Saint Helena’s Day in Saint Helena ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Saint Helena’s Day in Saint Helena and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Saint Helena’s Day is a public holiday in Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is celebrated on 21 May, the feast day of Saint Helena of Constantinople.
Saint Helena was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. She is revered as a saint in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, she is commemorated as Equal-to-the-Apostles.
Constantine the Great was the first Christian Emperor of Rome. He was born in what is now Turkey in 272 AD. His mother, Helena, was a devout Christian. Constantine was raised a Christian and later converted to Christianity.
In 312 AD, Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky. He believed that this was a sign from God. The next day, he ordered his troops to paint the Christian symbol of the cross on their shields. He defeated his rival Maxentius in battle, and Christianity began to spread throughout the Roman Empire.
Helena later travelled to the Holy Land. She is credited with finding the True Cross, the piece of wood on which Jesus was crucified.
Saint Helena’s Day is celebrated with church services and special events. In some places, a procession is held with a replica of the True Cross.