Helena, mother of Constantine the Great
| Helena | |
|---|---|
| Empress of the Roman Empire | |
Seated statue of Helena in Musei Capitolini, Rome
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| Augusta | |
| Reign | 325 – 330 (5 years) |
| Born | c. 246/50 Drepanum, Bithynia and Pontus |
| Died | c. 327/30 (aged 80) Rome, Tuscania et Umbria |
| Burial | Mausoleum of Helena |
| Spouse | Constantius Chlorus |
| Issue | Constantine the Great |
| Dynasty | Constantinian |
| Religion | Nicene Christianity |
| Saint Helena of Constantinople | |
|---|---|
Icon of Saint Constantine the Great and his mother Saint Helena of Constantinople
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| Empress, Mother of Saint Constantine and Equal to the Apostles | |
| Venerated in | |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Major shrine | The shrine to Saint Helena in St. Peter's Basilica |
| Feast | 18 August (Roman Catholic Church); 21 May (Orthodox, Anglican, and most Lutheran Churches); 19 May (some Lutheran Churches); 9 Pashons (Coptic Orthodox Church) |
| Attributes | Cross |
| Roman imperial dynasties | |||
| Constantinian dynasty | |||
| Chronology | |||
| Constantine I as Caesar | 307–311 | ||
| -with Maximinus II as Caesar | 307–311 | ||
| -with Galerius and Severus as Augusti | 307–308 | ||
| -with Galerius and Licinius as Augusti | 308–311 | ||
| -with Maxentius as usurper in Rome (and Asia Minor 311–312) | 308–312 | ||
| Constantine I as Caesar (self proclaimed Augustus) | 311–312 | ||
| -with Maximinus II and Licinius as Augusti of East and West | 311–312 | ||
| Constantine I as Augustus of the West | 312–324 | ||
| Licinius as Augustus of the East | 312–324 | ||
| -with Constantine II, Crispus and Licinianus as Caesares | 317–324 | ||
| Constantine I as sole Emperor | 324–337 | ||
| Constantine II as Augustus of Gaul, Britannia and Hispania | 337–340 | ||
| Constans as Augustus of Italy and Africa (and Gaul, Britannia and Hispania 340–350) | 337–350 | ||
| Constantius II as Augustus of Asia and Egypt | 337–350 | ||
| Constantius II as sole Emperor | 350–361 | ||
| Succession | |||
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Preceded by Tetrarchy |
Followed by Jovian and Valentinian dynasty |
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Helena, or Saint Helena (Greek: Ἁγία Ἑλένη, Hagía Helénē, Latin: Flavia Iulia Helena Augusta; c. 250 – c. 330), was an Empress of the Roman Empire, and mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. Born in Drepana, Bithynia in Asia Minor, she became the of the future Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus (reigned 293–306) and the mother of the future Emperor Constantine the Great (reigned 306–337). She ranks as an important figure in the history of Christianity and of the world due to her major influence on her son. In her final years, she made a religious tour of Syria Palaestina and Jerusalem, during which she allegedly discovered the True Cross. Pious beliefs also associate her to the foundation of the Vatican Gardens.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Church revere her as a Saint on the 21th May): in the same day they rever as a Saint her son Costantine I the Great, with the title of Equal-to-the-Apostles. Instead, the Roman Catholic Church, revers a saint only Helena Empress on 18th August). The Lutheran Church commemorates her.
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