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Why was Constantine the great important to the history of the church?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Emperor Constantine I of the Byzantine Empire conquered Rome in 312AD and established an edict (a few years prior) that made Christianity (Catholicism) the religion of the Empire. He was the first Christian Emperor and because of his edict, Christianity was able to take root throughout the Roman Empire.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoConstantine the Great favoured Christianity. He promoted Christians in the imperial administration. He built Christian churches. He also tried to arbitrate schismatic disputes between Christians in the west (between Western Christianity and the dissident Donatist sect of Africa) and between opposing Christian doctrines (particularly between Eastern Christianity and the dissident Arian Christianity). He did so by summoning 'synods', local councils of bishops (as with that of Arles of 314 to deal with Donatism in the west) and 'ecumenical' councils which were meant to be binding on the whole church. In so doing, Constantine started a tradition of emperors becoming involved in church matters and in the politics of the church in an official capacity, even though they did not control the church in a legal manner and they were not its heads.
With his policies, Constantine brought Christianity, which was a relatively small religion within the Roman Empire, to prominence and set in motion the liaison between the Christian church and the emperors and their religious policies which continued after his reign as all subsequent emperors, apart for Julian, were Christians. His summoning of the Council of Nicaea (see below), which was meant to arbitrate the dispute with Arian Christianity, and which produced the Nicene Creed which became the creed of mainstream Christianity, set in motion a process which eventually lead to co-emperors Gratian and Theodosius I to decree this creed as the sole legitimate religion of the empire and ban Arianism, which was branded as heretic and to Theodosius persecuting Arianism.
The churches which Constantine built were the original Basilica of St Peter's in Rome, the St John Lateran's Basilica (the city of Rome's first Cathedral and the original residence of the Popes), the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople and Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Constantine summoned the Council of Nicaea (325) which was a watershed. It was the first attempt at gathering all Christian bishops and the first time that a ruling of a council was declared universally binging on the whole of the Christian Church. It affirmed the Nicene Creed of mainstream Christianity with regard to the trinity, which held the consubstantiality of the Father and the Son. The Father (God) and Jesus were "of the same substance" or "of one being" and therefore, Jesus was divine and equal to God. It condemned the dissident Christian views, particularly that of Arian Christianity (preached by Arius a presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt) as heretic. This held that Jesus was not equal to the Father (infinite, primordial origin) and to the Holy Spirit (giver of life) and that the Son (Jesus) was a subordinate entity to God the Father.
Constantine attended all the meetings of the council of Nicaea. He endorsed its ruling, exiled Arius and two of his supporters and issued an edict against Arianism which ordered all the writing by Arius to be burned to obliterate his teaching and his memory and established the death penalty for those who secretly owned copies of his writings. Since the Arian controversy did not abate, Constantine became more lenient and ban lifted the ban and the exile.
Constantine also summoned the First Synod of Tyre (335)to hear allegations against Athanasius, the most virulent opponent of Arius who was accused of immoral conduct, illegally taxing the Egyptians, supporting rebels against the emperor, murdering a bishop and keeping his hand for magical rites. The council was presided over by Irene, Constantine's wife, and condemned Athanasius. Still in 335 Constantine summoned the Synod ofJerusalem to consecrate the Church of the Holy Apostles and, more importantly, to ask the bishops to readmit Arius to the church, which the bishops agreed to. He he also ordered all the bishops who had been at Tyre to come to Constantinople because Athanasius had met him there and had asked him to allow him to appeal before the emperor and these bishops. The bishops brought a new accusation of having threatened to cut off the grain supply to Constantinople from Egypt. Constantine angered by this exiled Athanasius to Gaul. This was primarily a means for restoring the peace of the church. The bishops also held the Synod of Constantinople of 335 to depose Marcellus of Ancyra (another strong opponent of Arianism) accusing him of disrespect to the emperor and heresy.
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When did Constantine the Great join the church?
