then when Constantine was about 30 years of age he was sent to the court of Diocletian in the east. this was asked of constantius as a token of loyalty for Diocletian thought him close to betrayal. so Constantine traveled to nicomedia where he was to be held against his will. and in these years constantine was a worshiper of the demon Sol Invictus, and this diety was his patron. he was joined in patronage with the other emperors. however unlike the others Constantine heart had mercy for the christians for they contained a quialty that he could not explain. while the other emperors viewed them with disguist he viewed them with interest. for he had heard that they worshiped a jew who had died on a tree, and they would gather on the first day of the week and eat bread that they caled his flesh. why anyone would worship a criminal and eat his flesh confusing to constantine imensly but he was intrigued by the cult and didnt wish them harm. and it was during this time that diocleation, advised by galeraius contemplated a persecution of the christains. Diocletian was initially wary and asked the oracle at Didyma for guidance. The oracle’s reply was read as an endorsement of Galerius’s position, and diocletian decided to institute a terrible persecution of the church unlike any proceading it.
During the
feast of the pagan god Apollo, he went to the Church of
Nicomedia accompanied by multitudes of people, broke
down its doors, burnt its holy books and iconostasis and
destroyed its walls. Moreover, he issued an Imperial edict
and ordered that it be observed all over the Empire. The
provisions of the edict were that:
Sacrifices and incense shall be offered in the
temples of the Roman gods
All churches shall be completely destroyed
Every Christian holy book shall be burned
Christians who are employees of the government
shall be dismissed from their jobs, deprived of
their national rights and their possessions
seized
Christian non-employees of the government
shall be made slaves
it is said that within 30 days 17,000 Christians of both
sexes in divers provinces were crowned with martyrdom.
Constantine observed the terribly harsh tortures that were imposed on the Christians by diocleatian. The boy, who shunned evil as much as anyone and was of noble character, was very grieved and saddened at heart. but he himslef being unconvinced at this time of the truth of christ did not intervene or expose himself to harm. it is now that we must explain some of the marterdoms wtinessed the constantine in the court of diocleation.
Saint George was in Alexandria when he saw the
Emperor’s edict. He decided in his heart that honourable
martyrdom was better than a life of humiliation. He
longed to be a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ and felt
that the opportunity had come. So, in the fortitude of
youth, in the depth of faith and the courage of
knighthood, he approached boldly in the midst of the
crowds, before all the people and pulled down the Imperial
edict, read it, fiercely tore it up and threw it on the ground.
Everyone watching marvelled at the youth’s courage.
Yet no sooner did he turn around than the soldiers
arrested him, took him and sent him to the ruler of
Cappadocia to receive his punishment.
As Saint George enjoyed great favour with Emperor
Diocletian, the ruler of Cappadocia transferred the case to
him. When Saint George stood before the Emperor and his
men, he said to them, “Until when will you persecute the
innocent Christians and hate those who know the true
Faith because they do not follow your religion which you
yourselves are not sure of? Either believe in the true
Religion or at least do not foolishly disturb those who
abide by it.”
On hearing this, the Emperor ordered his minister
Miphanius to calm the speaker down. So Miphanius
asked the Saint, “Who taught you this boldness?
The Saint replied, “The Truth.”
When the Saint started to explain to the minister the
meaning of the Truth and Who is the Truth, Diocletian
interrupted and reminded Saint George of the medals and
ranks he had granted him, promising to grant him more
if he denounced his Christ. But the Saint refused,
disdaining all those worldly offers.
When the Emperor’s attempts to coax the Saint and
make him yield came to naught, he started to threaten
him. Yet because he loved him, he would return and
forgive him after every threat. He could not find in him
anything but steadfastness in faith and readiness to die
for the sake of Christ.
The Emperor ordered that Saint George be put in
prison. here he underwent sever torture including being crushed with stones, cut with knives, burnt by torches, poisoned, scrouged and dipped in hot lime.
