ABSTRACT
Born: c. 248; Drepanum (modern Herkes) in Bithnyia, Asia Minor Died: c. 328; Nicomedia Area of Achievement: Religion and saints Contribution: Literally the most important woman in the world during her time, Helena
was the mother of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor. Helena’s elevation to sainthood was conferred, according to tradition, because she set out on pilgrimage to Palestine to discover the cross of Christ’s crucifixion and, upon doing so, founded the Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Holy Land.
