St Helena
On the 28th day of the Coptic month of Baramouda we celebrate the life of St Helena.
Helena the Empress, was born in the city of Raha (Edessa) to Christian parents about the year 247 A.D. They brought her up in a Christian manner, taught her the doctrine of the church and the religious ethics. She was very beautiful. When Emperor Constantius the First, Emperor of Byzantium, came to the city of Raha, and heard about Helena, he sought her out and married her. She gave birth to Constantine who became the first Christian Emperor. She raised him up well, and taught him philosophy, wisdom and knighthood. During the reign of her son, she saw a vision at night and heard a voice: "Go to Jerusalem and search carefully for the Honorable Cross and the Holy places." When she informed her son about this, he sent her with many soldiers to Jerusalem.
She searched for the wood of the Honorable Cross until she found it along with the other two crosses whereon the two thieves were crucified. She wanted to know which was the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Macarius, bishop of Jerusalem, told her that it was the cross that was written on the top of it: "This is Jesus, king of the Jews." She asked him that she wished to see a miracle to make sure that it was the cross of the Lord. By the Will of God, a procession for a dead man was passing by at that time. She placed the other two crosses on the body of the dead man, but he did not rise. When she placed the third cross, straightway the dead man rose up. Her faith increased and her joy multiplied. She gave money to St. Macarius, to build churches. She took the honorable Cross and the nails and returned to her righteous son Emperor Constantine. He kissed the Cross and placed it in a case made of gold and decorated with precious stones, and placed some of the nails in his helmet.
St. Helena led a righteous life, and she endowed many endowments for the churches, monasteries and the poor. She departed at age of eighty.
Lessons from this story
St. Eusebius, in his book “The Life of Constantine”, described St Helena as follows: "Especially abundant were the gifts she bestowed on the naked and unprotected poor. To some she gave money, to others an ample supply of clothing; she liberated some from imprisonment, or from the bitter servitude of the mines; others she delivered from unjust oppression, and others again, she restored from exile. While, however, her character derived luster from such deeds ... , she was far from neglecting personal piety toward God. She might be seen continually frequenting His Church, while at the same time she adorned the houses of prayer with splendid offerings, not overlooking the churches of the smallest cities. In short, this admirable woman was to be seen, in simple and modest attire, mingling with the crowd of worshipers, and testifying her devotion to God by a uniform course of pious conduct"
We often describe the Roman Empire, and its god-like rulers, as some of the most corrupt souls on the planet. Yet her was a pious woman, humble before who held the ear of the most powerful human walking the planet at that time. Never was she tempted by the luxurious trappings of her prestigious position. She truly is a remarkable beacon for us to emulate. Balancing her worldly life against the true power of her eternal salvation.

Prayer
Oh God bless us with wisdom and knowledge of the true comfort that comes from you. Help us resist the temptations of power, greed and desire and to help us lead a life of prayerful thanksgiving for the bounty we enjoy through your mercy. May the prayers of St Helena be with us all amen.