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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).



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