Role of Emperor Constantine in the evolution of Christianity

Constantine was born in CE 272 to Flavius Constantius, a Roman army officer, and Helena, his concubine.

A brief history of the Roman empire of the time is relevant here. The dates, all CE, refer to the period of the reign of emperors.

Emperor Diocletian reigned from 284-305. He decided, for administrative reasons, to divide the Empire into two regions, East and West, and to appoint co-emperors in each. He took charge of the East from 286 and made Maximian co-emperor of the West (286-305). In 305, Maximian adopted Constantius, father of Constantine, as co-emperor and heir to the West. Constantius ruled for 1 year 2 months (305-306). After his death, Constantine (306-337) was declared co-emperor of the West by his troops. In the meantime, Maximian made his son Maxentius (306-312) the co-emperor of the West. Meanwhile, Licinius (308-324) was the co-emperor of the East.

With two co-emperors Constantine and Maxentius in charge of the West, civil wars and internal battles for dominance were to be expected. The battle of Milvian Bridge was one such battle. It was a historical turning point not only in the life of Emperor Constantine but also in the evolution of Christianity as an organized religion.

Milvian bridge was an important route to Rome over River Tiber. The armies of the opposing emperors stood on either side of the river. The army of Maxentius outnumbered Constantine’s two to one, was better equipped and fresh. The day before the battle, Constantine knelt to pray to his favorite Sun god, Sol. Suddenly he had a vision. He saw black rays leap diagonally out of the sun and heard in his head the name Christos. He had heard his mother Helena, who had become a Christian, utter this name frequently. He had never thought anything about it till then. A voice from somewhere out of this world seems to be telling him: “In this sign, you will conquer.”

He immediately ordered to substitute Christ’s symbol for that of the Roman Imperial Eagle on the soldiers’ shields. The next morning, 27 October 312, he routed the armies of Maxentius and entered Rome in triumph. Maxentius tried to escape by diving into the river Tiber, but his heavy armor dragged him down and he drowned. After his victory, Constantine began to sponsor Christianity because it had proved itself useful in winning him a decisive battle.

“So began the fatal alliance between Caesar and Pope, Throne and Altar.”, comments De Rosa.

Among the more important follow-up to Constantine’s victory were the following:

1.       Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire for their beliefs. It started with Nero in 64 AD and continued with great vigor during Emperor Diocletian’s time. Constantine, believing his all-important victory at Milvian bridge was helped by Christ, was the first emperor to stop the persecution of Christians and to legalize Christianity. He was also influenced by his Christian mother Helena.

2.       In February 313, he met in Milan with Licinius, the co-emperor of the East, and developed the Edict of Milan, which stated that Christians would be allowed to follow their faith without oppression. This removed penalties for professing Christianity, under which many had been martyred previously, and it returned confiscated Church property. The Edict protected all religions from persecution, not only Christianity, allowing anyone to worship any deity that they chose.

The Edict of Milan is an exemplary example of religious tolerance drawn up by two bloodthirsty warriors. The tragedy was and continues to be that this principle of tolerance was often not practiced by the church. Whenever she was in control, she tried to deny freedom of religion to others.

3.       When Constantine became Emperor, there were many sects among Christians holding divergent and opposing views on doctrinal matters. One such doctrine was propounded by Arius, an Alexandrian priest (250–336). He denied the divinity of Christ, maintained that the son of God was created by the Father at a point in time and was, therefore, neither coeternal nor consubstantial with the Father. Others opposed this view. This debate was becoming more and more acrimonious and bloody. Constantine saw a spiritual split threatening the unity of the empire. To resolve the issue, he convened the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nicaea is the present-day Iznik in Turkey. 

According to De Rosa, most bishops supported the Arian view. Constantine, a pagan, with ‘no known theological preferences’, rose from his gold throne to end the discussion. Probably to demonstrate that he was in charge, “he proposed the ‘orthodox view’ of God’s Son Jesus being of one substance with the Father”. The whole matter was put to vote and Arius’ doctrine was rejected by a vote of 3 to 217. It was agreed that God had made the world from nothing and that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were the same substance.

This is the Nicaean creed that Catholics all over profess during Sunday mass. We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father… 

Here we have a belief system that was democratically chosen!!

Legend has it that Constantine was baptized on his deathbed by an Arian bishop named Eusebius!