Helena, mother of Constantine I

Flavia Julia Helena, also known as Helena of Constantinople, was born around the year two hundred forty-six to two hundred forty-eight AD in Drepanon, Bithynia, a city that would later be renamed Helenopolis. As a Greek Augusta of the Roman Empire, she played a significant role in the political and religious landscape of her time, being the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great.

Helena's life was marked by her deep commitment to Christianity, which she helped to spread throughout the empire. In her later years, she undertook a religious pilgrimage to Syria Palaestina and Jerusalem. It is during this journey that she is traditionally credited with discovering the True Cross, a pivotal moment in Christian history.

Her contributions to the faith did not go unnoticed; Helena was canonized as a saint by both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Today, she is revered by various Christian denominations, including the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran Church, highlighting her lasting impact on Christianity.