Ginbot 9 — May 17

Saint Helena, Who Found the Holy Cross

Today we remember a kind and holy woman named Helena. She grew up in a city called Roha, and her mother and father loved God very much. They taught her to read, to pray, and to love the Church. Helena was beautiful, but the most beautiful thing about her was her loving, good heart.

A king heard about Helena and married her. They had a son named Constantine, who grew up to be an emperor, a great ruler over many lands. Constantine was the first emperor ever to love and follow Jesus, and his mother had taught him well.

One night, Helena had a special dream. A voice told her to go to the city of Jerusalem and find the Cross of Jesus, the wooden cross where He gave His life for us before He rose again. It had been hidden away for a long time, so Helena traveled far to look for it.

After searching and searching, Helena found three crosses, but she did not know which one was the Cross of Jesus. So she prayed for God to show her. A holy man brought someone who had died, and laid him on the crosses one by one. When the person touched the true Cross of Jesus, he came back to life! Helena was filled with joy, because now she knew God had helped her find it.

Helena was so thankful that she used her money to build beautiful churches in the holy places. She brought the Cross home to her son, and everyone rejoiced. Helena spent the rest of her long life feeding people who were hungry and giving clothes to those who were cold. She lived to be eighty years old, and she died peacefully, resting in God.

Go to Jerusalem and find the Cross, and the beautiful holy places.— the voice in Helena's dream

She gave food to the hungry and clothes to the cold, because she loved God and loved people.

Baydar and Sylvanus

Two faithful friends of God are remembered today as well: Baydar and Sylvanus. We do not know many stories about them, but we know they loved God and stayed close to Him all their lives.

It is good to remember saints even when their stories are short. Every person who loves God is precious to Him, and God remembers each one by name. We can ask Baydar and Sylvanus to pray for us, just as we ask a good friend to pray for us when we need help.