena, Montana, diocese of
- nail smiths
- needle makers
- in Brazil
– Caputira
– Goiabeira
– Santa Helena de Minas - in Italy
– Benetutti
– Luincis, Ovaro
– Quart - in Malta
-Birkirkara
Representation
- cross
- cross in hand
- queen holding a cross
- woman receiving the location of the True Cross in a dream
- queen leading the search for the True Cross
- queen giving a letter to a messenger
- woman with a book and small cross
- nails
- woman with cross and nails
- with Constantine
Source: https://catholicsaints.info/saint-helena/
