Saint of the day - August 18

St. Helena was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great and an Empress of the Roman Empire. She is supposed to be from Drepanum (later known as Helenopolis) in Asia Minor, born into a poor family and lower class in the Roman culture of the day. Helena is believed to have discovered the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified.

She was married to Constantius Chlorus, with whom she had only a son, Constantine, in the year 274. By 292, Constantius divorced Helena for Theodora, the step-daughter of Emperor Maximinianus Herculius.

Constantine was very loyal to his mother, whom he loved very much. He grew and became a member of the inner circle, and following the death of Constantius in 308, Constantine became Emperor and summoned his mother back into inner circle and the imperial court. Helena received the title of Augusta.

Through her son's influence, Helena embraced Christianity and was tasked with locating relics of Christian tradition. Between 326-328, Helena took a trip to the Holy Places in the Middle East. During this journey, Helena had many churches constructed, including the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and the Church of Eleona on the Mount of Olives.

In the year 130, Emperor Hadrian had a temple built over the site of Jesus' death, dedicated to Venus. Helena had this temple destroyed and excavated the site. This led to the discovery of three crosses there.

As tradition goes, Helena brought a dying woman to the crosses and made the woman place her hand on all the three crosses. Nothing happened when she touched the first two crosses, but when she placed her hand on the third cross she suddenly recovered. Helena declared the third cross to be the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. Constantine built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at this site.

During her search, Helena also discovered the nails of the crucifixion. One of the nails was placed in Constantine's helmet and one in the bridle of his horse to protect him with their miraculous powers.

Apart from the Holy Cross, Helena also found out Jesus' tunic and the rope that was used to tie Jesus to the cross. When Helena returned to Rome from Jerusalem in 327, she brought parts of the True Cross with her. She stored these in her palace's chapel, which was later converted to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.

Helena often sought out to help the poor and destitute. She used to visit churches and leave them with rich donations. Through her influence and work, Christianity continued to spread throughout the world.

St. Helena died in 330 and was buried in the Mausoleum of Helena outside of Rome.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Agapitus
2. Saint Evan
3. Saint Firminus of Metz
4. Saint Hugh the Little
5. Saint Daig Maccairaill

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