"Saint Elena" (icon): description and meaning

In the great assembly of the holy saints of God, only a few were canonized in the face of the Equal of the Apostles. Only special merits before the church, which placed on one level with the apostles, allowed them to receive this honor. One of those whose earthly service was so highly praised was Saint Helena. Icon with its image for many centuries was one of the most revered Orthodox shrines.

Young daughter of the innkeeper

Who is she, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles queen Helen, whose icon is found in most Russian churches and attracts crowds of believers? To answer this question, we will open the life of the holy servant of God, compiled after a short time after her blessed death, and those few extant works of ancient historians who described her glorious deeds.

Around 250 years in the small town of Bethany in the Asia Minor the owner of a local inn had a daughter who helped him to serve visitors. This was the future Saint Elena. The icon of this Equal-to-the-Apostles queen presents to us today the image of a majestic woman looking her inner gaze into the mountain world, and in those days she was still a simple girl who did not think about her great mission. And, as it happened at all times, one day she fell in love.

A happy, but suddenly broken marriage

Her chosen one, the young Roman warrior Constantius Chlorus, reciprocated, and soon their union was bonded. His first-born wife was called Constantine. This child - the fruit of their first love - was also later canonized in the face of equals, like his mother - Saint Elena. The icon with their image is always removed from the church altar on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, celebrated on September 27.

Their serene family life came to an end when the emperor Diocletian, who ruled at that time, appointing Chlorus as ruler of vast colonies, demanded that he terminate the marriage and marry his stepdaughter Theodore. Chlorine could not for the sake of his beloved woman abandon a brilliant career, and their union broke up.

However, evil is punished not only in novels and plays. Very soon the traitor regretted what he had done, because his young wife, along with his numerous relatives, had turned his family life into such a nightmare that he had to fight them off with the help of his personal guard.

Convert Christian

And in the meantime Elena, left by her husband, settled in the city of Drepanum. The choice was not accidental - he lived there and trained her military art, already matured by the time, son. It happened, and God's providence is clearly visible in this, that there was a large community of Christians in the city. The followers of the true faith professed it in secret, since in those years it was still banned.

Attending their meetings and listening to the preachers, Elena eventually realized the depth of the new teaching for her and was baptized by the local presbyter. Since that time, she began a long journey of spiritual growth, which resulted in the mission, the fulfillment of which enabled her to shine in the face of the Equal of the Apostles.

Empress Elena

Years passed, and Constantius Chlorus, Elena's ex-husband, passed away. At the end of his life he was the ruler of the Western lands of the Roman Empire, put on this post by Diocletian, who once elevated him to the price of family happiness. After the death of his father, the son of Helen Constantine took his place, making a serious competition to the emperor Maximian who was ruling those years. Their political confrontation resulted in an open war, beating in which Constantine became the sole ruler of the Great Roman Empire.

One of his first state acts was an edict, as a result of which Christianity received legal status. This document put an end to almost three centuries of Roman persecution of the church. Becoming emperor, Constantine summoned his mother to the capital and elevated her to the rank of Augusta, that is, the Empress and her co-ruler.

On the Path of Serving God

However, the wise and vanished woman, knowing how transient the earthly glory is, used the opportunities opened before her not for personal benefit, but for the ministry of the church. By her order and her means in the empire, which had not yet recovered from pagan sleep, Christian churches were being built and new communities were being created. But ahead was the main mission, which was to be performed by Saint Elena.

The icon, the meaning of which is expressed by the plot composition itself, represents the spectator to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress next to the Cross of the Lord, which she found. It is in this find, which has become the greatest shrine of the entire Orthodox world, is its historical merit.

The beginning of the fulfillment of the great mission

The life of St. Helen tells that, having heartbroken about the mockery that the Romans made over Jerusalem, capturing it in 70 and destroying everything that was connected with the earthly life of Christ, she went to Palestine herself, with God's help, to find that The Life-giving Tree on which the Savior was crucified.

Empress Elena was already over seventy, when in 326, when she sailed to the ship, she sailed to the shores of the Holy Land. The task she set for herself was unusually difficult. During the last centuries Jerusalem did not belong, as before, to the Jews, but was dominated by the Gentiles. Even in the place where Christ was once crucified, there was a temple of Venus.

