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''Augusta Helen Palaiologos'' was the daughter of the emperor of Slavs ''Constantine Dragasis''. She became empress of Byzantium as the wife of ''Emmanuel Palaiologos''. She had six children. As empress she was noted for her pious works. She was pious and honored God, and related with people in a godly manner. She was well known for her piety, wisdom, and justice. Her husband (as a former emperor) became a [[monk]] with the name ''Mathieu''. After his death she became a [[nun]] at the ''Monastery of Kira–Martha'', taking the name Ipomoni (or Hipomoni). 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 of the Stone'' where the [[relics]] of St. [[Patapius of Thebes]] are also kept.
She died on [[March 13]], 1450. Her son, Emperor [[Constantine XI Palaiologos]], died on the [[altar]] table of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] during the fall of Constantinople on [[May 29]], 1453, while many other Christians were slaughtered by the Ottoman Turk forces of ''Sultan Mehmet II'' throughout the city as well as inside the famous [[church]].
Her [[icon]] is found inside the cage of St. Patapius at the [[Monastery of St Patapios (Loutraki)|Monastery of St. Patapius]] in Loutraki, Greece. Her skull is inside the ''Church of Mary'' in the same monastery.
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