Everyone in their life at least once finds themselves in a situation where they need to make a difficult choice or have doubts about a particular action. Many people put things off until tomorrow, which is not an option. It is better to seek help from a Higher Power. In this case, prayer to Helen Equal to the Apostles will help. She will definitely clarify the situation.
Prayers to the saints
Memory: March 6 / March 19, May 21 / June 1
Queen Equal to the Apostles Helen of Constantinople is the mother of Tsar Constantine.
The first merit of Queen Helena was that she endeared her son Constantine to the Christian faith, and through this gradually the entire Roman world became Christian. The second merit of Queen Helena is the erection of the Holy Cross and the construction of now famous and iconic churches in the Holy Land. Through her efforts, the Church of the Resurrection (and the Holy Sepulcher) was built on Calvary, where the Holy Fire descends annually on Easter night; on the Mount of Olives (where the Lord ascended to Heaven); in Bethlehem (where the Lord was born according to the flesh) and in Hebron at the Oak of Mamre (where God appeared to Abraham). Saint Helena is the patroness of the church clergy, temple builders, philanthropists and missionaries. They pray to her for the gift and strengthening of faith in children and relatives, for the gift of parental zeal for raising children in the faith, for the admonition of non-believers and sectarians. She is prayerfully commemorated together with her Equal-to-the-Apostles son Constantine. Equal to the Apostles Tsar Constantine and Queen Helen of Constantinople. Icon
Troparion to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine and Queen Helena, tone 8
Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven and, like Paul, the title is not received from man, Thy apostle has become a king, O Lord, put the reigning city in Thy hand, which you always save in the world through the prayers of the Mother of God, who alone loves mankind.
Kontakion of Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine and Queen Helena, tone 3
Constantine today with the Mother Helena the Cross is revealed, an all-honorable tree, a shame for all Jews, and a weapon against faithful people: for for our sake a great sign has appeared and a terrible sign in battle.
First prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine and Queen Helena
About the wonderful and all-praised king, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen! To you, as a warm intercessor, we offer our unworthy prayers, for you have great boldness towards the Lord. Ask Him for peace for the Church and prosperity for the whole world. Wisdom for the ruler, care for the flock for the shepherd, humility for the flock, desired repose for the elder, strength for the husband, beauty for the wife, purity for the virgin, obedience for the child, Christian education for the baby, healing for the sick, reconciliation for the offended, patience for the offended, fear of God for the offended. To those who come to this temple and pray in it, a holy blessing and everything useful for each request, let us praise and sing the Benefactor of all God in the Trinity of the glorified Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Second prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine and Queen Helena
About Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen! Deliver this parish and our temple from every slander of the enemy, and do not forsake us, the weak, through your intercession ( names
), beg the goodness of Christ our God to grant us peace of mind, abstinence from destructive passions and all filth, and unfeigned piety. Ask us, pleasers of God, from above for the spirit of meekness and humility, the spirit of patience and repentance, so that we may live the rest of our life in faith and contrition of heart, and so at the hour of our death we will gratefully praise the Lord who glorified you, the Father Without Beginning, His Only Begotten Son and the Consubstantial All-Blessed One. Spirit, the Indivisible Trinity, forever and ever. Amen.
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Troparion, tone 8*
Audio:
1:18
Having seen the image of Your Cross in Heaven/ and, like Paul, the title is not received from man,/ Your apostle is in the kingdom, O Lord,/ Place the reigning city in Your hands,/ save it always in the world through the prayers of the Mother of God, // One who loves mankind.
Translation: Having seen the image of Your Cross in heaven, and, like Paul, having heard the call not from people, among kings - Your Apostle, Lord, entrusted the reigning city into Your hand; and always preserve it in peace, through the intercessions of the Mother of God, O One Lover of Mankind.
What does the icon of St. Helena help with?
The icon of St. Helena is the greatest relic in the history of Orthodoxy. She is a part of the past that came to the future in order to remain in it for centuries, turning into one of the most revered images. It contains the soul of the people, their pain and suffering, difficult periods of formation and faith, which, having gone through a long and difficult path, has become a symbol of all Christianity.
Icon of Helen Equal to the Apostles
The mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, Helen, like himself, can be called the most outstanding personalities in the history of Orthodoxy of all centuries who were canonized as equal to the apostles.
