Saint Helen the Empress: Finder of the True Cross and Equal to the Apostles — Life, Miracles, and Prayers

Introduction: Who Was Saint Helen?

Saint Helen the Empress is one of the most consequential figures in the history of Christianity — the mother of the Emperor Constantine the Great, the woman whose pilgrimage to the Holy Land resulted in the discovery of the True Cross of Christ, and one of the supreme examples of how a person of power and wealth can place everything at the service of God and His Church. She is venerated as "Equal to the Apostles" because her discovery of the Cross and her building of churches throughout the Holy Land transformed the landscape of Christian pilgrimage and devotion for all time. She is commemorated together with her son Constantine on May 21, the Feast of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen.

Early Life

Helena was born around 248 AD, probably in Drepanum in Bithynia (present-day Turkey). She was of humble origin — ancient sources describe her as a woman who worked at an inn or stable. Around 270 AD, she became the companion of the Roman general Constantius Chlorus, and around 272 AD she gave birth to their son, the future Emperor Constantine. When Constantius was elevated to the rank of Caesar in 293 AD, he was required to marry a woman of higher social standing, and Helena was set aside. She lived in relative obscurity for years, raising her son and maintaining her Christian faith.

When Constantine became sole ruler of the Roman Empire, he elevated his mother to the rank of Augusta — Empress — and gave her unlimited resources to use as she saw fit. She used her position and her wealth entirely in the service of the Church.

The Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Journey to Jerusalem

Around 326–328 AD, when Helena was approximately 80 years old, she undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She traveled throughout Palestine, Syria, and Egypt, visiting the holy sites, distributing alms to the poor, freeing prisoners, and building churches. Her pilgrimage was a public act of imperial piety — she traveled with the resources of the empire at her disposal and used them to honor the places where Christ had lived, died, and risen.

The Discovery of the True Cross

The most famous event of Helena's pilgrimage was the discovery of the True Cross. The site of the Crucifixion and Resurrection had been buried under a pagan temple built by the Emperor Hadrian. Helena ordered the temple demolished and excavations begun. Three crosses were found buried in the earth — the cross of Christ and the two crosses of the thieves crucified with Him.

To determine which was the True Cross, the Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem had each cross brought to a woman who was gravely ill. When the True Cross was placed upon her, she was immediately healed. According to some accounts, a dead man being carried past was also raised to life when the True Cross was brought near. Helena took a portion of the True Cross to Constantinople and sent another portion to her son Constantine in Rome. The remainder was enshrined in Jerusalem, where it became the most precious relic in Christendom.

Building the Holy Sepulchre

Helena oversaw the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre over the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection — the most important church in the Christian world, which stands to this day. She also built the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem over the site of Christ's birth, and the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives. These three churches, built by Helena, became the foundation of Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Repose

Saint Helen reposed in the Lord around 330 AD, at approximately 80 years of age, in the presence of her son Constantine. Her sarcophagus — a magnificent porphyry tomb — is preserved in the Vatican Museums. Her relics are venerated in many churches throughout the Christian world.

Miracles and Intercessions

Saint Helen is invoked especially for:

• The finding of lost objects and lost people
• Those on pilgrimage to the Holy Land
• Mothers praying for their children
• Those in positions of power and wealth who seek to use their resources for God
• Those seeking to share in the Cross of Christ
• The elderly who wish to serve God with whatever time remains to them
• Archaeologists, historians, and those who preserve the heritage of the faith

Feast Day

• May 21 (June 3, New Calendar): The Feast of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen

Prayers to Saint Helen

Troparion (Tone 8)

Having learned the joy of the Cross, O Constantine, equal to the Apostles, and thy mother Helen, you found the precious Cross and destroyed the worship of idols. You conquered the barbarian peoples by the power of the Cross, and now you intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Prayer for Finding What Is Lost

O holy equal-to-the-apostles Helen, finder of the True Cross and mother of the first Christian emperor: you who searched the earth of Jerusalem until you found the wood on which our salvation was accomplished — intercede for me before the throne of God. Help me to find what I have lost: whether it is a physical thing, a person, or the faith and hope that once burned in my heart. You were 80 years old when you undertook your great pilgrimage, and God used you to change the world. Teach me that it is never too late to serve God, and that He can accomplish great things through any soul that gives itself to Him without reservation. O holy Helen, pray to God for us. Amen.

Short Prayer

O holy equal-to-the-apostles Helen, finder of the True Cross: intercede for us before Christ our God, that He may grant us faith, the grace of the Cross, and salvation. Amen.

Iconographic Depiction

Saint Helen is depicted in Orthodox iconography with features that reflect her identity as an empress and finder of the True Cross:

• Imperial Vestments: Wearing the crown and robes of a Byzantine empress
• The True Cross: Always depicted holding the True Cross — her most distinctive iconographic attribute
• Together with Constantine: Often depicted alongside her son Constantine, both holding the Cross between them
• Regal, Serene Face: Her expression combines imperial dignity with the peace of a soul devoted to God

Honor Saint Helen the Empress

Venerate the finder of the True Cross and equal to the apostles with these handcrafted Orthodox gifts from our family workshop:

• Saint Helen 8x10 Embroidered Orthodox Christian Icon
• Saints Constantine and Helena Embroidered Orthodox Icon (10x14" / 11x14" Framed)

Related Saints and Themes

• Saint Constantine the Great: Helen's son and co-celebrant of her feast, the first Christian emperor
• Saint Nina the Enlightener: Fellow female equal-to-the-apostles and contemporary of Helen
• Saint Mary Magdalene: Fellow female equal-to-the-apostles and first witness of the Resurrection
• The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: The feast celebrated on September 14 commemorating the finding of the True Cross by Helen
• Saint Macarius of Jerusalem: The bishop who assisted Helen in the discovery of the True Cross and oversaw the building of the Holy Sepulchre

May Saint Helen the Empress, finder of the True Cross and equal to the apostles, intercede for us all — especially for those who are searching for what has been lost, for mothers praying for their children, and for all who wish to place their remaining years entirely at the service of God. Holy equal-to-the-apostles Helen, pray to God for us!