Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

When did Constantine the Great really become a Christian

10 bytes added, 21:14, 22 November 2018
m
insert middle ad
[[File: Constantine Chiaramonti Inv1749.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|A bust of Constantine]]
If Constantine did have a conversion experience before the Milvian Bridge then he would have championed the Church in the years after it. The relationship of Constantine to the Church is essential if we are to understand if he had a genuine conversion experience in 312 AD. He began immediately to favor the Christians after his victory over Maxentius. In 313 AD he reached an agreement with the Emperor in the Licinius, that ended the persecution in the eastern half of the Empire.<ref> Drake, H.A., "The Impact of Constantine on Christianity", in Lenski, N (ed.), <i>The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine</i>, Cambridge, 2006: 111-136 </ref>
 
<dh-ad/>
Constantine, after 312 AD began to favor the Christian clergy and he began a large scale Church building program in Rome and elsewhere in his empire. He built Basilicas and churches, especially in Rome. Constantine promoted many Christians to important positions in his army and they were very influential at his court as advisors <ref>Drake, 2006, p. 121</ref>. These could be interpreted as the actions of a new convert, who was eager to demonstrate his faith. However, there was much about Constantine that was not Christian and he was noticeably war-like, while most Christians at the time were pacifists. The Church was elevated to a position of influence but it was clearly under the control of Constantine.

Navigation menu