To finally be rid of him, Diocletian
ordered that the Saint be tied to a horse’s tail, dragged
through the city streets and then beheaded.
The soldiers dragged the Saint through the city streets,
took him outside the gates and beheaded him. His pure
soul ascended to heaven and he received seven crowns.
another martyre was pope marcellinus. he was by nationality a Roman, son of Projectus, occu- pied the see 8 years, 2 months and 25 days. after hearing of the martrdom of the mebers of his flock, Marcellinus himself was haled to sacrifice, that
he might offer incense, and he did it. he was arrested and sent to diocleation, And after a few days, inspired by penitence, he was beheaded and crowned with martyrdom for the faith of Christ in company with Claudius and Cyrinus and Antoninus,
and the blessed Marcellinus. on
his way to his passion adjured
Marcellus, the priest, that he
should not fulfil the commands
of Diocletian.
And afterwards the holy bodies lay in the street for an example to the Christians 26 days by order of Diocletian.
Then the priest Marcellus and the other priests and the deacons who had escaped death took up the bodies by night with hymns and buried them.
and many other were killed in his presence such as the bishop of Nicomedia and his priests.
constantius aswell looked opon these actions with disgust. in his province of gaal he refused to persecute the christians. ignoring diocleatians commands for although he did not believe in christ, he knew that the persections to be unjust.
it was during this time that Constantine took himself a concubine named Minervina. and she bore him a son named crispus, who the emperor loved.
The impious Diocletian and Maximian Herculius were now as it were filled to satiety with those suffering for Christ, and carried away by the madness of arrogance. Moreover they were affected by indignation that they might become patrons to the martyrs of the eternal blessings which they had rightly heard described by many saints. So by arrangement they gave up the emperorship to follow a simple private lifestyle. In their folly they considered that as they were now approaching old age they would die very shortly, and that if their death took place in private they would be deified and reported to all as having achieved immortality by the people in their households. So they withdrew from the emperorship for this purpose. in their place constantius was made Augustus of gaal, and severous was made the agustus of rome, diocleatian and maximian also ruled that constantine and maxentius who was the son of maximian would never sit on the throne in rome. Galerius continued in the Eastern areas, as has already been said. He was a wild beast and pursued every kind of evil, in particular showing irrepressible fury against the Christians.
Galerius in a false sense of security was leading a godless and savage lifestyle. He was a philanderer, so his subordinate officers, and even men of lesser rank, would hold a competition to conceal their own wives and daughters from the tyrant’s sight. He was so affected by the deception of the demons that led him astray that he would not refrain from doing anything or trying anything unless prophecy or witchcraft prevented him. Against the Christians he predicted not only utter destruction but also the seizure of their possessions through his own impiety.
He observed that Constantine was advancing handsomely to the prime of youth and was equipped with God-given intelligence. He suspected, or rather he received an omen, that Constantine would destroy his tyranny, and so he planned to kill him by a trick. What was his plot? It was the practice of the emperors in the East to show off their courage in the following manner: they would release into the theatre a bear without fangs or claws, which the men in charge had pulled out beforehand. The emperor would then enter and kill it with a cudgel. Similarly they released a lion also without teeth or claws which he would slay as well. After that came thirty men with dry sponges, with which apparently they would pelt the emperor, while he hurled stones at them until all thirty men fell. Amongst the shouts of the crowd would be: “Wonderful is the courage that fate has granted the emperor. Hooray for the fortune of the Romans!” When this spectacle was due to take place in the theatre, Galerius pretended to be ill and unable to enter the arena. So he instructed Constantine to conduct the slaughter of the animals, having previously told the men in charge to drive healthy fierce animals in front of him into the theatre, so that as has been said Constantine might be killed by an unsuspected cause. And so a fearsome bear was let into the arena, whereupon Constantine leapt in and immediately slew it. They did the same with a lion which he also killed on the spot. The thirty men who were wielding stones instead of sponges he despatched with his bare hands. Maximian in a rage threatened death against the men in charge. They had released the beasts with their claws and fangs intact, and by showing them in evidence they just avoided destruction. So the pious Constantine after learning what had happened requested leave, and galeraius in a drunken stopor aproved of it. he made his escape with crispus (for Minervina had died) to his own father Constanius. and traveled acrost the continent until he came to britian. and he came to york and and arrived at length at the very time that hhis father was lying at the point of death. As soon as Constantius saw his son thus unexpectedly in his presence, he leaped from his couch, embraced him tenderly, and, declaring that the only anxiety which had troubled him in the prospect of death, namely, that caused by the absence of his son, was now removed, he rendered thanks to God, saying that he now thought death better than the longest life, and at once completed the arrangement of his private affairs. Then, taking a final leave of the circle of sons and daughters by whom he was surrounded, in his own palace, and on the imperial couch, he bequeathed the empire, according to the law of nature, to his eldest son, and breathed his last.
