Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, the Christian ruler who brought prosperity and order to the Roman and Byzantine empires during his 21-year-reign, was possibly a Sicilian barmaid. She later became pious and revered as the alleged discoverer of Christ's cross in Jerusalem. It's just one of the details explored by Terry Julian in his eighth non-fiction title, Constantine, Christianity, and Constantinople (Trafford $19.95). Constantine was not baptized until he lay on his death bed because, according to Julian, "Baptism in those days was taken very seriously and it was common to defer it as late as possible so that there was less chance of committing mortal sin subsequently."; 141207003-1

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