4th century; another feast day is celebrated on August 25. Saint Helen
was a princess, the wife of Emperor Magnus Clemens Maximus who ruled
Britain, Gaul, and Spain from 383 until 388, when he died at Aquileia
while en route to Rome to obtain recognition. His wife accompanied him.
Apparently they stayed at Treves (Trier, Germany) for some time before
travelling
further. Welsh tradition attributes to her the making of roads (Sarn
Elen or Fford Elen) and leading a military expedition into North Wales.
She was reputed to have born five children, including one named
Constantine. For this reason she is often confused with Saint Helena,
the discoverer of the True Cross. Together with St Constantine
(Gestynin) and another son St Peblig, she introduced into Wales the
Celtic form of monasticism of St Martin of Tours. St.Gregory of Tours
records that Elen and Macsen met St. Martin while they were in Gaul.
She may be the patron of some of the Welsh churches bearing the name
Helen and of Llanelen in West Gower
(
Farmer).