Name day
Helen: Name Day and Patron Saint
Helen keeps the name day on 21 May, or 3 June on the Old Calendar: the feast of Sts Constantine and Helen.
- Patron saint
- Sts Constantine and Helen
- New Calendar
- 21 May
- Old Calendar
- 3 June
- Next name day
- 21 May 2027 (New Calendar) · 3 June 2027 (Old Calendar)
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of May · The feasts of June
The patron saint: Sts Constantine and Helen
Kept on 21 May, or 3 June on the Old Calendar · Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen
St Constantine was born around 274, the son of Constantius Chlorus, who ruled Gaul and Britain, and of St Helen, a Christian woman of humble birth. Proclaimed emperor by the army in 306, he faced rivals for the throne and prayed for a sign. The Lord showed him a radiant Cross in the sky with the words “In this Sign, conquer.” He placed the Cross on his battle standard, defeated Maxentius in 312, and the next year, by the Edict of Milan, ended the persecution of Christians. He recalled the confessors from exile, built churches, cared for the clergy, gathered the bishops at Nicaea in 325 to confess the faith in the Creed, and moved his capital to the city that took his name, Constantinople. He received holy baptism near the end of his life and died on Pentecost in 337. His mother, honored with the title Augusta, went to Jerusalem in her old age. There, with Patriarch Macarius, she found the Life-giving Cross of the Lord in 326, cleared the holy places of pagan shrines, and raised churches over them, giving generous alms and at times serving the poor with her own hands. She died in 327. For their labors for the Church, both are called Equal to the Apostles. The Church keeps their feast together on 21 May (3 June on the Old Calendar), and the faithful ask their prayers for those who govern, for families, and for a love of the precious Cross.
What the faithful pray for
- those who govern and hold authority
- mothers and sons, and the faith of families
- love and reverence for the Cross of Christ
- peace and freedom for the Church
- pilgrims to the Holy Land
Helen in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Helen, Helena, Ellen, Eleanor, Elena, Elaine, Ilona, Eleni, Yelena, Olena | Nell, Nellie, Ellie, Lena, Lainey, Nora |
| Greek | Ελένη, Eleni | Λένα, Λενιώ, Ελενίτσα, Νίτσα, Lenio, Nitsa |
| Russian | Елена, Elena, Yelena | Лена, Леночка, Алёна, Алёнка, Lena, Lenochka, Alyona, Alena, Alyonka |
| Ukrainian | Олена, Olena | Оленка, Леся, Olenka |
| Bulgarian | Елена, Elena | Ели, Eli |
| Serbian | Јелена, Jelena | Јеца, Jeca, Jela |
| Romanian | Elena | Lenuța, Ilenuța |
| Georgian | ელენე, Elene | Eliko |
| Arabic | هيلانة, Hilana, Helena, Hélène | |
| Spanish | Elena | |
| Italian | Elena | |
| French | Hélène | |
| German | Helene |
An icon for Helen
We don't carry an icon of Sts Constantine and Helen yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
Folding diptychChrist (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God
Kept on the same day, 21 May$99$69
Folding diptychSt Alexandra (passion-bearer Empress) & Guardian Angel
Another royal saint$99$69
For every name: the Guardian Angel, given at baptism
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.
A name-day gift for Helen
Name-Day Gift Set $213$149
A patron saint's folding diptych chosen by first name, a stainless steel crucifix and a prayer rope, in a gift box with a card giving the saint's life and feast day.
The St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych is chosen, for the Guardian Angel every Orthodox Christian receives at baptism, and the name is filled in.
Other names with this saint
Questions
When is Helen’s name day?
Helen keeps the name day on 21 May on the New Calendar and on 3 June on the Old Calendar, the feast of Sts Constantine and Helen.
Who is the patron saint of Helen?
Sts Constantine and Helen. St Constantine was born around 274, the son of Constantius Chlorus, who ruled Gaul and Britain, and of St Helen, a Christian woman of humble birth.
How is Helen written in other languages?
Greek: Ελένη (Eleni), Russian: Елена (Elena), Ukrainian: Олена (Olena), Bulgarian: Елена (Elena), Serbian: Јелена (Jelena) and Romanian: Elena. Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Helen?
We don’t carry an icon of Sts Constantine and Helen yet, and you can ask for one on this page. Every Orthodox Christian has a Guardian Angel from baptism, so the Name-Day Gift Set ($149) with the Guardian Angel diptych is always fitting.
More about name days
- Name Days Explained: What They Are, How Families Keep Them, and Gifts
A name day is the feast of the saint whose name you carry. Here is how to find yours on either calendar, how Greek and Russian families keep it, and what to give.
- Orthodox Patron Saint: How to Find Yours (by Name, Day or Choice)
Your Orthodox patron saint is the saint whose name you were given at baptism. Here is how to find yours by name, by the day of your birth or baptism, or by choice, and how to keep the name day.
- Find another name