Helena Dragaš

Early 15th-century miniature depicting Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos with his family: empress Helena Dragaš, and three of their sons, John, Andronikos and Theodore.

Icon of Helena Dragaš as Saint Hypomone

Helena Dragaš (Serbian: Јелена Драгаш, Jelena Dragaš; (Greek: Ἑλένη Δραγάση, Elenē Dragasē; c. 1372 – 23 March 1450) was the empress consort of Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos. She is venerated as a saint by the Greek Orthodox Church, under the name of Saint Hypomone (Ὑπομονὴ).

Family

Helena was born to Constantine Dragaš of the noble House of Dejanović. Constantine was a Serbian provincial lord, ruling one of the principalities that emerged after the breakup of the Serbian Empire, centered at Velbăžd (Kyustendil). Her mother was Constantine's unnamed first wife (not his second wife, Helena's stepmother Eudokia of Trebizond). Her stepmother was a daughter of Alexios III of Trebizond and Theodora Kantakouzene, and the widow of Tadjeddin Pasha of Sinop, Emir of Limnia. Her father died in 1395 at the battle of Rovine, while fighting for his overlord Sultan Bayezid I of the Ottoman Empire against the rebel Mircea I of Wallachia.

Empress

She was well known for her beauty, piety, wisdom, and justice. Her husband (as a former emperor) became a monk with the name Matthiew (Ματθαῖος). After his death, on on 21 July 1425, she became a nun at the Monastery of Kyra Martha, taking her monastic name. She helped to establish a home for old people, with the name "The Hope of the Despaired". The home was located at the Monastery of St. John in Petrion, where the relics of St. Patapius of Thebes are also kept. Helena died on 23 March 1450 in Constantinople She is venerated by the Greek Orthodox Church as a saint. Her memory is commemorated on May 29, the day of the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans and of the death of her son Constantine XI Palaiologos. Her skull, as a holy relic, is treasured in the Monastery of Saint Patapios in Loutraki, Greece.

Marriage

On 10 February, 1392, Helena married Manuel II Palaiologos. They had several children. The list follows the order of births given by George Sphrantzes:

• A daughter. Mentioned as the eldest daughter but not named. Possibly confused with Isabella Palaiologina, an illegitimate daughter of Manuel II known to have married Ilario Doria.
• Constantine Palaiologos. Died young.
• John VIII Palaiologos (18 December, 1392 – 31 October, 1448). Byzantine emperor, 1425–1448.
• Andronikos Palaiologos, Lord of Thessalonike (d. 1429).
• A second daughter. Also not named in the text.
• Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea (d. 1448).
• Michael Palaiologos. Died young.
• Constantine XI Dragases Palaiologos (8 February, 1405 – 29 May, 1453). Despotēs in the Morea and subsequently the last Byzantine emperor, 1448–1453.
• Demetrios Palaiologos (c. 1407 – 1470). Despotēs in the Morea.
• Thomas Palaiologos (c. 1409 – 12 May, 1465). Despotēs in the Morea.

References

• "Life, akolouthia, paraklitikos kanonas and egomia of the holy mother ‘’Saint Hypomone" [Dr. Charalambos Busias, edition of Holy Monastery of Saint Patapios, Loutraki 1999]
• "Saint Hipomoni: History and asmatiki akolouthia" [Archpriest Makrystathis Sotirios, Athens, 1993]
• "Kanon parakletikos & Hairetistirioi oikoi to the Blessed Mother's Saint Hypomone" [Dr. Charalambos Busias, edition of the Holy Monastery of Saint Patapios Loutraki 2007
• "Saint Patapios" [Stylianos Papadopoulos, professor of the University of Athens, Holy Monastery of Saint Patapios, Loutraki, Greece, edition 2006).

External links

• Her listing in "Medieval lands" by Charles Cawley.
• Information about St Hypomone from the Church of Sparta
• http://www.impantokratoros.gr/agiaypomoni.el.aspx
• http://www.globalusers.com/monastir_eng.htm

Helena Dragaš House of Dejanović Born: c. 1372 Died: 1450
Royal titles
Preceded by Helena Kantakouzene	Byzantine Empress consort 1392–1425 with Irene Gattilusio (1399–1408) Anna of Moscow (1416–1417)	Succeeded by Sophia of Montferrat