The Orthodox Church’s View of Saint Helen
In Orthodox Christianity, Saint Helen is honored not only as the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great but as a saint whose life and actions helped lay the foundations of Christian civilization.
Her feast day, celebrated on May 21 alongside her son, is not just a remembrance of historical events, but a celebration of how grace transforms lives—and how a faithful woman helped shape the Christian world.
Orthodox tradition gives her the title Equal to the Apostles, an extraordinary designation that reflects her role in spreading the faith and supporting the Church.
Though she held imperial power, Saint Helen is remembered not for conquest or wealth, but for humility, devotion, and spiritual zeal.
From Humble Beginnings to Imperial Glory
Saint Helen was born in the late 3rd century, likely in a modest family in Bithynia (modern-day Turkey).
According to tradition, she worked as an innkeeper before marrying Constantius Chlorus, a rising Roman officer. Though eventually cast aside for political reasons, her son Constantine remained devoted to her.
After Constantine became Emperor and legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Helen’s life changed—but not her heart. She used her influence and wealth to serve Christ, and her role in Christian history grew into a witness of holy leadership guided by faith.
Orthodoxy emphasizes that her sanctity was not the result of her status, but her heart. Her humility in power, her charitable works, and her unwavering love for Christ made her truly great.
The Finding of the True Cross
The most well-known event in Saint Helen’s life is her journey to the Holy Land, where she is said to have found the True Cross—the very Cross upon which Christ was crucified.
Guided by her deep faith, Helen traveled to Jerusalem around the year 326, sponsored the construction of several churches, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
According to Orthodox tradition, she discovered three crosses buried at Golgotha. A miracle confirmed which one was Christ’s: a dying woman was healed after touching it. This event became one of the most treasured stories in Christian history and contributed to the widespread veneration of the Cross throughout the Orthodox Church.
The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) commemorates this event, and Orthodox Christians continue to chant: “Through the Cross, joy has come into all the world.”
How St. Helen Shaped Christian Civilization
Saint Helen did more than build churches and discover relics. She helped reshape an empire. In a time when Christianity was still recovering from centuries of persecution, her piety and public faith made it possible for Christians to worship openly, to gather, and to grow.
She supported bishops, provided for the poor, and defended the faith at a time when many were still hesitant to follow Christ. In doing so, she helped Christianity move from the catacombs to the heart of Roman society—not by force, but by love, sacrifice, and personal holiness.
Orthodoxy sees her not as a political strategist, but as a true mother of the Church.
A Model for Orthodox Women and All Christians
Saint Helen shows that holiness is possible at any stage of life. She was not a martyr. She did not live in a monastery. She was a mother, an empress, and a widow. Yet her life became a vessel for God’s grace.
For Orthodox Christians today, she remains a model of courage, charity, and faith.
In a world that praises status and achievement, St. Helen teaches that the greatest achievement is to seek the Kingdom of God and serve Christ with all our heart.
Christian love embraces the sinner without embracing the sin.
Why St. Helen Still Matters Today
Many today seek inspiration from strong historical women, yet few know the depth of spiritual strength found in the saints of Orthodox Christianity. Saint Helen combined power with humility, action with prayer, and influence with sanctity.
Her legacy lives on in the churches she built, in the Cross she found, and in the faith she spread.
Orthodox Christians continue to honor her not just with words but by imitating her love for Christ and her service to His Church.
Apolytikion of St. Helen
“You were revealed as the first among kings,
a divine foundation of godliness,
receiving from heaven the gift of grace.
Therefore you made known the Cross of Christ,
and spread the Orthodox Faith.
O Constantine, equal-to-the-Apostles,
with your divinely wise mother Helen,
intercede on behalf of our souls.“
The Apolytikion is a short hymn used in Orthodox Christian worship, especially during services like Vespers, Matins, and the Divine Liturgy. It usually captures the theme of the day—whether it’s a feast of Christ, the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), or a particular saint.
The word itself comes from the Greek “ἀπόλυσις,” meaning “dismissal,” because the hymn is traditionally chanted near the end of the service and summarizes the day’s focus.
For Orthodox Christians, the Apolytikion holds deep spiritual meaning. It serves as a reminder of the Church’s history and theology, reinforcing key aspects of the faith in just a few lines.
It’s also a form of prayer—often asking a saint to intercede for us, which reflects the Orthodox understanding that saints are alive in Christ and part of the Church. When we chant the Apolytikion, we are entering into communion with them.
You can speak to a saint through the Apolytikion. Not as a conversation, but as a reverent request for their prayers. It’s a moment of spiritual connection. Just as we might ask a friend or elder to pray for us, the Church teaches that we can ask the saints—those who have gone before us and now stand in the presence of God—to do the same.
The Apolytikion is also a teaching tool. Through its carefully chosen words, it tells the story of a saint or event in a way that’s easy to remember and full of meaning.
It shapes the way Orthodox Christians learn about and reflect on their faith—not through abstract ideas, but through lives, witness, and prayer.
How to Explain This to Little Kids
Parents can say: “A long time ago, there was a kind and brave woman named St. Helen. She loved Jesus so much that she went all the way to Jerusalem to find the Cross where He died. She helped build churches so people could pray. We remember her because she showed that anyone—if they love Jesus—can help make the world better.”
Dive deeper: