Elen 86465 217507318 2008-06-06T10:08:04Z Dimadick 24198 /* References */ '''Elen''' (known in Welsh tradition as '''Elen Luyddog'''; also known as '''Saint Helen of Caernarfon''') was a late [[4th century]] founder of churches in [[Wales]] who is remembered as a [[saint]]. Traditionally she is said to have been a [[Romano-British]] princess and the wife of Macsen or [[Magnus Maximus|Magnus Clemens Maximus]], Emperor in [[Roman Britain|Britain]], [[Gaul]] and [[Spain]], where he died seeking imperial recognition in [[388]]. ==Church tradition== Elen was mother of five, including a boy named Constantine, but she lived about sixty years later than [[Helena of Constantinople]], the mother of [[Constantine the Great]] with whom she has, in times past, been confused. She is [[patron saint|patron]] of [[Llanelan]] in West [[Gower peninsula|Gower]] and of the church at Penisa'r-waun near [[Caernarfon]], where her feast day is [[May 22]]. Together with her sons, Cystennin (Constantine) and Peblig (Publicius, named in the calendar of the [[Church in Wales]]), she is said to have introduced into Wales the [[Celtic Christianity|Celtic]] form of monasticism from Gaul. Saint [[Gregory of Tours]] and [[Sulpicius Severus]] records that Maximus and Elen met Saint [[Martin of Tours]] while they were in Gaul. ==Literary tradition== Elen's story is told in ''[[The Dream of Macsen Wledig]]'', one of the tales associated with the ''[[Mabinogion]]''. [[Welsh mythology]] remembers her as the daughter of a chieftain of north Wales named Eudaf or Eudwy, who probably lived somewhere near the Roman base of [[Segontium]], now [[Caernarfon]]. She is remembered for having Macsen build [[Roman road|roads]] across her country so that the soldiers could more easily defend it from attackers, thus earning her the name ''Elen Luyddog'' (Elen of the Hosts). She is said to have ordered the making of [[Sarn Helen]], the great Roman road running from Caernarfon to south Wales via [[Dolgellau]], [[Pennal]] and Bremia ([[Llanddewi Brefi]]). Though this road bears her name it is considerably older than Elen's accepted time period. Many other Roman roads in Wales bear her name (e.g. Llwybr Elen) and she is thus acknowledged as the patron saint of British roadbuilders{{Fact|date=February 2008}} and the protectoress of travellers. ==References== *Farmer, David (1997). ''Oxford Dictionary of Saints'', 4th edition. Oxford. (Listed as Helen of Caernarvon). *Pennick, Thorsons (1997). ''The Celtic Saints''. Thorsons. {{Celtic mythology (Welsh)}} [[Category:4th century births]] [[Category:Ancient Roman women]] [[Category:Ancient Romans in Britain]] [[Category:Sub-Roman monarchs]] [[Category:Welsh mythology]] [[Category:Welsh royalty]] [[Category:Welsh saints]] [[cy:Elen Luyddog]] [[es:Elena de Caernarfon]] [[it:Elen Lwyddog]]