THEOLOGY

Constantine's effect on Christianity

Introduction2

Discussion2

Christianity and the Unity of the Empire2

Equal to the Apostles5

Byzantine Clergy6

From Catacombs to the Byzantine Church7

Byzantine Society and Christianity8

Christian Army9

Symphonia “The Harmony of Politics and Faith”11

Conversion of Constantine12

Constantine and heresy: The Donatists12

The missionary work of Constantine13

Reflections of the Vizier14

Conclusion14

End Notes17

Introduction

In the 4th century, the status of Christianity changed due to the efforts of a single person, Constantine the Great, who officially promoted and allowed Christianity in the Empire of Rome. In Christianity, people follow the advice of their Savior gentle as doves and subtle as serpents. People might think about the great saints, leaders of the church, bishops or martyrs. But it is believed that in the starting of the 4th century, Constantine the Great made a revolutionary transformation who celebrated the unbelievable connection between the Christian Church and the civil state. During the reign of Constantine, religion was considered and persecuted as perilous sect and licit, also incorporated into the life of the empire.

Discussion

Christianity and the Unity of the Empire

Constantine is considered as a gift for Christianity as he provided “imperium” through Christianity that aroused the idea of common belonging and unity in the world. The world is fully parted by civil wars and broken by political efforts to which Constantine wanted a tough common denominator. The territories of conquered were huge and the Romanization of the dissimilar peoples was not capable to track the conquests' rhythm. He understood that monotheism Christian will bind people together which belongs to different religions and cultures, but he also understood that the initial faith was an edged sword. Every ecclesiastical struggle and heresy can be a political struggle.

The historical account of Byzantine Empire greatly existed in civil wars, which was aroused by religious misunderstandings. Due to this problem, Constantine conceived it as his duty for keeping dogmatic unity within the Church of God which is far more dangerous and evil than any sort of conflict or war. It has been observed that Constantine used to call himself “bishop of external affairs”, who look after the political and social problems of the church, even protecting its integrity. Constantine was trapped in the huge controversy for shaking the Christian unity- Arianism. In 325, the emperor dispatched a letter to the adverse parties for convening the first ecumenical council to Nicea. It was discussed that the clash of the Church became the political threat for the empire and this really mattered for the intervention of political ruler. The world changed in 325 at Nicea as cæsar entered in a meeting, surrounded by bishops but not senators regarding the solidity of the state. Constantine planned a festival for gaining the religious peace and Arius was sent into exile. Constantine wrote letters for requesting the observance of the dogmatic definitions. It seemed that Arianism was not only the single threat to religious society. The emperor called together the council of Arles for overcoming the disagreements aroused by Donatus, and issued an order against Valentinians, Novatians, Paulines and Marcionites, and considering them enemies and ...