In this part 118, Helena Augusta 3 of 4 Ill.Kt. H Ruperti-Campbell / Wikipedia
Cyprus
Several relics purportedly discovered by Helena are now in Cyprus, where she spent some time. Among them are items believed to be part of Jesus Christ’s tunic, pieces of the holy cross, and pieces of the rope with which Jesus was tied on the Cross.
The rope, considered to be the only relic of its kind, has been held at the Stavrovouni Monastery, which was also said to have been founded by Helena. According to tradition, Helena is responsible for the large population of cats in Cyprus.
Local tradition holds that she imported hundreds of cats from Egypt or Palestine in the fourth century to rid a monastery of snakes. The monastery is today known as “St. Nicholas of the Cats” (Greek Άγιος Νικόλαος των Γατών) and is located near Limassol.
Rome
Helena left Jerusalem and the eastern provinces in 327 AD to return to Rome, bringing with her large parts of the True Cross and other relics, which were then stored in her palace’s private chapel, where they can be still seen today. Her palace was later converted into the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. This has been maintained by Cistercian monks in the monastery which has been attached to the church for centuries.
Death and burial
Helena died around 330 AD, with her son at her side. She was buried in the Mausoleum of Helena, outside Rome on the Via Labicana.
Her sarcophagus is on display in the Pio-Clementine Vatican Museum, although the connection is often questioned.
Next to her is the sarcophagus of her granddaughter Constantina, (Saint Constance).
in the Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican Museums, Rome
Orthodox Bulgarian icon of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena
Sainthood
Helena is considered by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern and Roman Catholic churches, as well as by the Anglican Communion and Lutheran Churches, as a saint.
She is sometimes known as Helen of Constantinople to distinguish her from others with similar names, and is “Ilona” in Hungarian, and “Liena” in Malta.
Her feast day as a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church is celebrated with her son on 21 May, the “Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helena, Equal to the Apostles”. Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church falls on 18 August. Her feast day in the Coptic Orthodox Church is on 9 Pashons. Anglican churches, and some Lutheran churches, keep the 21 May date.
Her discovery of the Cross along with Constantine is dramatised in the Santacruzan, a ritual pageant in the Philippines. Held in May (when Roodmas was once celebrated), the procession also bears elements of the month’s Marian devotions. Helena is the patron saint of new discoveries.
Roodmas (from Old English ‘rood’ rod, cross, and ‘mas’, mass), held on May 3, was the celebration of the Feast of the Cross.
In the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches, the feast of Meskel, which commemorates her discovery of the cross, is celebrated on 17 Meskerem in the Ethiopian calendar (September 27, Gregorian calendar, or on 28 September in leap years). The holiday is usually celebrated with the lighting of a large bonfire, or Demera, based on the belief that she had a revelation in a dream. She was told that she should make a bonfire and that the smoke would show her where the true cross was buried.
So, she ordered the people of Jerusalem to bring wood and make a huge pile. After adding frankincense to it the bonfire was lit and the smoke rose high up to the sky and returned to the ground, exactly to the spot where the Cross had been buried.
She was canonised pre-Congregation: i.e. Her canonization pre-dates the practice of formal canonization by the Holy See and by the relevant Orthodox Churches.
“August 18 in German History”. TGermanCulture.com.ua. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
Her designation as a saint precedes the practice of canonization by the Pope.
Cont’d…