Description
Orthodox Icon Pendant "Saint, Equal to the APOSTLES QUEEN HELENA" Materials: Sterling Silver (925 grade), 24K Gilding, Blackening Average weight: 2 + 3.4 grams Size: 27 x 20 mm (including the bail) Technique: casting, gilding, blackening, handmade. Symbolism and application of the item I'd like to tell that equal to the apostles are these saints who ...became equal to the closest disciples of Christ in their fight for Christian belief on earth. The first merit of Queen Helen was that during the period of severe persecution of Christianity, she managed to win over her son Constantine to the Christian faith, while other young men of noble birth despised her and were brought up in a pagan spirit. The second is the erection of the Cross of the Lord. Wanting to find the Cross of the Lord, Queen Helen in 325 went to Jerusalem subject to Rome. The queen was told that the Cross of the Lord was buried in the ground at the place where the pagans had erected a temple in honor of Venus. By order of Elena, the building was demolished and the earth began to be dug. In the excavations, they found three crosses and a tablet with the inscription: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." It was impossible to find out which of them was the Cross of the Lord. Then, by order of Elena, in order to find out on which of the three crosses the Savior was crucified, they began to be placed on the deceased one by one. No miracle happened from the two crosses. When the third was placed, the deceased was resurrected. Thus, the Savior's Life-giving Cross was recognized. Having heard about the miracle, people wanted to see the Holy Cross. Then the holy Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem and Saint Helena stood on an elevated place and raised (erected) the Cross for the people to see. In memory of this event, the Church established the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. It is one of the greatest festivals and is celebrated on September 27 (September 14). The memory of the holy queen is celebrated on June 3 (May 21) and March 19 (6). On the reverse side of the icon, there is the text of the prayer to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Elena: "Holy saint of God Elena, pray to God for me, a sinner." This is beloved women's pendant. Why should you buy this item?Need further information? If you have any questions, please, do not hesitate to contact me, I'll be glad to answer them.
- Saint Helena was responsible for the construction or beautification of two churches, the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, and the Church of Eleona on the Mount of Olives, sites of Christ’s birth and ascension, respectively;
- There are many legends about Saint Helena, she is even a protagonist in some modern novels;
- The church of Saint Elena in Venice claims to have the complete body of the saint enshrined under the main altar.
