Flavius Valerius Constantine, known as Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine, was the only emperor of the Western Roman Empire. In the years of his empire he signed the Mediolanon Decree establishing the principle of religious freedom, and in an attempt to consolidate internal peace he moved the capital of his empire from Rome to Constantinople and convened the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea, a crucial event for future of the Christian Church. He converted to Christianity shortly before his death. His mother was Saint Helena, who dedicated her life to charitable projects and the spread of Christian teaching. On his own initiative, he built the magnificent Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Resurrection on Calvary Hill. The discovery of the Holy Cross is attributed to her. She is almost always depicted with her son San Costantino and the Holy Cross between them.
