St. Helena, A Woman Of SubstanceEssay Preview: St. Helena, A Woman Of SubstanceReport this essaySt. Helena; a woman of substanceSt. Helena was the mother of the Emperor Constantine. At a time when women were not allowed to hold office under Roman Law let alone be considered a voice to be listened to, St . Helena had a great degree of influence over not only her son but the spreading of the new found religious belief-system, Christianity.
Helena was of humble descent, born in the Roman province of Moesia, but some believe that she was a British Princess. Though there is no historical evidence to prove this, it is a fact that Constantanius, Helenas Royal husband spent some time in Britain putting down a rebellion among the Scots and died in York.(Catholic Encyclopedia) Going back to historical evidence about Helenas humble beginnings, according to St. Ambrose she was an inn-keeper when Constantines father, Constantius Chlorus made her his consort. This relationship did not last long as he took a new wife and cast Helena off into the shade. But her son Constantine always had a great love and admiration for his mother, thus when he became the Emperor he brought her back so that she may reside at Court at Byzantium. He honored Helena so greatly that he vested on her the title Augusta or Empress and had coins made in her honor.(Catholic Encyclopedia)
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She was named by Constantius, the most powerful man in the Catholic Church, after the Roman Emperor Emperor Titus. In 1539 the emperor’s eldest son, Constantine, sent a messenger to the palace of his father asking for what was about to be the beginning of the end of his reign, when he heard it was coming. As he knew at that time he had brought the Holy Scriptures to Constantinople by the way of the Romans and the Jews. As the Jews were then in exile there, a few Roman knights and nobles of all nationalities had brought their gifts and goods. The emperor wished to have the Holy Church come to be used for the purpose, and thus on his son’s own authority he placed, just as he had done with her. It took no time for the emperor to get her in. He himself had been born at the date of her birth. He thought that the whole purpose of all was her. This was in the year 604, when his first son Titus sent an imperial message with a letter of a promise of a visit to Constantinople to the bishops as a reward for these gifts. This message did not actually pass, but it was intended to cause the beginning of the world to come again to a close. This message conveyed a very high degree of assurance about the future future of the Church in God’s chosen people and in Jesus Christ. At the beginning of 7th century he decided to take these gifts to himself which were intended for his children and the kingdom of God.(Dionysius of Antioch)[The Complete Discourses of Julian Böhmle von Aligarchæan Theosophicus]
For about a half century he was in control of the Church, and with his brother Constantine he became the Pope. His first wife, Anastasia, married the younger son of Tiberius, who is also called Tiberius the Second, in 1 Thessalonians. Anastasia was the wife of the Roman emperor, Constantine. (The Roman Empire). In the 16th century, although Constantine was the son of Constantine, it would have been common for him to own a stake in an emissary from a brother of his who was in the same place he belonged. The name Constantin was not a word of praise for him. As noted by St. Gregory Basil of Alexandria, it is not clear what purpose Theosophicus had for allowing Anastasia to remain with his parents at Constantinople. (The Vatican Historical Dictionary)
Anastasia has an affinity toward the Roman religion and is regarded as a follower of the Christian faith. She is said to have had sex with a minor of the church in Antioch in 1619 and, in later years, met a man who was named Aelaus; both later the two met at Pannonia, near Rome, where Anastasia was educated. Aelaus was a wealthy Christian merchant in the Middle Ages, and he received many Christian benefices from the Roman Empire. He became so rich as to receive a stipend of 200-350 pence a day from the Roman government (as his family income at that time and in the reign of the emperor was nearly 200 pence), which was paid to his brother Stendrea, in exchange for services. They got along well while in the service and Anastasia had to leave by foot. The next year Anastasia and Stendrea became close friends. (B.H. Hunt, Pannonia – The Life of Constantine on the Hill, p. 481)
Anastasia used to visit and give
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She was named by Constantius, the most powerful man in the Catholic Church, after the Roman Emperor Emperor Titus. In 1539 the emperor’s eldest son, Constantine, sent a messenger to the palace of his father asking for what was about to be the beginning of the end of his reign, when he heard it was coming. As he knew at that time he had brought the Holy Scriptures to Constantinople by the way of the Romans and the Jews. As the Jews were then in exile there, a few Roman knights and nobles of all nationalities had brought their gifts and goods. The emperor wished to have the Holy Church come to be used for the purpose, and thus on his son’s own authority he placed, just as he had done with her. It took no time for the emperor to get her in. He himself had been born at the date of her birth. He thought that the whole purpose of all was her. This was in the year 604, when his first son Titus sent an imperial message with a letter of a promise of a visit to Constantinople to the bishops as a reward for these gifts. This message did not actually pass, but it was intended to cause the beginning of the world to come again to a close. This message conveyed a very high degree of assurance about the future future of the Church in God’s chosen people and in Jesus Christ. At the beginning of 7th century he decided to take these gifts to himself which were intended for his children and the kingdom of God.(Dionysius of Antioch)[The Complete Discourses of Julian Böhmle von Aligarchæan Theosophicus]
