The Statue Of Saint Helena

The statue of Saint Helena, created by Andrea Bolgi, is a marble sculpture completed between 1629 and 1639. The sculpture depicts Saint Helena holding the relic of the True Cross, an element closely connected to her life and legacy.

The Story of Saint Helena

Saint Helena was the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine I. She is best known for her discovery of the True Cross of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem when she was nearly 80 years old. Helena is also remembered for her significant contributions to church construction and her extensive charitable works. She embraced Christianity later in life, and her faith deeply influenced her son, Constantine I, who became the first Roman emperor to openly profess Christianity.

When Emperor Constantine I planned to build a basilica on Mount Calvary, Saint Helena, despite her advanced age, resolved to travel to Jerusalem in search of the True Cross. After years of searching, three crosses were discovered on Mount Calvary, along with the nails and the inscription tablet that had been affixed to Christ’s cross. Empress Helena ordered the construction of a magnificent basilica on Calvary and placed the precious relic of the True Cross within the sanctuary.

Saint Helena later returned to Rome, where she died in 330 AD.