Nor did the imperial throne remain long unoccupied: for Constantine invested himself with his father’s purple, and proceeded from his father’s palace, presenting to all a renewal, as it were, in his own person, of his father’s life and reign. He then conducted the funeral procession in company with his father’s friends, some preceding, others following the train, and performed the last offices for the pious deceased with an extraordinary degree of magnificence, and all united in honoring this thrice blessed prince with acclamations and praises, and while with one mind and voice, they glorified the rule of the son as a living again of him who was dead, they hastened at once to hail their new sovereign by the titles of Imperial and Worshipful Augustus, with joyful shouts. Thus the memory of the deceased emperor received honor from the praises bestowed upon his son, while the latter was pronounced blessed in being the successor of such a father. All the nations also under his dominion were filled with joy and inexpressible gladness at not being even for a moment deprived of the benefits of a well ordered government.
In the instance of the Emperor Constantius, God has made manifest to our generation what the end of those is who in their lives have honored and loved him.
As soon then as he was established on the throne, he began to care for the interests of his paternal inheritance, and visited with much considerate kindness all those provinces which had previously been under his father’s government. Some tribes of the barbarians who dwelt on the banks of the Rhine, and the shores of the Western ocean, having ventured to revolt, he reduced them all to obedience, and brought them from their savage state to one of gentleness. He contented himself with checking the inroads of others, and drove from his dominions, like untamed and savage beasts, those whom he perceived to be altogether incapable of the settled order of civilized life. Having disposed of these affairs to his satisfaction, he directed his attention to other quarters of the world, and first passed over to the British nations, which lie in the very bosom of the ocean. These he reduced to submission, and then proceeded to consider the state of the remaining portions of the empire, that he might be ready to tender his aid wherever circumstances might require it.
and it was in this time that the jealously of Maxentius grew. he was was enraged that constantine had become agustus and that he had been set asside for severous. and severous was popular in rome for he looked down on its instutions. that of the senate and of the patronian guard. and maexentius spoke to the senate and both radicalized the other. and then it was proclaimed by severous that the citizens of rome would be required to pay tax. and that the patronian guard would be abolished. it was then that severous before the people of rome made a speach. and the guards and the senate proclaimed him emperor and presented him with the pruple robes and a crown. and maxentius that rome would return to the glory of the past. and when galerius heard this he was outraged and he sent severous to rome to crush maxentius. but when he arrived in italy he found maxentius hiding behind the walls of rome. and many of severouses men defected and severous fled. and maximin was aproached by the senate and returned out of retirement. he ruled as co emperor with his son and followed severous with the men who had defected. and maximian chased severous to ravinna. here with overwelling forces maximian coaxed severous into surrender promising mercy. however maximian showed none and had severous killed. hearing of this galerious’s rage increased ten fold. and he marched west with his army and left a man named licinious in charge.
