Page 2 - Hell Helena News Today

B.c., the roman empire has been ruled by pagans. then in 312 a.d., helenas son constantine has a dramatic change of faith. >> the story goes that on the eve of a great battle outside rome, he has a vision. >> he sees a cross of light in the sky and he hears a voice tell him, by this you will conquer. he takes it to mean by the symbol of the cross. by christianity, hes going to become the lone emperor, the supreme figure in the known world. >> he wins the battle and becomes the first christian em...

Waterford cross arrived in ireland, she will continue her tour of the holy land. with the backing of her son, the emporor constantine she will transform the landscape. she builds churches on the side of christs birth in beth leham and one to commonerate his last moment on earth. >> constantine made it legal to practice christianity. helena gave christians places to practice. before her arrival there were no christian buildings in this land. they met here to commemorate jesus assension but secret...

And the relic of the cross were exceptionally important for the spread of christianity. the fact that this relic was created around that time goes to support how important that moment was. >> for hundreds of years after the legend of helenas discovery, the true cross continues to play a central role in the story of christianity. and though the relic is only 1,000 years old, others may prove far older. >> the first step in a long journey to investigate and to see if any of them can go back as far...

Based on the archaeological evidence, this would be a logical place just outside the city walls. romans liked that for crucifixion. there is no better candidate than right here. >> the church has been rebuilt several times, but its core goes back to the fourth century. >> we are deep, deep inside the lowest level inside the church. and this is the place where tradition says helena found the

Mom. ♪ in the year 327 a.d., helena, the empress of rome, begins a pioneering mission in the holy land. according to christian tradition, she has come to find the cross jesus died on. >> helena was doing something actually at the time quite radical in the history of christianity. she wanted to hold in her hands something that has been close to jesus. >> her pilgrimage could change the course of christian history.

>> helena will be the first person to try and retrace the final footsteps of christ. >> here you have a woman who stands in the pinnacle of power, and understands what power looks like. it, to me, is fascinating that a person from that vantage point would see jesus as the one worthy of her life, her allegiance, and her worship. >> this was a way of getting in closer to really understanding the bible, and to really entering into the story of jesus. >> there was something about knowing that he act...

Text "listen5" to 500500 to start your free trial today. >> in 328 a.d.helena returned to rome from the holy land. according to church history her pilgrim acknowledges complete to find the cross jesus died on, but her triumph is short lived. >> helena dies shortly after returning from the holy land. >> it is incredible to think about the power of this one womans spiritual drive, and the impact that it has had on human history.

Crispus happens in 326. helena departs for the holy land in 327. there is almost certainly some connection between those two events. >> if youre his mother, hoping for his soul to be saved somehow, you are going to want to make a passionate gesture of reconciliation of penitence. >> she knew what she wanted when she traveled to jerusalem. and when she went looking for that true cross, she was surely determined to find it. ts. most can tell the continent or country that your ancestors are from, b...

Constantine discovers that his son crispus, his favorite son, has been having an affair with his second wife fausta. >> what we are told by the sources we have is that on the orders of his father, he is sent to a place on the coast of croatia. and he is put to death by poison. >> helena was crushed by this scandal. this was likely her favorite