CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

Introduction: Constantine biography, belief, and teachings

Constantine the Great was the first emperor to convert to Christianity. Constantine was born in Naissus in modern-day Serbia in 280 AD. He received his education in the Diocletian’s court. He got exceptional abilities to read and write both in Latin and Greek. In 303 AD, the great Christian persecution began where there was a widespread murder, arrests, executions, and abuse of Christians. He opposed the persecutions. His father was the western roman emperor. Constantine’s mother, who was from humble beginnings, is unknown if she was a wife or a concubine to Constantius. He fought battles in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Russia. In 305 AD, he later joined his father, who was in a military campaign in Britain where he became Emperor Constantius I. Constantine had great victories over his opponents during his fights. His troops chose him as their emperor. He defended his position from roman divisions. In 312, he won the battle and met Maxentius on River Tiber. He had a night vision of Jesus and was asked to use the Christian cross. He made his soldiers use the cross sign and vowed that if he won, he would adopt Christianity. He won his battle and entered Rome. Constantine was able to prove superiority over his rivals. Constantine became the western Roman Emperor. (Pohlsander, 2002)

 

The Milvian bridge fight

It occurred after Constantine had taken over the western empire. The battle of the Milvian bridge was between Maxentius, Constantine I, and the Roman Emperors, and it took place in 312. It is at the bridge of the Tiber River, and Constantine won the fight, and he initiated the way that brought an end to tetrarchy, and he becomes the sole emperor of the Roman Empire. Maxentius drown in River Tiber, and he had his head removed.

This battle marked the process of converting to Christianity. He ha a vision where he saw a cross sign, and he vowed if he won the battle, he would use the sign. He won the battle and commanded all his troops to have the sign on their shields and emerged victorious in all his fights. (Van and Raymond, 2011)

How Constantine impacted the church

By legalizing Christianity, Constantine saw it as a way to unite people. Constantine was returning all the land that had been taken away by the roman empires. He increased confidence levels among Christian who are under attack and persecution. He did not publicly declare his Christianity until he was 40. He called upon the council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The Nicene creed came from this meeting that declared that Jesus was a spiritual being. This defined rules and regulations for the whole church. The council also made a decision on the Arian controversy. The council also guided the people on the correct form of worship, and they eradicated the heretical religions that existed.

Constantine issued reforms while in power to keep the regime strong. This was done by re-arranging the army, which helped Constantine when he met with the tribes of Sarmatians and Visigoths.  His mother (Helena) encouraged him to convert to the faith himself because she was a Christian. Termination of killing and persecution of Christians by Constantine was a turning point for early Christians. He was presiding major church events, arranging key ceremony events, excellent services, and processions. Constantine made it possible for Christian to take up roles and positions in the church.

They also established a position for the emperor of the church, who ensured that God was properly worshiped. The church bishops had a role where they would define the doctrines. Constantine was asked to arbitrate in a north African dispute of the sects.  Constantine abolished practices like crucifixion, killing of infants unwanted, killing games, church taxations, Sunday as the first day of the week, and slavery.

Constantine was baptized near-death 25 years later as a Christian despite the fact that most Christians had a belief that he could not be forgiven after baptism, especially if because he had sins of worldly men. If he waited to be baptized on the bed, he believed he would have ana unclean soul. (Chadwick, 1978 1-13) Before baptism, he had ordered the murder of his wife and eldest son. He also was still worshipping the sun god until his baptism by an unorthodox bishop.

Constantine’s conversion to Christianity changed so many things. The incense used as a sign of respect found its way to the church. Church ministers stated to put on expensive garments that had worn clothes until then. Gestures that were made before the emperor as a sign of respect found their way to Christian worship. Processional customs before the service were also introduced. Choirs came up. The people in the congregation had fewer active responsibilities in the church as there were processional organized services by the church ministers. (Roldanus, 2006)

By the 2^nd century, anniversaries to remember the death of martyrs were done by taking communion where they had been buried. Churches were constructed in other places. People now started attending the churches as the only place of worship. There was an upspring of church structures. Some put an altar at the center, but many followed the rectangular basilica shape. (Perkins, 1954, 69-90) There came big churches called basilicas, where they were from large private structures that were rectangular. Constantine’s conversion to Christianity changed the belief procedure, worship patterns, and the empire position. There was the introduction of the diocese, where there was regional governance for the church.

Constantine aided in solving internal conflicts in the church. The involvement of the problem solving was seen mostly in the Nicaea’s council and Arles’ council. Constantine had a significant influence on the enforcement and enactment of doctrines in the church. (Grant, 1975 1-12)

Culture of his day and the impact or control his life and teachings have in Christian today.