and it was during this time that maxentius tried to make constantine an alley. he gave his sister fausta to him in marriage. however constantine knowing maxentiuses wickedness far exceeded that of galeriousey refsued to support maxentius and resolved to be nuetral. and galeriouses army continued to aproach rome, and again maxentius cowardly hid behind the walls of rome. and again he bribed the troops of his enemy and forced him too flee. and maximian full of pride went to constantine and aproved his use of the title of augustus. and maximian himself took the title of senor agustus for himself. and he resolved in his mind that he believed his son was a terrible ruler and a tyrant and resolved to have him demoted. but when he returned to the palace and met again with his son to discuss their future maxentius became enraged. for maxentius said this, “i am the senior agustus and you shall be inferior until the day of my death”. maxentius replied statieng, “i was the one who brought you back from the fields of retirement, for i brought the senate and the people togethor in the oposition of severous and they pronounced me king. because of this i am dominant and deserve the title”. maxamian refused to back down and they then began to brawl, father against son and son against father. but when maximian was winning and about to strike his son dead, the pratorian guard drew their sword and attempted to kill maximian. this caused maximian to flee and he went foolishly to the court of galerius.
Back in Nicomedia, as Galerius lamented the current state of the Tetrarchy, He was visited by Maximian, now seeking asylum. Not only for mistake though, as he would prove himself useful for what was to come next. Organizing a meeting of the original Tetrarchs, Galerius convinced Diocletian to leave his farm, and talk with his past colleagues. Meeting up in a fort at the Danube, Maximian BEGGED Diocletian to return to power with him. diocleatian profusley refusing, saying: “If only you saw the majestic cabbages I was growing back home, you too would give up the pursuit of worldly power.” And after telling Maximian to go back to retirement, Galerius sought approval for his reform of the Tetrarchy: Galerius and Daia will remain as they were, Constantine would be demoted back to Caesar, despite Galerius not having the authority to do that maxentius would still be an usurper, and Licinius would be inserted in as the new Western Augustus. To recompensate to the current Westerners, Galerius gave them the title of Son of the Augusti, which both of them refused for very different reasons. Which brings us back to the Daia, still Caesar of the East and yet now calling himself Augustus as well, making up five in total. Having outlived his usefulness to Galerius and fearing harm, Maximian then fled to the court of Constantine in the West, where he was welcomed with respect. Constantine then gave Maximian some legions to keep an eye on maxentius in the Alps, while he went to crush more germans on the Rhine. imediatley after Constantine went away, Maximian told everyone Constantine had died! And that they all should acclaim him as Augustus, the Senior Augustus. Which everyone viewed with suspicion. Sending word to Constantine about it, he was forced to abandon his campaign. After constantine was heard to be aproach and maximilian being unable to bribe the soldiers to his side, Maximilian then fled for his life again Eventually hiding in Massalia. Constantine then arrived, and speaking with the guards stated, “I am indead alive and you have heard falsehood, i command you to permit me entry and confront the usurper”. constant was allowed in with no problems, and he went to the place that Maximian resided. maximian pleaded for his life, and constantine who decided to be merciful, spared him, saying “maximian i will spare your life for i believe in mercy, however cross me again and your punishment will be imeasurable”. Maximian was humaliated by this surrender. After a lifetime of failures, he resolved that he would prove himself competent by killing his own son-in-law constantine. After implicating his daughter Fausta in the murder, He sneaked into Constantine’s room in the dead of night and stabbed him to death. Only that the Constantine he killed was a decoy, placed by Fausta, who had already alerted Constantine.