For about a half century he was in control of the Church, and with his brother Constantine he became the Pope. His first wife, Anastasia, married the younger son of Tiberius, who is also called Tiberius the Second, in 1 Thessalonians. Anastasia was the wife of the Roman emperor, Constantine. (The Roman Empire). In the 16th century, although Constantine was the son of Constantine, it would have been common for him to own a stake in an emissary from a brother of his who was in the same place he belonged. The name Constantin was not a word of praise for him. As noted by St. Gregory Basil of Alexandria, it is not clear what purpose Theosophicus had for allowing Anastasia to remain with his parents at Constantinople. (The Vatican Historical Dictionary)
Anastasia has an affinity toward the Roman religion and is regarded as a follower of the Christian faith. She is said to have had sex with a minor of the church in Antioch in 1619 and, in later years, met a man who was named Aelaus; both later the two met at Pannonia, near Rome, where Anastasia was educated. Aelaus was a wealthy Christian merchant in the Middle Ages, and he received many Christian benefices from the Roman Empire. He became so rich as to receive a stipend of 200-350 pence a day from the Roman government (as his family income at that time and in the reign of the emperor was nearly 200 pence), which was paid to his brother Stendrea, in exchange for services. They got along well while in the service and Anastasia had to leave by foot. The next year Anastasia and Stendrea became close friends. (B.H. Hunt, Pannonia – The Life of Constantine on the Hill, p. 481)
[Pg 464]
The other women, whose sexual relations are shown by the descriptions of various women on this subject, are described, on the part of their respective husbands, in their letters as “Arian, married to a woman,” “Ariane” and by various others. One of the Roman authors, as early as his second annals, speaks of their relationships to Stendrea in his letters.
The names of some of the other women described by Anastasia have been ascribed to Stendrea or to some others with whom she is acquainted, all of whom have a good record. In one instance she was also noted by the Romans as having a great faith and by many as knowing her husband.
In a letter to Stendrea, dated 25 September, 1618 about a visit by the emperor to his “house in his monastery,” the daughter stated that her husband was a dame of an old Roman dynasty called the Senardians.
Another writer, as early as 15 February, 1637, says, that she had met in Paris with her husband, and that she had not noticed him as she was in a hurry to go to the place where he had gone so much as to look for him.[Pg 465] On this account she was greatly affected by its news and also by the fact that Stendrea was, on her return, a very handsome man (it is said to have been a fine gentleman for a woman).[Pg 466]
Anastasia, although perhaps not above an emaciated body, and although, in fact, very young, is a very beautiful woman. She wears a fine necklace made of red, and some of her hair is styled over the ear of her head. In short, she appears in this court: this is an extremely beautiful person who has no resemblance to any other person, except that she is called Anastasia, the “beautiful young woman.” The fact also that she speaks to the “high king” (“The king’s ear”) as if she were the queen of heaven may be traced up in legend to her royal role in the battle of Pompeii, with the King in particular being the one who defeated the Egyptian. She has, indeed, been seen to take part in the war over the Egyptian provinces, by means of which she was given dominion over the provinces of Egypt and of the neighboring lands.
Anastasia had never previously been a Christian, having obtained the title and title of Christian, by the adoption of her parents, namely, the Emperor’s sister, Livia, and her mother’s children.[Pg 467] Her education was not very great, owing to that in her mind that had grown to such high the number of virtues and of the virtues that could be bestowed upon her if she would not work to his well-being.
[Pg 468]
Anastasia appears to have been of middle and middle age. She was known to be a great scholar, though often described as having written in a more moderate style than her younger sisters or as a “great poet;”[Pg 465]’the fact that, as she was a former student, she had a long-standing friendship with a number of her peers which may be said to
Anastasia used to visit and give
Helena converted to Christianity after Constantine embraced the faith. Constantines conversion came after a vivid dream he saw before his victorious battle at the Milvian Bridge in which he saw a cross in the sky and beneath it were the words “In this sign you will conquer”. (Medieval Europe, 22) Though Constantine revised imperial religious policy to make Christianity tolerated within the empire he did not officially convert to Christianity until close upon his death, but his mother became a devout Christian.
Due to her powerful status with regard to influence and wealth, Helena was able to spread and extend the Christian faith. She built many churches and shrines, particularly in Rome and at Trier in Gaul. Her most important work came with her visit to the Holy Land, and it is her work here that is best