Reposted from @stpaulse Blessed Memorial of St. Helena of Constantinople! . St. Helena was born circa 246 in what is now northern Turkey and married Roman general Constantius Chlorus circa 270. They had a son shortly thereafter and Constantius was made Caesar, or vice emperor, in 293. Constantius soon divorced Helena to marry the emperor's stepdaughter. . Her son, Constantine, became emperor in 312 and he appointed his mother as Augusta, or empress. She converted to Christianity and practiced great charity including construction of churches in Rome and the Holy Land. She established the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, and the Church on the Mount of Olives, sites of Christ's birth and ascension, respectively. Helena's faith led to conversion of her son and, ultimately, to the Edict of Milan which provided legal protection for Christians. . Helena went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to find relics from the time of Christ. She demolished a pagan temple that Emperor Hadrian built on Calvary and found three crosses there. Helena and Bishop Macarius brought a woman, near death, to the site. The woman touched the first two crosses and had no change in her health. The woman then touched the third cross and was instantly healed. Helena declared this to be the True Cross of Jesus Christ and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built there. (Source: "The Catholic Encyclopedia") . St. Helena of Constantinople, pray for us! . . . #sharethefaith #saintoftheday #helena #sthelena #sainthelena #constantine #constantinople #femalesaints #truecrossrelic #truecross #motheroftheking #healing #miraclehealing #findingofthetruecross #findingofthecross #catholic #christian #catholicsaint #churchhistory #earlychristianity #vatican #vaticancity #catholicimagery #augusta #queen #catholicroyalty #christianroyalty - #kofc12240 (at Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEB7IX5Dg7J/?igshid=zwd1sqbccyk6