They have long been depicted on icons as people who contributed to the strengthening of Christianity. Elena helped faithful Christians return their relics and shrines, and helped in the construction of temples and churches. But most of all, she became famous for her righteous deeds in the name of Christ. And the main one is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Icon of Saint Helena, meaning, what it helps with
The true meaning of this face is that every believer who turns to him not only finds help and salvation, but also strengthens his faith, just as Elena did. The holy image teaches that everyone who believes in the Lord must sacredly carry out his work and honor him.
On the face, Elena is depicted with her son Constantine, where each of them supports the Cross with one hand. This is a symbol of support and assistance in the revival of Christianity and a sign that it will always exist as long as there are people who, through their faith and righteous deeds, carry it in their hearts, as they carry the word of God, and it is eternal on earth.
What does the Icon of St. Helena help with?
Along with many Orthodox icons, the face has enormous miraculous power and is distinguished by the fact that the people depicted on it gained holiness and became revered among people, thanks to their thoughts and deeds, which means they had a high spiritual culture, which had no equal. This is a great Christian example of how a righteous deed in the name of the Almighty becomes the road to eternal life, for faith for a person is everything: his strength, love, fidelity and repentance.
Thousands of Christians still come to the icon today in order to raise their prayers to ask for help and gain strength for struggle and development. The face helps in such matters and life situations:
improvement of material well-being; the beginning of a new important business; promotion, career; success in the political arena.
In addition, the image is the sacred patron of the family and everything connected with it. That is why people often turn to him with prayers for preserving the family home, raising children (even about their birth - infertility treatment), resolving conflicts, reviving understanding, trust, and love.
The image is also very revered among agricultural workers and ordinary Christians working on the land. It is believed to help increase harvest and fertility, which in turn will bring prosperity to all who have worked for the good.
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Its great help is in healing ailments and strengthening physical health, which is inextricably linked with the spiritual, for a person who wants to heal the body must start with the soul. And here the main thing is faith, eternal and unshakable. Only she is the only true road to God's grace.
They turn to the Saint for protection with these words:
About the wonderful and all-praised king, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen! To you, as a warm intercessor, we offer our unworthy prayers, for you have great boldness towards the Lord. Ask Him for the peace of the Church and prosperity for the whole world, wisdom for the ruler, care for the flock for the shepherd, humility for the flock, desired peace for the elders, strength for husbands, beauty for women, purity for virgins, obedience for children, Christian education for babies, healing for the sick, reconciliation for those at war, patience for the offended, those who offend the fear of God. To those who come to this temple and pray in it, a holy blessing and everything useful for each request, let us praise and sing the Benefactor of all God in the Trinity of the glorified Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The icon of Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles is a true masterpiece of Christianity, the significance of which cannot be exaggerated. She not only helps, saves and gives hope, she teaches everyone a righteous life, for only in a person’s thoughts and deeds does his future lie
It is important to always remember that the faith that the Lord gives must be increased and shared among others; you need to understand that only the right deed, aimed at good and supported by God’s grace, will have the result that every Christian strives for
May the Lord protect you!
You will also be interested in watching a video about the life of St. Helena:
Merits of the queen
Helen was the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine. These are some of the most outstanding personalities whom the Orthodox Church canonized as equal to the apostles.
- The mother was able to convert her son to Christianity. As a result, he gradually attracted the entire Roman people to this faith.
- The erection of the Honest Cross - Elena and Konstantin were able to find the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The search took a long time, but was crowned with success. Three crosses were found and doubts arose as to which one was the one being sought. But near one there was a miraculous healing of a seriously ill woman and the resurrection of the deceased. After this, the queen brought one part of the shrine to her son, and left the second in Jerusalem. The divine power of Christ remained on him forever. The cross began to be called Life-Giving. Many other miracles happened near him.
- Construction of iconic churches for the Orthodox world: the Resurrection of the Lord on Golgotha; on the Mount of Olives, where the Ascension of the Lord took place; in Bethlehem - the birthplace of the Messiah; in Hebron, where God appeared to Abraham.
Elena also helped believers return relics and shrines to their churches. She became a great Christian example of how to live in the name of the Almighty.
The memory of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Queen is celebrated on March 19 and June 3. Her relics are kept in Paris, where they were transported in the 10th century. Before this, the incorruptible remains were in the mausoleum that her son Konstantin built for himself.
What does it help with?
Few people know what the icon of St. Helena helps with. They ask her for help:
- sick in soul and body;
- those who find it difficult to make a choice;
- people who need to support their faith;
- for the salvation of your soul.