Having Maximian apprehended, earning her the Emperor’s trust. A failure once again, Maximian was told by Constantine the following word “it would be better for you to kill yourself than recieve the punishment which i have set forth”. in his cell maximin did just this, hanging himself to death. One of the few things he set out to do on his own, and achieve successfully.
and it was about this time Constantine was while traveling through gaal, came to a temple of Sol, and trying himself to see a vision, incubated a dream. and he awoke sourounded by 2 figures, one adiety of light who face glowed like the sun, and the other was a angel with magnificient wings and constantine amazed. and the diety promised him that he would rule all the earth. and the angel placed on his head a wreath with 30 flowers, each a portient representing a year of his reign. and the diety said he would reign without fail for 30 full years. and then the dieties left and constantine awoke. and constantine was confused for the diety although apearing as light did not remind him of the stories of sol. it was if the diety was someone different altogher. and he spoke to his advisors and siad “who could this diety who visted me in my dream for he beamed with light but i did not recogonize him as sol.”
his advisors replied to him saying:
“For you saw, I believe, O Constantine, your Apollo, accompanied by Victory, offering you laurel wreaths, each one of which carries a portent of thirty years. For this is the number of human ages which are owed to you without fail—beyond the old age of a Nestor. And—now why do I say “I believe”?—you saw, and recognized yourself in the likeness of him to whom the divine songs of the bards had prophesied that rule over the whole world was due. And this I think has now happened, since you are, O Emperor, like he, youthful, joyful, a bringer of health and very handsome. Rightly, therefore, have you honored those most venerable shrines with such great treasures that they do not miss their old ones, any longer. Now may all the temples be seen to beckon you to them, and particularly our Apollo, whose boiling waters punish perjuries—which ought to be especially hateful to you.”
“Immortal gods, when will you grant that day on which this most manifestly present god, with peace reigning everywhere, may visit those groves of Apollo as well, both sacred shrines and steaming mouths of springs? Their bubbling waters cloudy with gentle warmth seem to wish to smile, Constantine, at your gaze, and to insert themselves within your lips.“
“You will certainly marvel at that seat of your divinity too, and its waters warmed without any trace of soil on fire, which has no bitterness of taste or exhalation, but a purity of draught and smell such as you find in icy springs. And there you will grant favors, and establish privileges, and at last restore my native place because of your veneration of that very spot“
and constnatine resolved to agree wiith them for at the time he believed in the demons Sol, and constantine believed his advisors in his head but inside his heart doubted their was much turmoil for he felt that this deity must be another.
meanwhile in the East, Galerius started to die: Suffering from a disease SO bad that the stench of his rotting organs were smelled all across Nicomedia. As his final act, he declared the Great Persecution a failure, proclaiming an end to it, and then dying. Painfully. Daia then reemerged, taking over Galerius’ possessions and even his court, imprisoning both Diocletian’s wife and daughter. For as it turns out, Daia was a HUGE cunt. When news of it all reached Diocletian, it struck him hard. The Tetrarchy he had created was in ruins, His family was imprisoned, and every single one of his friends were now gone. Thinking it was all his fault, he hanged himself in his palace, saying goodbye to this doomed world. After his death, Licinius did the same as Daia; Seizing Galerius’ passed domains and setting their border between the Bosphorus Strait, leaving both of them unsatisfied.
and at this time maxentius despite attempting to kill his father who he hated, declared war on constantine stating that he wanted to revenge his father
constantine meanwhile, therefore, he regarded the entire world as one immense body, and perceived that the head of it all, the royal city of the Roman empire, was bowed down by the weight of a tyrannous oppression; at first he had left the task of liberation to those who governed the other divisions of the empire, as being his superiors in point of age. But when none of these proved able to afford relief, and those who had attempted it had experienced a disastrous termination of their enterprise, he said that life was without enjoyment to him as long as he saw the imperial city thus afflicted, and prepared himself for the overthrowal of the tyranny.
for maxentius was a tryinat of the hieghtest order. For he who had tyrannically possessed himself of the imperial city, had proceeded to great lengths in impiety and wickedness, so as to venture without hesitation on every vile and impure action.
