Despite the fact that she was the mother of one of the most important rulers in the history of the world, we do not even know (with certainty), where and when she was born. It is assumed that it took place around the year 255 in Bithynia (present-day Turkey), although there are also those who believe it could have been Britannia or even the Balkans. She was most likely the daughter of an innkeeper or a servant girl in one of the taverns when she caught the eye of Constantius Chlorus – a high-ranking officer in the Roman army. As a consequence she became his concubine, while a year later that mother of his son Constantine. Due to the rapidly developing career of Constantius, who became emperor and later Augustus of the Western Empire, an arranged marriage took place between an appropriate for his status imperial princess Theodora. And what was Helena doing at that time – we do not know. Perhaps she returned to her family home, while her son Constantine received education that was appropriate for the status of his father. We also know that, in the year 306 he was called by Constantius who was stationed in Britannia, where he exhibited bravery and strategic talent. And it was most likely those very qualities that played a decisive role, when at the moment of his father’s death – in the very same year – the army (as opposed to the agreed rules) named Constantine his successor. This was also the moment when Helena once again entered the stage of history. Her son guaranteed her a place in court, influence and titles. After the Edict of Milan, Christians appeared around Constantine and in the year 312 Helena was baptized. Constantine himself also became a proponent of Christianity, although as we know he was not baptized until he was upon his deathbed. As the rule of her son strengthened Helena received the title of Augusta, the highest in the empire. Her images appeared in marble and on coins, most likely at that time she lived in the Sessorium palace complex in Rome and became a respected matron at the court of the ruler. What was the reason for this already elderly woman, to undertake a journey to Palestine in the year 326 (or 327) – the historians do not agree. However, the reasons may be found in the events of the year 326. At that time a tragedy occurred which destroyed the carefully built by Constantine image of the imperial family – harmonious and exemplary. Constantine’s eldest son, Crispus (conceived with his concubine Minervina) was killed for the alleged want of seducing the wife of the emperor and a mother of five of his children Fausta, then in a brutal way (in hot steam), she herself was murdered. What role did Helena play in these events? Did she try to beg for mercy for her son, the murderer? We do not know. Christian apologists recall her modesty and piousness, and how often she knelt among the common people to pray. In their interpretation the imperial mother set out on a journey to the Holy Land, following in the footsteps of Christ, since that is what God ordered her to do in a vision.

One thing is for sure: Empress Helena went there with the blessing of her son with a certain goal in mind. She was to care for places important for Christians. However, as it turned out much later, she also undertook another task – purely archeological. Helena succeeded in finding not only Christ’s tomb, but also – according to Christian tradition – the True Cross – the most important Christian relic. As we know, in the place where she found the cross, her son later erected a church of the Martyrs, later named the Basilica of the Holy Cross, as well as the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, commemorating the location of the death of Christ, meaning Golgotha. Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea, informs us, that Helena herself funded the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, as well as the Church of Ascension on Mount of Olives.

However, that is not the end of Helena’s input into the history of Christian culture. Whether she herself came back to Rome – we do not know. However, in the main hall of her Roman palace the discovered relics were placed (partially), thus leading to the creation of a church which today bears the name of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem). These were: one nail from the Holy Cross, two thorns from the crown of thorns, half of the panel informing that the king of Jews was crucified, as well as a wooden fragment of the True Cross. A legend says that Helena also brought the so-called Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta), meaning the venerated steps to the palace of Pontius Pilate, upon which Christ was to tread. Today they lead to the Sancta Sanctorum Chapel on the Lateran.

What happened with Helena after her return from the Holy Land? She most likely died in Nicomedia (present-day Izmit) in the year 329 (?), since after that date there are no longer coins with her image. Her body was then taken to Rome and placed in a porphyry sarcophagus located in the Mausoleum of Empress Helena. It is assumed that both these structures (the sarcophagus and the mausoleum) were initially destined for Emperor Constantine, however during that time he had changed his plans and decided to take care of his burial in Constantinople. Today Helena’s sarcophagus can be seen in the Vatican Museums. And where is Helena herself buried? Her tomb is found in the Roman Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, but her numerous relics along with a skull (skulls) are spread all over the world.

Interestingly enough, initially, meaning immediately after Helena’s death, nobody mentioned either the cross or the relics she brought. The Christian chronicler of Emperor Constantine the Great, Eusebius of Caesarea, refers to her as only “worthy of memory”, thanks to her devotion to the poor. As was fit for a mother of a Christian emperor, she was to symbolize majesty and dignity, devotion to the faith, and Christian values, as well as maternal love. At the turn of the IV and V centuries, this situation had changed, and it would seem this happened thanks to a moving sermon of the great orator Bishop Ambrose in the year 395, in which he recalled Helena (calling her an innkeeper), as the one who found the True Cross. He was then joined by a historian of ancient Church, Socrates Scholasticus, recalling miracles, which she had witnessed during her search for the cross, and her stubbornness in achieving this goal. Legends on the subject quickly surfaced and even in early Middle Ages she was considered a saint. Her fame shone anew eight centuries later. It was then that a story about Helena stimulating the imagination of many artist appeared, contained in the Golden Legend by Jacobus da Voragine, thanks to which her cult spread throughout Europe.

And where can we find her images or souvenirs of her in Rome itself? Of course in the Basilica of Santa Croce, in whose catacombs we can find the remains of her palace. In the Chapel of St. Helena, the very same, in which the relics were kept in the past, we can find a large size statue of the empress. However, this is not a Christian work, as can be seen by the robe she is dressed in, rather bold for the garment of a saint. This is a copy of the Statue of Juno found in the Vatican Museums, which was given a cross, while instead of shawls – nails. In the Church of Santa Croce itself, in the apse, there is also a Renaissance fresco telling the story of the miraculous discovery of the True Cross by Helena (Antoniazzo Romano’s The Legend of the True Cross). However, that is not all. A tribute was paid to her by an anonymous creator of frescoes in the medieval San Silvestro Oratory. Her most pompous image can be seen in the Basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano. In one of the four pillars supporting Michelangelo’s dome, there is a figure of St. Helena created in 1639 by Andrea Bolgi. Why is it found in this very place? Pope Urban VIII ordered the transfer of the relics (the largest piece?) of the cross from the Church of Santa Croce to the Vatican Basilica and then had them placed in a chapel found above the saint’s head (with a balcony).

And thus St. Helena – an exemplary Christian and a loving mother, became part of folk imagination, occupying an important place among saint women. Next to a great number of youthful martyrs, which had until now “populated” the imagination of the faithful of Christ, came a time to appreciate not only a sacrifice of life, but also an exemplary life and mature age.