Mother of Constantine the Great, St. Helen used her high
position and wealth in the service of her religious enthusiasm, and
helped build churches throughout the empire.
At the age of 80 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.
Patron saint of archeologists, converts, difficult marriages, divorced
people, and empresses.
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