18th AUGUST: ST HELENA, EMPRESS
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1. Wife of Constantinus Chlorus, she gave birth to Constantine the Great in 274.
In the year 292 Constantius, having become co-Regent of the West, forsook Helena in order to marry Theodora for political reasons.
#StHelena #Christian
2. But her son remained faithful and loyal to her.
On the death of Constantius Chlorus, in 308, Constantine, who succeeded him, summoned his mother to the imperial court, conferred on her the title of Augusta, and had coins struck bearing her effigy.
3. Her son's influence caused her to embrace Christianity after his victory over Maxentius.
Helena, from the time of her conversion led an earnestly Christian life and by her influence and liberality favoured the wider spread of #Christianity. She also went to the Holy Land.
4. When she "had shown due veneration to the footsteps of the Saviour",she had churches erected for the worship of God. This sojourn in Jerusalem proved the starting-point of the discovery of the Cross of Christ.
According to Eusebius, she assisted entire Christian communities.
5. The poor and destitute were the special objects of her charity. It was thus that, in fulfilment of the Saviour's precept, she brought forth abundant fruit in word and deed.
Constantine was with her when she died about the year 330, at the age of 80 years or thereabouts.
5. Her body was brought to Constantinople and laid to rest in the imperial vault of the church of the Apostles. It is presumed that her remains were transferred in 849 to the Abbey of Hautvillers, France. (Excerpts from Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)
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