The face, like all Orthodox icons, has miraculous powers. After all, it depicts people who, through their deeds, have earned the title of Equal-to-the-Apostles. And looking at them, we must take an example, not only spiritually, but also in everyday life. Elena was a woman who gave her whole life for her favorite business. So why didn’t it occur to any of us? Why, looking at icons and praying to them, we expect a miracle from the Lord. After all, we ourselves can create, albeit a small, but still a miracle. Looking at the faces of the saints, we must take their example, because that is what they were created for.
It often happened that the icons of St. Helen Equal to the Apostles began to stream myrrh. This myrrh was used for medicinal purposes. They said that it could heal any disease. Therefore, having heard that somewhere the icon of St. Helena has begun to sharpen the world, Christians from all over the planet come to collect the healing substance. Thus, we can say that the face saved more than one hundred lives.
Rules of prayer
You can pray in church and at home. For this purpose, it is advisable to purchase an icon with the face of a saint. If there is none, you can cry for help in front of those images that are in the red corner.
You are allowed to add your own words to the appeal. The main thing is that they come from the heart, and not repeat mechanically, with memorized phrases. You need to have strong and unshakable faith. It must be approached with pure and sincere intentions. Otherwise, you shouldn’t count on support.
If a person prays with the goal of improving relations, then he must simultaneously ask for help from Elena and Konstantin.
When asking for health, it is important not just to express your desire, but to pray. Then a person will have the opportunity to turn away all troubles and bad forces.
Often a prayer to Saint Helen is said near her relics. Then it has a more effective result.
Story
Cyril and Methodius are famous for their preaching of Christianity in Great Moravia, which in the 9th century included modern Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria.
Ruler Rostislav (later Saint Rostislav), seeking to avoid the influence of the Franco-German Carolingians, turned to Rome for missionaries for Moravia, but Rome refused. Therefore, Rostislav turned instead to the Byzantine Empire, which resulted in the sending of Cyril and Methodius.
With the approval of the Pope, they taught in the Slavic language rather than Latin, which caused considerable friction among the German monks and clergy, who tried to stop preaching and writing in the Slavic language, but without success.
From this it can be seen that at that time religion and politics were very mixed. Moreover, although the two branches of Christianity, Greek and Roman, had not yet split in the Great Schism of 1054, there were nevertheless already signs of discord, to which political interests were added.
The preaching of Cyril and Methodius added a third element to this - Slavic Christianity, which eventually led to the Russian concept of Moscow as the "Third Rome" after the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. After this, Greek Orthodoxy declined as Russian Orthodoxy continued its rise.
In any case, Cyril and Methodius, being saints before the schism, are now highly revered both in Eastern Orthodoxy (especially in its Russian form) and in Roman Catholic Christianity.
The innkeeper's young daughter
Who is she, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Queen Helen, whose icon is found in most Russian churches and attracts crowds of believers? To answer this question, let us open the life of the holy servant of God, compiled a short time after her blessed death, and the few works of ancient historians that have reached us, describing her glorious deeds.
Around 250, in the Asia Minor city of Bethany, the owner of a local inn had a daughter who helped him serve visitors. This was the future Saint Helen. The icon of this queen equal to the apostles presents us today with the image of a majestic woman, directing her inner gaze to the heavenly world, and in those days she was still a simple girl who did not think about the great mission ahead of her. And, as happened at all times, one day she fell in love.
Icon of the Holy Queen
The saint has a crown on her head - this reminds us that she was once the queen of Rome. In her right hand she holds a cross, as a sign that even after death she supports Christianity and does not allow it to sink into oblivion. Also, many researchers believe that in this way the author of the face wanted to resemble archaeological excavations. Which Elena spent in the last years of her life. Let us recall that then they managed to discover the tomb of Jesus Christ, the cross, and his mantle.
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Until today it is unknown whether those finds are genuine. But some parts of them are still preserved in churches throughout Europe. Thanks to her actions, she made many believe in God, and turned people to the path of truth, the path of eternal life.
Also read: Icon of Jesus and the 12 Apostles
The meaning of this face is that every person who prays will turn to it. He will not only find answers to his questions, but also strengthen his faith. Thanks to such qualities, the icon of the saint is revered in every home.
