Saint Helen

Patron Saint of archaeologists, converts, difficult marriages, empresses, mothers, the discovery of relics.

Feast Day: August 18th

Layperson

Drepanum, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey)

Public Domain: Św. Helena via Wikimedia Commons.

Feast Day: August 18th

Layperson

Drepanum, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey)

About

Saint Helen, also called Helena of Constantinople, was born around 250 AD in Drepanum (later renamed Helenopolis) in Asia Minor. Though of humble origins, she later became the wife or consort of Constantius Chlorus, a Roman general who would become Caesar. Together they had one son, Constantine, who would rise to become Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor. Helen converted to Christianity in her later years and became a devout follower of Christ. She is most famous for her pilgrimage to the Holy Land around 326 AD, during which she is credited with discovering the True Cross, the very cross upon which Jesus was crucified. Helen also commissioned the building of several churches, including the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. She died around 330 AD, and her legacy as the “Empress Mother” and great patroness of Christian pilgrimage lives on in both East and West.

Legacy

Saint Helen’s greatest legacy is her role in establishing the holy sites of Christianity. By identifying and preserving the places tied to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, she gave future generations of Christians a way to connect tangibly with the Gospel story. Her influence extended through her son Constantine, who legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire and set the stage for its spread throughout the world. Helen is remembered not only as a mother of an emperor but as a mother of the Church, whose faith and devotion sanctified history. Shrines to her can be found throughout Europe, and she remains a beloved figure in both Catholic and Orthodox traditions.

“On the discovery of the Cross, the Empress Helena, full of joy, raised her hands to heaven and adored the Savior.” – Eusebius of Caesarea