The image shows a traditional Orthodox icon of two of Christianity's most central historical figures: Saint Constantine the Great and his mother, Saint Helena. The motif and symbolism: The icon follows a very classical composition, with the two saints flanking the True Cross. Saint Constantine (left): He was the Roman emperor who stopped the persecution of Christians with the Edict of Milan in 313. He is seen here in imperial garb with a crown and halo, symbolizing his status as both a secular ruler and "Equal to the Apostles" (Isapostolos). Saint Helena (right): The emperor's mother, who according to tradition traveled to Jerusalem and found the cross on which Jesus was crucified. She also wears a crown and often holds a palm branch or touches the cross, as seen here. The Holy Cross: Placed centrally between them, it marks their joint efforts to spread and establish the Christian faith in the Byzantine Empire. The icon has partial surface scratches and missing paint. The icon is original and with expected signs of wear as shown in the photos. Presumably made in Greece at the end of the 19th century.