Biography
Fragment of a sculpture of Helen (Capitolian Museum)
The exact year of Elena's birth is unknown. She was born in the town of Drepan in Bithynia (not far from Constantinople in Asia Minor), as Procopius reports. Later, her son, Emperor Constantine the Great, in honor of his mother, “ made the former village of Drepana a city and named it Elenopol.”
"
Today this settlement is identified [ source not specified 349 days
] with the Turkish city of Hersek, outskirts of Altinova, Yalova province.
According to modern historians [ source not specified 349 days
], Elena helped her father at the horse station, poured wine for travelers waiting for the horses to be re-harnessed and repositioned, or simply worked as a maid in a tavern. There she apparently met Constantius Chlorus under Maximian Herculius, who became the ruler (Caesar) of the West. In the early 270s, she became his wife, or concubine, that is, an unofficial permanent cohabitant.
On February 27, 272, in the city of Naiss (modern Serbian Niš), Helen gave birth to a son, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantine, the future Emperor Constantine the Great, who made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. Nothing is known about whether Elena had any more children [ source not specified 349 days
].
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Foll (copper coin) with a portrait of Helen. Trier coinage ca. 326 years
In 293, Constantius was adopted by Emperor Maximian and separated from Helen, marrying Maximian's stepdaughter Theodora. After this and before the reign of her son, there is no information about Elena’s life. Probably [ source not specified 349 days
], she did not move far from her native places, since her son Constantine began his rise from Nicomedia (the center of Bithynia), from where he was called to the west in 305 by his father, who became emperor of the western part of the Roman Empire.
It is possible [ source not specified 349 days
] that Helen moved west closer to her son in Trevir (modern Trier), which became the residence of Constantine after he inherited the westernmost part of the Roman Empire from his father.
A pamphlet published by the episcopate and clergy of Trier Cathedral reports that St. Helena " gave part of her palace to Bishop Agritius
" for the use of a church, becoming the founder of the Trier Cathedral of St. Peter.
When Elena converted to Christianity, she was already over sixty. According to the testimony of her contemporary Eusebius of Caesarea, this happened under the influence of her son Constantine. The first coins with the image of Helen, where she is titled Nobilissima Femina
(lit. “most noble woman”), were minted in - gg. in Thessalonica. During this period, Helen probably lived at the imperial court in Rome or Trier, but there is no mention of this in historical chronicles. In Rome she owned a vast estate near the Lateran. In one of the premises of her palace, a Christian church was built - the Helena Basilica (Liber Pontificalis attributes its construction to Constantine, but historians do not exclude the possibility that the idea of rebuilding the palace belonged to Helena herself).
In 324, Helen was proclaimed Augusta
: “
He crowned his godly mother, Helen, with a royal crown, and allowed her, as a queen, to mint her own coin
.”
Eusebius noted that Constantine entrusted Helen with managing the royal treasury at her discretion [ source not specified 349 days
].
There is also evidence of the emperor’s great respect for his mother from a non-Christian historian. Aurelius Victor tells the story of how Constantine killed his wife Fausta because of Helen's reproaches against her.
«Saint Helen's Journey to Jerusalem
"(Altobello Melone, first half of the 16th century)
In 326, Elena (already at a very old age, although in good health) undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem: “ this old woman of extraordinary intelligence, with the speed of a youth, hurried to the east
" Eusebius spoke in detail about her pious activities during the journey, and echoes of it were preserved in the 5th century rabbinical anti-evangelical work “Toldot Yeshu”, in which Helen (Constantine’s mother) was named the ruler of Jerusalem and was credited with the role of Pontius Pilate.
Elena died at the age of 80 - according to various assumptions, in , or 330 [ source not specified 349 days
].
The place of her death is not known exactly; it is called Trier, where she had a palace, or even Palestine. The version about the death of Helen in Palestine is not confirmed by the message of Eusebius Pamphilus that she “ ended her life in the presence, in the eyes and in the arms of such a great son who served her
.”
Life
The birthplace of the future empress was the port city of Drepan, located in the Roman province of Bithynia. Fate did not gift the girl with a noble origin - her father was the owner of an inn. Elena grew up in Drepan, working in her father's hotel.
Her fate changed thanks to chance. One day a famous Roman military leader passed by the hotel. He noticed a pretty girl working there. Her beauty and nobility of soul made an indelible impression on the military leader. He decided to take Elena as his wife. The military leader turned out to be Constantius Chlorus, the future Emperor of Rome. Elena agreed to marry him.
