Helena, mother of Constantine I
Flavia Julia Helena (/ˈhɛlənə/; Greek: Ἑλένη, Helénē; c. AD 246/248–330), also known as Helena of Constantinople and in Christianity as Saint Helena, was an Augusta of the Roman Empire and mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. She was born in the lower classes traditionally in the Greek city of Drehianon, Bithynia, in Asia Minor, which was renamed Helenopolis in her honor, although several locations have been proposed for her birthplace and origin.
| Helena | |||||||||
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| Augusta | |||||||||
Statue of Helena in the Musei Capitolini, Rome | |||||||||
| Born | c. AD 246/48 Drepanon (later Helenopolis), Bithynia, in Asia Minor | ||||||||
| Died | AD 330 Rome, Tuscania et Umbria | ||||||||
| Burial | Mausoleum of Helena | ||||||||
| Spouse | Constantius Chlorus | ||||||||
| Issue | Constantine I | ||||||||
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| Dynasty | Constantinian | ||||||||
| Religion | Nicene Christianity | ||||||||
| Roman imperial dynasties | ||||||||||||
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| Constantinian dynasty | ||||||||||||
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Helena ranks as an important figure in the history of Christianity. In her final years, she made a religious tour of Syria Palaestina and Jerusalem, during which ancient tradition claims that she discovered the True Cross. The Eastern Orthodox Church, Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and Anglican Communion revere her as a saint, and the Lutheran Church commemorates her.