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Search for the Daily Bible Devotion app in the App Store or Google Play Store and download it today. Sidetrack Episode 15, Helena, Mother of Constantine.

Welcome back to the History of the Papacy podcast.

I'm Steve, your host for this podcast about the history of the popes of Rome and the Christian church.

This is an installment of our sidetrack episodes where we take a closer look at topics and papal and church history that are interesting but somewhat tangential to the stories we tell in the main episodes. Helena, or Helena, if you prefer,

Augusta, was an important figure to the story of the early Christian church and Roman history in

general for a number of reasons.

Firstly, she developed and grew into Christianity with her son Constantine.

In some sources, she was converted by Constantine,

but it is much more likely she was either born a Christian or converted very early in life

and introduced Constantine to the faith.

Secondly, she went on what we might call a fact-finding mission to the Holy Land

in which she established churches and rediscovered holy relics like they were going out of style.

Thirdly, is really just her general

influence and proximity to one of the most important leaders in Western and even world history.

Helen was attached at the hip to Constantine, and she never had a big falling out with him,

...