From that time on, she found herself drawn into the turbulent political life of the Roman Empire. Despite the turbulent times, Elena lived a happily married life and gave birth to a son, who was named Konstantin. Some time after the birth of her son, circumstances forced Elena to leave the royal palace.
Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into four parts, inviting Constantius to rule one of them. To strengthen family ties with the Roman nobility, Constantius married a representative of the royal family - Theodora, the stepdaughter of Emperor Maximin, who retired from governing the empire. Elena found herself removed from the court for fifteen years.
Constantius Chlorus died in 306. Constantine, the son of Helen, was proclaimed the new emperor. Constantine brought his mother back from exile. Once again at court, Elena acquired great favor among the Roman people.
Konstantin deeply respected Elena as a mother and as a virtuous woman. Helen was awarded such honors that she was called Augusta and Basilisa - titles of Roman emperors. The image of Helen was minted on gold coins. Konstantin trusted his mother to manage the treasury at her own request.
On the path of serving God
However, a wise and devoid of vanity woman, knowing how transitory earthly glory can be, used the opportunities that opened up to her not for personal benefit, but for serving the church. By her order and at her expense, Christian churches were built and new communities were created in the empire, which had not yet awakened from its pagan sleep. But ahead lay the main mission that Saint Helena had to fulfill.
The icon, the meaning of which is expressed by the plot composition itself, presents the viewer with the Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress next to the Cross of the Lord she acquired. It is in this find, which has become the greatest shrine of the entire Orthodox world, that its historical merit lies.
Other personalized icons of Elena
Pay attention to other ascetics with the same names, in particular:
- Elena of Serbia - the icon is dedicated to the mother of two Orthodox rulers, Saints Stephen and Dragutin, she led pious activities and helped many people, building shelters, churches, etc.
- Elena Diveevskaya - the icon depicts an Orthodox saint, whom Seraphim of Sarov himself blessed to become a nun, this girl at a young age experienced a vision and rejected secular entertainment, becoming completely pleasing to the Lord, her relics remain immortal and continue to perform various miracles, helping believers.
Helen's name day according to the church calendar: the martyrs Helen and Elpidia are celebrated on January 28. However, the veneration accorded to these martyrs is not universal. They are among the many ascetics whose memory has been lost.
The story of the life and Christian exploit of Saint Julia
Julia was born in Carthage. Since childhood, she was distinguished by piety and loved to read the Holy Scriptures. But trouble loomed over the city. Numerous troops of the Persian king surrounded Carthage. The Persian Vandals who captured the city sold a 10-year-old girl into slavery.
Its owner was the Syrian merchant Eusebius. He convinced the girl to renounce her faith and become a pagan. But she continued to observe Christian customs, praying and fasting.
Julia was very hardworking and did her work conscientiously, so she was sometimes allowed to read the Holy Scriptures. The merchant's wealth increased, trade agreements were concluded easily and successfully completed. The merchant believed that this girl was helping him, bringing him wealth and good luck.
Several years have passed. The merchant went to Gaul to sell his goods there. He took Julia with him as a good luck talisman. During the voyage, the ship made a stop in the city of Nonza, on the island. Corsica. When the ship moored to the shore, its inhabitants were preparing for a pagan holiday. Eusebius was invited to take part in it and sacrifice to idols for further happy voyages and successful trade.
He and his servants went ashore to celebrate, but the girl remained on the ship. Then Julia was already twenty years old. But, at the instigation of demons, one of the pagans entered the ship and saw that there was a girl there. She prayed and grieved for the lost souls. He reported this to the governor.
Felix Saxo (the governor of the island) ordered the merchant to bring the girl to the holiday. He wanted to force her to make a sacrifice to pagan idols. Eusebius said that he wanted to force her to renounce her profession of Christianity, but Julia was adamant.
He then praised her for her hard work and gentleness. The leader of the city ordered the girl to be given to him. But the merchant did not agree. Having drunk the merchant at the feast, the robbers brought Julia by force.
They tried to force the girl to make a sacrifice, promising to free her from slavery for this.
Julia did not agree. She was ready to die, but not to give up her faith. She was brutally abused and eventually crucified on a wooden cross. Before her last breath, Julia said:
She only asked for one thing, that the Lord would give her the strength to endure suffering with dignity and to unite with him in death. The torturers crucified the girl on the cross, like Christ, to whom she so fervently prayed.
