The Emperor Constantine (306-337), although brought up as a pagan, manifested a decided preference for the Christian religion. His brother-in-law, Licinius, the co-emperor, favored paganism. In the war between them, victory[1]came to Constantine, and Licinius lost both his kingdom and his life (324).
Having become sole ruler of the empire, Constantine, with the encouragement of his Christian mother, St. Helena, began gradually to eliminate paganism. Laws were passed in favor of the Christians; and important offices given to them. At first, the pagan religion was tolerated; but finally, regulations prohibiting all immoral and deceptive forms of worship were brought to bear upon the pagans. Magnificent Christian churches, like the church of the Holy Sepulcher at Jerusalem and St. Peter’s at Rome, were erected; and the Christian religion spread more and more. The sons of Constantine were instructed in the Christian religion.
In the year 330, Constantine left Rome and moved the seat of empire to Byzantium which received the name of Constantinople. The removal of the imperial government from Rome to the East enabled the pope to act more freely, and in this respect, it was a blessing, but it had also indirect evil effects, for: 1. At Constantinople, the emperors were drawn into the controversies of the Eastern Church and were led to interfere with ecclesiastical rights. 2. They acquired the oriental spirit of despotism. 3. The courtier-bishops of Constantinople originated many disputes with the pope and finally occasioned a schism.
Constantine postponed his baptism until his last illness. He had many faults and frequently meddled with the rights of the Church. But he possessed great energy and prudence and much nobility of soul. All in all, he was a splendid ruler and is justly styled ” The Great.”
The Sons of Constantine. — After the death of Constantine, the Great, in A. D. 337, the empire was divided among his three sons, Constantine Il, Constans and Constantius. Constantius finally became the sole ruler (350-361), and through the influence of his Arian wife, zealously promoted Arianism. For years Constantius was not a baptized Christian, but after his cousin, Julian, had been proclaimed Caesar by the army, Constantius grew uneasy and received baptism. He then marched against Julian, but died on the way, in the year 361.
[1] Wedewer, Hermann, 1852-1922; McSorley, Joseph, 1874-1963, A Short History of the Catholic Church, B. Herder Book Co., St. Louis, MO., Fourth Edition, 1918. Chapters 5 and 6. In the public domain.