For example: he would separate women from their husbands, and after a time send them back to them again, and these insults he offered not to men of mean or obscure condition, but to those who held the first places in the Roman senate. Moreover, though he shamefully dishonored almost numberless free women, he was unable to satisfy his ungoverned and intemperate desires. But when he assayed to corrupt Christian women also, he could no longer secure success to his designs, since they chose rather to submit their lives to death than yield their persons to be defiled by him.
All men, therefore, both people and magistrates, whether of high or low degree, trembled through fear of him whose daring wickedness was such as I have described, and were oppressed by his grievous tyranny. Nay, though they submitted quietly, and endured this bitter servitude, still there was no escape from the tyrant’s sanguinary cruelty. For at one time, on some trifling pretense, he exposed the populace to be slaughtered by his own bodyguard; and countless multitudes of the Roman people were slain in the very midst of the city by the lances and weapons, not of Scythians or barbarians, but of their own fellow citizens. And besides this, it is impossible to calculate the number of senators whose blood was shed with a view to the seizure of their respective estates, for at different times and on various fictitious charges, multitudes of them suffered death.
and maxentius himself persecuted the church, for after initially aprearing kind to the christians by allowing the election of a new pope quickly soured on them. after hearing of an arguent between the pope and some heritics, he tried to resolve the matter but after becoming anoyed by both sides and their refusal to accept his auhtoirty as the pontifex maximus he arrested and deported all present including pope eusebius who died during their imprisonment. and after in the year 311, an edict was issued that Christians should be forced to offer sacrifices to idols. As a result, Saint Sylvester the current bishop of rome withdrew from the city and took refuge with his clerics in a hiding place on Mount Soracte
But the crowning point of the tyrant’s wickedness was his having recourse to sorcery: sometimes for magic purposes ripping up women with child, at other times searching into the bowels of new-born infants. He slew lions also, and practiced certain horrid arts for evoking demons, and averting the approaching war, hoping by these means to get the victory. In short, it is impossible to describe the manifold acts of oppression by which this tyrant of Rome enslaved his subjects: so that by this time they were reduced to the most extreme penury and want of necessary food, a scarcity such as our contemporaries do not remember ever before to have existed at Rome.
Constantine, however, filled with compassion on account of all these miseries, began to arm himself with all warlike preparation against the tyranny. Assuming therefore the Supreme God as his patron, and invoking His Christ to be his preserver and aid, and setting the victorious trophy, the salutary symbol, in front of his soldiers and bodyguard, he marched with his whole forces, trying to obtain again for the Romans the freedom they had inherited from their ancestors.
Constantine then started out allying himself with Licinius against maxentius, promising his sister Constantia’s hand in marriage. Which provoked Daia to recognizing maxentius’ rule if he allied with him, which he agreed to. It was all now a team deathmatch. Preparing for the war, Constantine’s advisor recommended him to stay on the defensive, for whether if maxentius attacked or stayed out, his defeat was imminent. Constantine agreed, which is why he proclaimed his intent to invade Italy! Telling everyone to start packing. Constantine then crossed the Alps with 40,000 men, only a quarter of his total army, still mainly focused on defending his citizens from barbarians as he was. While in Rome, maxentius ordered the patricians to build him a HUGE Basilica in his honor, but he was too lazy to actually finish it, instead sending his minions to go fight his war for him. And as he entered Italy, Constantine was halted at Segusium [modern day Susa], which he dealt with by setting its walls on fire, and then scaling them, taking it with ease, and forbidding any looting, showing to all his benevolence. maxentius then responded by sending a huge cavalry army to attack them near Turin, which, astoundingly, Constantine encircled with his foot soldiers! Descending on it and dismounting the riders to their deaths. What few survived then fled to Turin, and were refused entry by the locals, who then happily opened their gates to Constantine. After that, more and more cities surrendered to him, and he was then cheerfully welcomed into Mediolanum as a liberator. After resting, Constantine marched east to face a huge maxentian army, led by his Praetorian prefect, which was camped out on the heavily fortified fortress of Verona, covered in three sides by rivers. And to cross the river, Constantine sent a tiny detachment of cavalry to scout the area, which the prefect noticed, sending a way bigger army to quash the attempt, and getting crushed instead… Constantine then laid siege to Verona, allowing the prefect to flee, and return with an even BIGGER army! To which Constantine sent one tiny Battalion to fight off. The insulted prefect then attacked, got his ENTIRE army destroyed and died in battle… Oh man, it’s hard not to laugh. After the show of force, Verona just surrendered to Constantine, and later all remaining cities in North Italy did so as well. Now more terrified than ever, Maxentius abandoned his people, piling all of his troops and resources into Rome, damaging all bridges on the Tiber and hoping the Aurelian Walls would save him again. Constantine was then cheered on as approached Rome, camping nearby where the Milvian bridge once stood. And while he threw games as a distraction, the crowd started cheering for Constantine, declaring him to be invincible.