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At the moment of Julia’s death, a miracle happened: a dove flew from her lips and soared into the sky. The dove in the Christian religion is a symbol of the purity and holiness of the faith. At the command of the Lord, the angels flew to her from heaven at the moment of her death to greet her holy soul with joyful jubilation.
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Icon of the Holy Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles
Saint Helena has long been revered by Orthodox Christians in Russia and Israel. Prayers in front of the icon of Queen Helena can help you cleanse your soul and change your life.
Saint Helena lived in Rome at the end of the third century. The woman was the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine and during her life she accomplished many great deeds pleasing to God. It was Saint Helena who founded the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and carried out excavations at the site of His execution.
For her deeds, Saint Helena was equated with the apostles and canonized immediately after her death. The icon of the queen was painted at the beginning of the 4th century. Currently her whereabouts are unknown.
Description of the icon
In the icon, Queen Helen is depicted with her head covered with a white scarf. In one hand the saint holds an Orthodox cross, and presses the other to her heart. This image symbolizes the purity of thoughts necessary for every Christian, and also indicates that only through love for the Lord, your neighbors and the whole world can you save your soul and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
There are many known cases where prayer in front of the image of St. Helena helped people change their fate and achieve their goals. They pray to the Queen Equal to the Apostles:
about gaining material well-being; about help in a new endeavor; about career advancement; about obtaining a high social position.
“Most Serene Elena, who has found the Cross of the Lord, who has created veneration and remembrance of the deeds of God, I pray to you: do not abandon my call, hear my prayer and turn your face to me. Oh, most bright and pious Elena, strengthen my faith and show me the way to recognition and wealth, so that I may glorify our Lord Jesus Christ in both deeds and words. Amen".
This prayer can help you gain stability and wealth.
“Most Holy Queen Helena, who entered the Kingdom of Heaven with the purity of her soul, sanctify my path with your unquenchable light, protect my soul from the machinations of the devil and help me find true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Helena, bless my deeds and allow me to do my deeds for the glory of God. Amen".
This prayer must be read before any important task.
What does the icon look like?
In addition to the authentic image of St. Helena, there is a very common icon in which the saint is depicted together with her son Constantine.
This icon depicts saints holding the Cross of the Lord and talks about the contribution of mother and son to the development and spread of the Christian faith.
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The image of Queen Helena reminds people how to do their job to which you are called. The saint has become a model for Orthodox Christians in how righteous deeds in the name of the Lord and people become a calling, how one person can, through his loyalty to God and perseverance in the search for shrines, find his own path and show it to all people. Saint patronizes
Starting new things (necessarily honest, not related to lies); Raising children - after all, Queen Helen herself raised a saint; Success in work and study; Community service; Political affairs; Educational projects and missionary work.
Let us remind you that when you turn to Saint Helena, you also turn to the Almighty Power of the Lord - the Sign of the Cross. Today, particles of the Life-Giving Cross are found in many churches around the world. Perhaps in your city there is a piece of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, and you can venerate this great shrine.
Prayers calling on the power of God, which comes from the Cross of the Lord, are read by Orthodox Christians morning and evening - thus, the Church blesses us to protect ourselves every day and every night with the power of the Cross of the Lord.
Turn to the Lord and Saint Helen in prayer, protect yourself with the sign of the cross and sincere faith in God - and you will see how your life will change.
“O marvelous and praised by all royal saints and equal-to-the-apostles Constantine and Helen! To you, warm prayer books for us, we offer our sinful prayers, because you have the opportunity to speak with God face to face.
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Faith given by the Lord, knowledge of His help must increase among people. Therefore, unlike conspiracies that are spread by servants of dark forces and which must be “read in secret,” you can and should share your faith, talk about God’s miraculous help and mercy. Good deeds that are done with the invocation of God's grace will always be accomplished successfully.
Through the prayers of all saints and the power of His Cross, may the Lord protect you!
The icon of St. Helena is a personalized icon of women named Helena, Alena. Memorial Day established by the Orthodox Church is June 3.
The icon of the Holy Queen Helen, Equal to the Apostles, is known for its miraculous healings. In front of the icon of Equal-to-the-Apostles Queen Helena and her son, Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine the Great, who are often depicted together, leaders at various levels pray for good luck in business and politics.
This image was created by icon painter Olga Zenina. You can order a handwritten icon at the “Honorable List” icon painting workshop.