There is no historical proof that Constantine the Great ever joined the church. All we have it the assertion of his friend Eusebius who was bishop of the church and would do anything to promote Christianity. After Constantine was dead and could not refute him, Eusebius claimed that he converted on his deathbed. You can make up your own mind as to the "conversion" of a man who had lived as a pagan all his life.
How did Constantine the Great Revolutionize Christianity?
A:Until the time of Emperor Constantine, the main Christian Church was led by its bishops. The most revolutionary change Constantine made was to make the Roman emperor the absolute head of the Church. In taking on the role of appointing bishops, he declared, "My will be done."
Was Constantine a Greek Philosopher?
Several persons in history bear the name Constantine but none was a philosopher. The first known is Constantine I the Great Emperor of Rome and introductor of the christian religion as the official Roman religion.
What was so important about the edict of Milan to the Romans?
The co-emperors Constantine I (the Great) and Licinus I
Who moved the capital city to Byzantium?
Constantine.Constantine.Constantine.Constantine.Constantine.Constantine.Constantine.Constantine.Constantine.
When was Saint Constantine the Great considered a saint?
Constantine is not considered a saint in the Catholic Church, only in the Orthodox Church.
Why is Constantine the Great 'the Great'?
Constantine is important to ancient Rome because he was the first emperor of Christianity.
Is Constantine the Great a saint?
In the Orthodox Church he is. Not in the Catholic Church, though his mother, Helena, is.
When is Saint Constantine celebrated?
If you are referring to Constantine the Great, he is considered a saint only in the Orthodox Church, not in the Western Church. There are several other saints named Constantine so you need to be more specific,
When did Constantine the Great join the church?
There is no historical proof that Constantine the Great ever joined the church. All we have it the assertion of his friend Eusebius who was bishop of the church and would do anything to promote Christianity. After Constantine was dead and could not refute him, Eusebius claimed that he converted on his deathbed. You can make up your own mind as to the "conversion" of a man who had lived as a pagan all his life.
What has the author May Cochrane written?
May Cochrane has written: 'An important chapter in English Church History' -- subject(s): Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Great Britain), History, Church history
How did Constantine the Great Revolutionize Christianity?
A:Until the time of Emperor Constantine, the main Christian Church was led by its bishops. The most revolutionary change Constantine made was to make the Roman emperor the absolute head of the Church. In taking on the role of appointing bishops, he declared, "My will be done."
Ambrose and Constantine divided the Roman Empire?
I guess that by Constantine you mean Constantine the Great. Constantine and Ambrose were not really contemporaries. Ambrose was only 7 when Constantine died. He was not involved in decisions regarding the empire. Ambrose is better known as St Ambrose. He was the bishop of Milan and one of the Latin doctors of the Church, or 'fathers' of the Catholic Church. His theology contributed to laying the foundation of the Catholic doctrine. In payed an important part in shaping the doctrine of the immaculate conception. He saw virginity as superior to marriage and Mary as a model for this. His writings on ethics were also important. He also opposed the Arianism of emperor Velentinian II.
Why is Constantine a saint?
Constantine the Great is not considered a saint in the Roman Catholic Church but is in the Orthodox Church. He was the Roman emperor that legalized Christianity and built numerous churches and shrines, especially in the Holy Land, along with his mother St. Helena.
Was Constantine a Greek Philosopher?
Several persons in history bear the name Constantine but none was a philosopher. The first known is Constantine I the Great Emperor of Rome and introductor of the christian religion as the official Roman religion.
Why is Constantine not a saint?
Constantine the Great is not considered as a saint in the Catholic religion. While he did make a death bed conversion to Christianity his life up to that point was anything but a saintly one. He is considered a saint in the Orthodox tradition. There are a few other Catholic saints named Constantine, however.
What did Saint Constantine do?
Constantine the Great is not considered a saint in the Roman Catholic Church but is in the Orthodox Church. He was the Roman emperor that legalized Christianity and built numerous churches and shrines, especially in the Holy Land, along with his mother St. Helena. There are, however, several other saints named Constantine that can be viewed at this link.