but it was during this campaign that Constantine contracted a most terrible despise
for he himself had become angry with the christians and for a time had been unfavorable to them. and he was struck with disease of the skin over his entire body. When neither the magicians nor the physicians could cure him, the priests of of his patron god Sol gave him counsel: a pool should be prepared, to be filled with the blood of children. The emperor, they said, should bathe in this warm and steaming blood, and he would be cleansed of his leprosy.
Thus, orders were given, and from the royal treasury and patrimony, over three thousand children were taken and delivered to the Capitol priests.
On the appointed day, as Emperor Constantine left his palace to go to the Capitol for the bloodletting, a multitude of women met him in the streets. They had undone their hair, bared their breasts, and were crying out in lamentation, casting themselves to the ground and shedding bitter tears.
Constantine, moved by their grief, inquired about their sorrow. He learned that these were the mothers of the children whose blood was to be shed to fill the pool for his healing.
At this, the emperor recoiled in horror, realizing the enormity of the crime. He thought himself guilty before God for as many murders as there were innocent children. The mercy of the Roman Empire overcame the cruelty of the Capitol priests, and, breaking into tears, he commanded his chariot to halt. Rising up and gathering the people, he declared in a loud voice:
“Hear me, my companions, soldiers, and all who stand here. The dignity of the Roman Empire is founded on mercy. Why, then, should I prefer my own health over the lives of innocent people? I will renounce this cruel sentence of shedding innocent blood. It is better for me to die for the safety of these children than to recover my life by their destruction—especially when my recovery is uncertain, while their cruel slaughter is assured.
If our victories in battle have always been honorable, ensuring that anyone who killed an infant was subject to the death penalty, shall we now act against our own laws? Should we, who have faithfully conquered all nations, now be captives to our own conscience? What does it profit to have defeated the barbarians if we are now overcome by cruelty? For while overcoming foreign nations in battle is the virtue of a people, conquering vice, sin, and crime is the virtue of morality. We have been stronger than our enemies in battle; let us now be stronger than ourselves by resisting our own evil desires. When we obey the will of the gods over our own, we triumph by being conquered.
For he who strives to commit evil seeks to enslave goodness. But if he is overcome in this struggle, he wins by being defeated. Indeed, he who triumphs over evil has truly triumphed, while he who allows injustice to conquer him has truly been defeated. Let us, then, be conquered by mercy in this battle. Truly, we shall be victorious over all our enemies if we are overcome only by mercy. The true Lord of all proves Himself by showing Himself to be the true servant of mercy.”
At these words, the entire army and people shouted in acclamation.
Then he commanded that the children be returned to their mothers so that the sweetness of their restored sons would overcome the bitterness of their tears. Not only did he spare the children, but he also gave them lavish gifts, abundant provisions, and transportation so that those who had come in grief might return to their cities with joy.