For her work in spreading Christianity, Elena was canonized as Equal-to-the-Apostles - an honor that was awarded to only 5 other women in Christian history (Mary Magdalene, First Martyr Thekla, Martyr Apphia, Princess Olga and Georgian enlightener Nina).
Elena's year of birth is unknown. Place of birth - the small village of Drepan in Bithynia (near Constantinople in Asia Minor).
One of the merits of Queen Helena was attracting her son Constantine to the faith. Others of his age despised Christianity and were brought up in a pagan spirit. Another merit is the erection of the Cross of the Lord.
As a result, three crosses and a tablet with the inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” were found. In order to find out on which cross the Savior was crucified, they began to place the deceased on it one by one.
No miracle occurred from the first two crosses, but in the case of the third, the deceased was resurrected. After this there was no doubt left.
When people were told about this event, they wanted to see this Cross.
On the day of this event, the “Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord” is now celebrated. This is one of the 12 great holidays. On this day, the cross is brought to the middle of the temple so that believers can worship it.
Queen Helena was involved in the construction of several temples in the Holy Land. One of them, perhaps the most famous, is on Calvary - the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, where the Holy Fire descends on Easter night. Another such temple is the temple on the Mount of Olives, as well as in Bethlehem and Hebron at the Oak of Mamre.
Saint Helen died at about 80 years of age in 327 in the arms of her son and grandson Constantius. After her death, the body of Saint Helena was transferred by her son Constantine to Rome.
Size: 9 x 10 cm, 13 x 16 cm, 17 x 21 cm, 21 x 25 cm, 22 x 28 cm, 27 x 31 cm, 30 x 40 cm
The icon is created by an experienced icon painter with the blessing of a priest. Corresponds to the Orthodox canons of icon painting. Free delivery in Moscow (within the Moscow Ring Road). Possibility to choose a case for an icon.
Holy Equal to the Apostles Queen Helen of Constantinople. Handwritten icon on a linden board with oak dowels, coated gesso with pavilion, tempera, gold leaf (on the halo). Production - icon painting workshop at the temple. The icon complies with the canons of icon painting.
Saint Helen of Constantinople, Queen Equal to the Apostles, is deeply revered by believers in all Orthodox countries without exception. The icon of the Holy Queen is found in almost all Christian churches and monastic monasteries.
Before the spiritual image on this icon, it is appropriate to pray for the healing of ailments, both physical and spiritual, because for a long time, the relics of St. Helena Equal to the Apostles have been known for many miraculous healings of the infirm.
Queen Helen, Equal to the Apostles, is revered by young and old, primarily for her services to the Church of Christ, since it was she who discovered the places where the Savior walked in the last days of his earthly life, and looked for items of utensils and clothing that belonged to Jesus Christ. But the most important merit of Saint Helena is the acquisition of the Cross of the Lord, on which the Savior ended his earthly life.
The pious queen organized geological work on the site where the pagan temple of Venus stood, which was demolished, and three crosses were discovered under it. All that remained was to determine on which cross the Savior was tortured. To do this, the Holy Queen decided to place a weak woman on each of the crosses.
History of the icon
Equal to the Apostles are those saints who performed actions to spread Christianity on the same level as those done by the direct disciples of Jesus Christ - the apostles. Throughout the history of Christianity, there are few women known who have earned the title of Equal-to-the-Apostles, and Saint Helena is one of them.
What do we know about her life?
Elena was born in III in the city of Drepana, in a simple family, now it is a small town of Hersek, located in Turkey. Her father was the caretaker of the horse station.
In 270, she met the ruler of the Western part of the Roman Empire, Constantius Chlorus, and after some time married him. It was from him that the woman gave birth to Constantine the Great, who became the first Christian emperor.
Elena's husband quickly climbed the career ladder. One day he was offered the important post of ruler of the Roman lands, but there was one condition: for this he needed to leave his wife and get engaged to the emperor’s daughter. Constantius agreed and eventually became the ruler of the Western Territories of the Roman Empire.
This title was inherited by his son Konstantin, who was also a warrior. Over time, Constantine enters into an alliance with the ruler of the Eastern lands, Maximilian, and becomes the ruler of the entire empire. It was by his decree that Christianity was legalized.
When Constantine became emperor, he elevated his mother to the dignity of Augusta (queen), thus making her, in fact, his co-ruler.
Saint Helena converted to faith at the age of 60 under the influence of her son, and made her pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Jerusalem, at the age of 80, after she had a vision in a dream in which she was commanded to find the greatest Christian shrines on Calvary.