Paganism also crept in church. The introduction of idols in the church started where some icons were brought in church. Holidays like Christmas, which was the pagan midwinter festivals that were brought into Christianism. The decorations of Christmas with green was one of the ways druids respected and honored the sun god in the winter. Easter that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus was the pagan’s term to represent the “queen of heaven.” Most of the Christian practices were adapted from paganism, which was brought in after Constantine allowed Christianity in Rome. Modern churches are based on ancient paganism.  (Gregory, 1986 229-242)

The churches have introduced bishops who put on specific robes rather than the old times where they put on clothes that were not decorated. The roman catholic churches have their bishop put on a unique cap, special long purple robes which were introduced from pagans who were allowed to enter the churches. Constantine appointed the bishops into the churches with expensive gowns. The bishops were in charge of the marginalized diocese among churches in the roman catholic churches. (Drake, 2002)

The Nicene Creed was also introduced to churches as a unifying theme in the roman catholic churches, which adopted it also to unify Christian and bring about cohesion. It also stated that God was a divine being, and it showed people how they are supposed to call on to God and worship him. (Thielicke, Doberstein and Anderson, 1968)

Adaption of pagans into the church, there was a chance of day of worship from Saturday to Sunday where they felt incorporated. They came into the church since Constantine’s primary responsibility was to unify everyone in one accord and into the Christian religion. The formal day of worship in Christians was Saturday. The pagans used to worship Sun on Sunday. This union resulted in changing in the day of worship to Sunday, which is today observed even in the roman catholic church. (Rodorf, 1968)

Idolatry was also introduced in churches by the pagans who were incorporated in the church. The pagans brought in some idols and renamed them after the apostles, which is still present even in today’s roman catholic church.

The Christians also changed some practices like baptism, where they stated to baptize small children in fear they would die, and the law said that one has to be born again. Incense, which was also introduced. Constantine’s directive of everyone going to church, affected and diluted Christianism significantly and influenced a lot of practices. (Cramer, 2003 1150)

Christianity was registered as a cult. This meant that Christian could publicly declare their faith without fear of persecution from the government and the roman empire. They were allowed to own properties, freedom of assembly, and many more privileges that Christians were restricted. Finally, the Christians ere equated to other religions like paganism, and the church members would hold positions of power. (Drake, 2006)

Constantine had a benefit of support by Christians by making Christianity legal. He made it active by institutionalizing the support. The operations within the roman empire would now collect taxes and unify the people, thus improving the economy of the empire.

Constantine’s governance would address the people’s concerns immediately as the church had a significant influence on his governance. The church had to give up the freedom, and the state gave up power. The state ruled through the church.  The church bishops and the emperor were willing to work together, but some people would use corrupt means because of the coalition. Church often used the advantage of favor of the emperor. Constantine accepted Christianity, and they gained back privileges that had been lost. (Wilken, 2001 36-36)

Constantine the Great built the Constantinople. It was an amazing city built with amazing streets and beautiful sceneries. It had good roads and other essential factors. He left the empire to his sons. (Mansel, 2011 1453-1924)

 

How Constantine has shaped students’ understandings and belief

Constantine’s legalization of Christianity has impacted the student’s beliefs and understanding in various ways.

Students understand that Constantine empire paved the way for the Roman Catholic church, which has the head as a pope and is responsible for spearheading all major church events in the world. He blesses and prays on behalf of all Christians. In the eventuality of a major tragedy or unpeaceful situation, the pope is always available to pray and comfort Christians all over the world.  He also appoints vital leaders in the Roman Catholic Church. (Valuer, 1971 479-502)

The student is currently in a position to understand how the Christian has been formed, how paganism found its way inside the church, and all that it changed as a result. One is in a position to know the truth of how Constantine had a strong influence on church leadership and control. The student now can be in a place to make better and sound decisions on what to believe. (MacMullen, 1981)

Constantine has played a significant role in Christianity both I the right way and also has affected it in bad ways. In this paper, the students can make an informed decision on this finding.

 

Works cited

Chadwick, Henry. “Conversion in Constantine the Great.” Studies in Church History 15 (1978): 1-13.

Drake, Harold A. “The impact of Constantine on Christianity.” The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine 113 (2006).

 

Grant, Robert M. “Religion and Politics at the Council at Nicaea.” The Journal of Religion 55.1 (1975): 1-12.

 

Gregory, Timothy E. “The survival of paganism in Christian Greece: a critical essay.” The American Journal of Philology 107.2 (1986): 229-242.

 

Van Dam, Raymond. Remembering Constantine at the Milvian Bridge. Cambridge University Press, 2011.