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[[Image:Helen.jpg|right|frame|Empress St. Helen]]
Equal to the Apostles Empress Saint '''Helen''' (also ''Helena'' and ''Elena'') (AD c.248 - c.329) was the mother of Emperor Saint [[Constantine the Great]]. She was probably born in Drepanum (afterwards re-named Helenopolis) on the Gulf of [[Nicomedia]] and allegedly the daughter of an innkeeper. Later legend, mentioned by Geoffrey of Monmouth, claimed that she was a daughter of Briton King Coel, who married her off to Constantius Chlorus I to avoid more war between the Britons and [[Rome]]. Monmouth further states that she was brought up in the manner of a queen, as she had no brothers to inherit the throne of Britain.
Constantius Chlorus divorced her (''circa'' 292) to marry the step-daughter of Maximian, Theodora. Helen's son, [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]] later became emperor of the Roman Empire, and following his elevation she became a presence at the imperial court.
She is also considered by the Church to be a [[saint]], and she is famed for her piety. [[Eusebiusof Caesarea]] records the details of her [[pilgrimage]] to [[Palestine]] and other eastern provinces. She is traditionally credited with the finding of [[relic]]s of the [[cross]] of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] (see [[True Cross]] for the story), and finding the remains of the [[Three Wise Men]], which currently reside in the [[Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral]]. Her feast day is on [[May 21]], together with her son. {{stub}}
== External links ==
[[Category:Empresses and Queens]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Stubs]]