It is generally believed by ecclesiastical historians of England that St. Helena was born in that country, and according to Leland, she was the daughter of Coel, a British King who lived in friendship with the Romans. Constantius, at that time an officer in the Roman army in Britain, married her. Constantine, his eldest son, received his education under her eyes.
In 293 Constantius was honored by the Empire with the title of Caesar, obtaining the government of Gaul and Britain. In return for this honor he was obliged to divorce St. Helena and marry Theodora, the daughter-in-law of the Emperor Maximian. St. Helena was not at that time a Christian, but after the accession of her son Constantine and his miraculous victory, she embraced the Christian Faith and the most heroic practices of Christian perfection. Her dutiful son proclaimed her Empress and struck medals in her honor.
In spite of this new dignity she assisted with the people at the Divine Office in modest attire, and employed her wealth in charity to the poor and the building of churches. When the Emperor decided to erect a church on Mount Calvary, St. Helena, now eighty years of age, undertook to see the work executed, and started for Jerusalem hoping to find the Holy Cross. Excavations were made and three crosses were discovered. They were brought before a woman who had an incurable disease. When the third cross touched her, she was cured. With great joy the Holy Empress began to build a glorious church on Mount Calvary in which she placed the precious relic of the true Cross. She sent pieces of it to Rome and Constantinople.
St. Helena built another church on Mount Olivet. After traveling through the East, where she beautified the city of Drepanum in honor of St. Lucian, she returned to Rome. Her journey had been marked by the most illustrious deeds of virtue and by innumerable charities. She died at Rome in August, 328, in the twentieth year of her son's reign. Constantine caused her obsequious to be performed with the utmost magnificence, and erected a statue to her memory.
St. Helen Pray for us.