St Helena was born in Asia Minor in 248 AD. The Roman Centurian Flavious
Constas (or Konstantios Chloros) so fell in love with her beauty and
her good character that he married her.Her husband was a secret friend
of the Christians.A logical man,clever in the art of warfare. He fought
in both Germany and England and he never lost a battle.
She gave birth to her son Constantine in Serbia.
In 290 AD Konstantios was promoted to Caesar and Co-Governor of the
West.Spain,France and Britain were under his control. He was forced
to divorce Helena and marry Theodora, who was of royal descent.At
the age of 15 Constantine was asked to serve under the divine Augustus.
St Helena at the age of 45 was now alone-no husband or son.
For 13 years she never saw her beloved son.Augustus took Constantine
to Egypt.There he was promoted to command 1000 troops.He was well
liked and respected.
In 303
Galerios, the other Caesar, introduced fierce persecutions against
the Christians. He watched with jealousy Konstantios in the West,
and his son Constantine in the East.In 305, Galerios and Konstantios
were promoted to Augustus, the former gaining control of the east
and the latter the west.Everyone expected Galerios to take Constantine
under his wing.Instead he promoted his barbaric cousin Maximino.Konstantios
asked for the return of his son,as he was afraid for his life. Galerios
reluctantly agreed, on the condition that Constantine was to advise
him the night before he made plans to leave.Constantine suspected
something and fled.Galerios was furious.
In 306
Konstantios died in his sons arms in York, England.The troops elected
Contantine as Augustus. Galerios only recognised him as Caesar.Now
there were 6 co-emperors.Maximianos asked for Constantines help against
Galerios.In return he would give him the title of divine Augustus
and the hand of his daughter Fafsta. Contantine agreed, and divorced
Minervina who was not of royal blood.
THE FIRST RAISING OF THE HOLY CROSS
When Galerios died Constantine allied with Likinios and headed for
Rome where Maxentios had ruled sodom like. His army was five times the
strength of Constantines (170,000 foot and 18,000 cavalry).Before
Constantine neared Rome he had a vision. He saw in the sky a cross
with the words "with this you win" under it.
(EN TOUTO NIKA in Greek).
He realised
the Lord was with him.He made a gold cross and put a gold wreath with
the letter "X" on it,representing the name of Christ.
He marched with the Cross at the head of his army.
He
marched through the alps, Torino, Milan, and Brescia. On the 28 October
312 he was at the gates of Rome.He won a great victory. Constantine firmly believed that his victory was due to the Power of the Cross.He became a Christian and was baptised,just like his mother Helena.
Likianos married
the sister of Constantine (Konstantia), and the only two emperors
left now were related.Likianos was a murderer and soon fell out with
Constantine.Peace was eventually restored, and Constantine was given
the Balkans and Greece as the spoils of victory.Constantine so loved
his mother that he made her Augustine and money was introduced with
her image on it.Despite everything Likianos still favoured idolatry.
In 313
Likianos and Constantine signed an agreement by which everyone was
free to worship as they pleased.Constantines zeal and love of God
resulted in another war with Likianos. The latter lost 33,000 troops
this time.Constantine marched into Byzantium. His sister begged him
to spare the life of her husband Likianos.Constantine agreed and sent
Likianos into exile to Salonika.Within the year he was murdered. By
323 Constantine was emperor of nearly all Europe and Asia.He signed
two accords. By the first he compensated all Christians from the injustices
of Likianos.By the second,he, in effect, made Christianity the true
faith.Constantine was never a dictator. He was a humble man. He was
praised for this by St John Chrysostom.
As Satan
could not destroy Constantine, he decided to destroy his family from
within.On the one side was St Helena and Crispo, her beloved grandson.On
the other side were Constantines brothers and sisters-the children
of Theodora, and Fafsta.Imagine the petty jealousies that went on
in a family like this for the wordly gains of power and favouritism.
Fafsta
was true to Constantine in the beginning.She told him that her own
father was planning to kill him.Constantine put someone else in his
bed, and the truth was proven when Fafsta's father murdered the servant.Then
Fafsta became insanely jealous of Crispo, who was favoured by Constantine
and his mother, even above his own children. Fafsta told her husband
that Crispo was after his throne.Constantine was very nieve and, believing
his wife, had Crispo murdered. St Helena was heartbroken.
In his
last few years Constantine was baptised. St Helena gave much of her
wealth away to the poor and for the building of churches.She built
the Churches of the birth of Christ and the Resurection in the Holy
Land, and she found the Cross on which Christ died. This was proven
to her when a dead child was brought back to life after been laid
on it.She died in 327 aged 80.She built churches in Cyprus and many
schools too.Among the churches she built was the Church at Stavrovouni.
We celebrate their day on 21st May every year.
The Church in London, England
The Greek Orthodox Church of St Constantine and Helen,
69A Westow Street,
Upper Norwood,London, SE19 3RW
Tel:0208-653
6824 |
