Irlandos at 15:37, February 8, 2006

2006-02-08T15:37:16Z

Irlandos at 15:36, February 8, 2006

2006-02-08T15:36:00Z

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'''Flavia Iulia Helena''', also known as '''[[Saint Helena]]''', '''Saint Helen''', '''Helena Augusta''', and '''Helena of Constantinople''', (AD c.[[248]] - c.[[329]]) was the first wife of [[Constantius Chlorus]], and the mother of [[Byzantine Emperors|Emperor]] [[Constantine the Great]]. She is traditionally credited with finding the relics of the True Cross.

Many legends surround her. She was allegedly the daughter of an innkeeper. Her son Constantine renamed the city of [[Drepanum (Asia Minor)|Drepanum]] on the Gulf of [[Nicomedia]] as 'Helenopolis' in her honor, which led to later interpretions that Drepanum was her birthplace.

Constantius Chlorus divorced her (c.[[292]]) to marry the step-daughter of Maximian, Flavia Maximiana Theodora. Helena's son, [[Constantine I|Constantine]], became emperor of the Roman Empire, and following his elevation she became a presence at the imperial court, and received the title Augusta.

She is considered by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] and Catholic churches as a saint, famed for her piety. [[Eusebius]] records the details of her pilgrimage to Palestine and other eastern provinces. She is traditionally credited (but not by Eusebius) with the finding of relics of the True Cross and finding the remains of the Three Wise Men, which currently reside in the Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral. Her feast day as a saint of the Orthodox Christian Church is celebrated with her son on [[May 21]], the Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen, Equal to the Apostles.
[http://www.goarch.org/en/special/listen_learn_share/constantineandhelen/learn/] Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church falls on [[August 18]].

== External links ==

*[http://www.roman-emperors.org/helena.htm A more detailed biography of the Augusta based on the historical sources]
* [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/helena/t.html coinage of Helena]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

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Saint Helen - Revision history

Irlandos at 15:37, February 8, 2006

Irlandos at 15:36, February 8, 2006