Acquiring the Cross of the Lord

By the way, this place was found with great difficulty, since no one knew exactly where it should be sought. Only thanks to the help of an old Jew named Judah, whose ancestors from genus to genus passed the story about the event of three hundred years ago, it was possible to determine it with the necessary accuracy. After the pagan temple was demolished, and in the vacant place Bishop Makarii served a moleben, all present suddenly felt an unearthly fragrance emanating from the earth.

When the top layer of soil that had accumulated there for many years was removed, three crosses remained in the presence of those present who had remained in their original place since that great day, and in one of which the Savior suffered martyrdom. But which of them was the instrument of the torment of Christ, remained a mystery. There was also a plaque, the inscription on which was made by Pontius Pilate, and nails.

But the Lord Himself has indicated the truth to them. He contrived Bishop Makarius to stop the funeral procession passing by and touch the deceased one by one with all the crosses. When the Cross of the Lord was placed on the deceased, he suddenly rose again. So the Christian church has found its greatest shrine, thanks to the works that the holy Queen Helen has put on it. The icon usually depicts her standing next to this wonderful find.

The beginning of veneration of the saint

It should be noted that for the entire history of Christianity canonization in the face of the saints were awarded only five women, among which the right to take their place and St. Elena. The icon was written right after death. At the same time in the East, widespread worship began, reaching Western Europe only by the beginning of the IX century. In our country, the memory of the saint is celebrated twice a year - on March 19 and June 3 - and has deep roots. It is known that the grandmother of the baptizer of Rus of Prince Vladimir, the first Russian Christian - Princess Olga, received the name of Elena in holy baptism in honor of the Equal-to-the-Apostles mother of Emperor Constantine the Great.

Iconography of St. Helena

It is no exaggeration to say that among the other saints of God in the significance of the act committed by her, the Orthodox Church singles out St. Elena Equal Apostles. The icon is well known to all believers. Often on it she will be with her son - the Emperor Constantine, as well as the mother, elevated to the rank of Equal-to-the-Apostles for the establishment of Christianity as the official state religion. However, more often there are images on which only Saint Elena is represented.

The icon, whose meaning is more clear, the more thoughtfully we relate the plot to the life of a pious empress, usually depicts it against the background of Jerusalem, which stands near the monumental Cross of the Lord and fixed its eyes on Heaven. She is dressed in a garment taken from Byzantine empresses, with a crown or crown on her head. Sometimes under the crown is depicted a precious board. This is the most common plot. The icon of St. Helena, whose photo opens the article, refers specifically to this group.

However, the earliest Byzantine icons depict a saint supporting a medallion in the uplifted arms with a cross inscribed on it. In this case, she is also depicted either alone or with her son Constantine. An example of this can serve as a mosaic in the Constantinople Cathedral of Hagia Sophia.

Russian version of the icon

In the Russian iconography there is a completely original icon "Saint Elena". Significance helps to understand the event that occurred in 1665 in Moscow. Then from Palestine was delivered specially made by the order of the sovereign Alexei Mikhailovich cross with the particles of the life-giving tree of the Lord. It was intended for a monastery located on the Kiy Island in the White Sea, and his arrival was a significant event in the church life. In memory of him, and was painted icon.

She depicted the Cross, on the sides of which were placed the figures of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Helen and Constantine, as well as Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich, Queen Mary Ilinichny and the kneeling patriarch Nikon. Later, when he fell into disgrace and was displaced, his image from the composition of the icon was deleted, and the subsequent lists with it contain only four figures. Among the images written in a later period, the image of St. Helena, holding in her hand a small cross symbolizing her legendary find on the site of the crucifixion of Christ , prevails .

Icon of St. Helena. What helps the image?

In Russian Orthodoxy, a tradition has arisen to appeal to the Queen of Equal-to-the-Apostles Elena with a variety of requests. But most often before her holy image they pray for healing from illnesses and sending down health to themselves and their loved ones. Also, her help is used in case of material difficulties. If prayer is pronounced with faith and trust in the mercy of God, then it is heard, and the petition is fulfilled.

The icon of St. Helena has one peculiarity peculiar to it. If the queen is depicted with her son and successor to the Emperor Constantine, then it is recommended to address people who are engaged in political activities and who need support. Such a prayer can be relevant on the eve of the elections and give hope even to those candidates who no longer have much to count on.

Today, among the images of the most revered people of God, there is also an icon of Saint Helena. In Moscow, her wonderful image can be seen in the church belonging to the parish of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helena in Mitino. She is depicted holding together with her son a holy cross, found by her and bestowed on the whole Christian church. In addition, her image can be found in almost every Orthodox church in Russia and to raise her prayer before him.