After complete excavations, the Cross of the Lord, nails and a tablet with the inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” were found. In addition, the burial cave of Jesus Christ was discovered.
What does the icon look like?
In the icon, Elena is depicted together with her son Constantine. The saints hold the Cross of the Lord in their hands, thus the icon painter talks about the contribution of mother and son to the development and spread of Christianity.
Finding the Life-Giving Cross
The cross, which served as an instrument for the salvation of mankind, was covered with earth along with the place of execution. Instead of Golgotha, pagan temples now stood. Emperor Constantine, raised by a Christian mother, really wanted to find the shrine. Elena went to Jerusalem, armed with a letter to the Patriarch of Jerusalem Macarius; the emperor himself could not leave the throne even for a short time. The queen ordered to destroy the idols and cleanse Golgotha.
After praying, we began excavations and soon discovered three crosses. To find the right one, the Patriarch applied them all one by one to the deceased. As soon as the cross of the Savior was placed on the deceased, he came to life. The church celebrates this significant event in the spring, on March 19.
Empress Helena
Years passed, and Constantius Chlorus, Helen’s ex-husband, died. At the end of his life, he was the ruler of the Western lands of the Roman Empire, appointed to this post by Diocletian, who once elevated him at the cost of family happiness. After the death of his father, Helen's son Constantine took his place, posing serious competition to the emperor Maximian who ruled in those years. Their political confrontation resulted in an open war, in which Constantine won and became the sole ruler of the Great Roman Empire.
One of his first acts of state was an edict, as a result of which Christianity received legal status. This document ended almost three centuries of Roman persecution of the church. Having become emperor, Constantine summoned his mother to the capital and elevated her to the rank of Augusta, that is, empress and his co-ruler.
New Christian
Meanwhile, Elena, abandoned by her husband, settled in the city of Drepanum. The choice was not accidental - her son, who had already matured by that time, lived and studied martial arts there. It so happened, and this clearly shows the Providence of God, that there was a large community of Christians in the city. Followers of the true faith professed it in secret, since in those years it was still prohibited.
Attending their meetings and listening to preachers, Elena eventually comprehended the depth of the teaching that was new to her and was baptized by a local elder. From that time on, she began a long path of spiritual growth, the result of which was the mission, the fulfillment of which allowed her to shine in the ranks of the saints equal to the apostles.
Life of Saint Constantine
This saint was born to Caesar Constantius Chlorus, who ruled Britain and Galia. His mother was Saint Helena, she was the daughter of a simple innkeeper. Constantius fell in love with her when she served him wine in his youth. She was of the Christian faith and thanks to her, Constantine was raised in faith and piety. Her husband was not a persecutor of Christians, although his contemporary Diocletian cruelly persecuted believers in Christ.
When Constantine grew up, he began to participate in many battles. One day he saw a huge cross in the sky with the inscription: “This way you will win!” Having awakened, Constantine ordered an image of a cross to be made on all banners and shields. After this, his army often defeated him.
Constantius divorced his wife and married Maximian's daughter in order to get closer to the court. When Constantine became the ruler of the Western part, he issued a decree on religious tolerance, prohibiting persecution of Christians. And when he became a full-fledged king, he moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium. This city was later renamed Constantinople.
Description of the holy image
Lifetime images of the queen have survived to this day, this is her sculpture, as well as a profile image on coins. Of course, in these images Elena is somewhat idealized, but in general her external features are most likely conveyed accurately. The veneration of the saint began immediately after her death and several centuries later, the first icon of St. Helena appeared. Over time, a certain tradition developed on how to depict the saint on icons.
It is not so often among ancient icons that the image of Helen alone is found; as a rule, she is together with her son, who stands on the left side of her, and between them is the Cross of the Lord. This is a classic image of the queen. Icon of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen. Icon with hagiographical marks, small miniatures, where there are sketches of the main events in the life of the saint: a vision, journey to Jerusalem, finding the Cross of the Lord. Icon of Equal-to-the-Apostles Helen, where she is alone without her son, often represents the queen with a dish on which lie four nails that she found during excavations.
It is characteristic that in all iconographic images, St. Elena appears as a young, pretty woman. Despite the fact that she had already come to faith at an old age and died when she was already over 80 years old. And this is not accidental, because through this the icon painters tried to emphasize the spiritual youth of St. Elena.
