Title: "St Helen"

Who is St Helen? Helena married the Roman general Constantius Chlorus around 270 AD and they had a son, Constantine. They had been married for 21 years when Constantius took advice to divorce his wife. He abandoned Helena and Constantine to remarry into higher nobility. Helena was a woman of gentleness and integrity and was deeply hurt. Constantius married the stepdaughter of the Emperor Maximus under whom he was named Caesar. He died in 306 AD. In the early 300's Helena's son Constantine become the most powerful military figure in Rome and was finally declared Roman Emperor.  

 

At age 63 Helena converted to Catholicism with the support of her son. She had experienced a dream about the true cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and she felt divinely appointed to find it. She took to the task with enthusiasm but on arriving in Jerusalem she discovered that Christians no longer visited the holy sites, as they were covered by pagan Roman shrines and false idols of the previous 180 years. Christians in Jerusalem rejoiced as, in the name of her son, she had the pagan monuments torn down and the land cleared in preparation for erecting Catholic churches. Helena was responsible for uncovering the true cross on which Christ was crucified along with nails, rope and other artefacts. Tradition states, in proof of it being the true cross of our Lord, it was responsible for raising a dead man when they touched him with it, and a grievously sick woman was instantly healed when the shadow of the cross fell upon her.

 

Before Helena took the cross to Cyprus, the country had been without rain for 36 years. It had become desolate, drought ravaged and deserted due to hardship and famine, it had also become overrun by poisonous snakes. As the Cross was brought into the land, so came the rains, bringing with them a material and spiritual renewal. To help rid the area of snakes Helena imported a boatload of  cats which were released at Cape Gata. Constantine's governor erected a Monastery on this peninsula. The monastery is now known as St Nicholas of the Cats.

 

Helena suffered the rejection of her husband and the break-up of a 21 year marriage which saw her family unit shattered. Helena found new purpose, direction and strength through the Lord. She found her focus in God, who obviously had bigger plans for her. She used her wealth to restore the holy landmarks and to locate His life-giving symbol of hope and victory for all Christians. Converting to Catholicism at age 63 reminds us that regardless of age we are all useful in serving God.



O life-giving God of peace and victory, the inspiration of our blessed St Helen.

Enrich our lives through your gracious love, inspiring our forgiveness and respect to others, especially through times of our own pain.

Stir within us the passion for truth so that we cast off false idols, always seeking the presence of our true Lord.

Inspire us with your wisdom while strengthening our desire and commitment to succeed in the tasks you place before us.

Grant us the strength and devotion to rise up to your call during our daily struggles, to follow the light of the precious cross to victory.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.  Amen





ORIGINAL ARTIST PRINTS
These prints are the artwork's original physical form, NOT reproductions. This art work was created digitally, through painting by hand with an electronic pen on a digital drawing tablet, directly onto a computer. The process of creating an art image digitally restricts the physical presentation of the artwork to printed form. So like wood blocks, etchings, screen printing and photography, it is not possible to have any other physical representation. Each print comes with a signed certificate of Authenticity directly from the artist along with a written artist statement about the image that you are purchasing, a brief bio and an information sheet about how to care for artwork on paper.

MATERIAL QUALITY
Printed on high quality 240gm 100% cotton, acid-free, archival, fine art paper. A3 size (approx 11.5 x 16.5 inch = 29.7x42cm). Includes a signed certificate of authenticity which incorporates an artist statement, a brief artist's bio and an information sheet about how to care for art on paper. The artwork will be posted flat, sandwiched between thick cardboard so that it will NOT be rolled or creased.
View our eBay information guide about how to care for and preserve artwork on paper!

ARTIST QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE
Di holds an Art Certificate (College of TAFE 2 years full time) & a Bachelors Degree in Visual Arts (University 3 years full time) and has been a practicing artist for over 25 years. Her former employment includes Artist-In-Residence and Private Art Tutor for a community center and an Art Teacher for a children's resource unit. Currently self employed creating original contemporary fine art prints.
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