SAINT CONSTANTINE THE GREAT AND EMPRESS HELENA

Emperor Constantine the Great ruled from 306 to 337 AD and is remembered as the first Roman emperor to accept Christianity. In 313, he issued the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom and significantly contributing to the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. His mother, Empress Helena, was also an important figure in early Christian history. She is revered for her devout faith and her pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where she discovered the True Cross. Together, they are key figures in Christian history.
A triptych is a work of art composed of three connected panels, most often painted or carved, which together form a single whole. In Christian art, especially during the Middle Ages, the triptych was used as an altarpiece or as part of an iconostasis. The central panel is usually the largest and depicts the main scene, most often Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, or the saints of our Church. The side panels are foldable and typically depict saints, angels, or the Lord and the Theotokos. It is practical for transport, which is why it was popular in the Middle Ages among traveling believers and clergy.