And Constantine’s forces finally came to the outskirt of Rome to the plain that lay north of the Milvian bridge.
and Being convinced, however, that he needed some more powerful aid than his military forces could afford him, on account of the wicked and magical enchantments which were so diligently practiced by the tyrant, he sought Divine assistance, deeming the possession of arms and a numerous soldiery of secondary importance, but believing the co-operating power of Deity invincible and not to be shaken. He considered, therefore, on what God he might rely for protection and assistance. While engaged in this enquiry, the thought occurred to him, that, of the many emperors who had preceded him, those who had rested their hopes in a multitude of gods, and served them with sacrifices and offerings, had in the first place been deceived by flattering predictions, and oracles which promised them all prosperity, and at last had met with an unhappy end, while not one of their gods had stood by to warn them of the impending wrath of heaven and he pondered these things.
And while he was thus praying with fervent entreaty, a most marvelous sign appeared to him from heaven, the account of which it might have been hard to believe had it been related by any other person. But since the victorious emperor himself long afterwards declared it to the writer of this history, when he was honored with his acquaintance and society, and confirmed his statement by an oath, who could hesitate to accredit the relation, especially since the testimony of after-time has established its truth? He said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, Conquer by this. At this sight he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed the miracle.
constantine said, moreover, that he doubted within himself what the import of this apparition could be. And while he continued to ponder and reason on its meaning, night suddenly came on; then in his sleep the Christ of God appeared to him acompanied by the blessed peter and paul with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens, and christ commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies. and after god had left the apostles remained and conversed with constantine. and they spoke the following words
“We are Peter and Paul. Because you have put an end to these crimes and shuddered at the shedding of innocent blood, we have been accompanied by Christ Jesus, our Lord, to bring you counsel for your healing. Listen, therefore, to our instructions and follow them exactly. Sylvester, the bishop of Rome, has fled your persecution and is hiding in caves among the rocks with his clerics on Mount Soracte. Summon him to you, and he will show you the pool of mercy. When he immerses you in it three times, the affliction of leprosy will leave you. And when this is accomplished, repay your Savior by restoring all the churches of the Roman world by your decree. Purify yourself, forsake all idolatry, and worship the one true God alone.”
At dawn of day he arose, and communicated the marvel to his friends: and then, calling together the workers in gold and precious stones, he sat in the midst of them, and described to them the figure of the sign he had seen, bidding them represent it in gold and precious stones. And this representation I myself have had an opportunity of seeing.
At dawn of day he arose, and communicated the marvel to his friends: and then, calling together the workers in gold and precious stones, he sat in the midst of them, and described to them the figure of the sign he had seen, bidding them represent it in gold and precious stones. And this representation I myself have had an opportunity of seeing.
Now it was made in the following manner. A long spear, overlaid with gold, formed the figure of the cross by means of a transverse bar laid over it. On the top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and precious stones; and within this, the symbol of the Saviour’s name, two letters indicating the name of Christ by means of its initial characters, the letter P being intersected by X in its centre: and these letters the emperor was in the habit of wearing on his helmet at a later period. From the cross-bar of the spear was suspended a cloth, a royal piece, covered with a profuse embroidery of most brilliant precious stones; and which, being also richly interlaced with gold, presented an indescribable degree of beauty to the beholder. This banner was of a square form, and the upright staff, whose lower section was of great length, bore a golden half-length portrait of the pious emperor and his children on its upper part, beneath the trophy of the cross, and immediately above the embroidered banner.
The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation as a safeguard against every adverse and hostile power, and commanded that others similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies.
onstantine, however, filled with compassion on account of all these miseries, began to arm himself with all warlike preparation against the tyranny. Assuming therefore the Supreme God as his patron, and invoking His Christ to be his preserver and aid, and setting the victorious trophy, the salutary symbol, in front of his soldiers and bodyguard, he marched with his whole forces, trying to obtain again for the Romans the freedom they had inherited from their ancestors.
The next morning, maxentius celebrated his sixth anniversary since his usurpation, and Rome’s priests told him that the enemy of Rome would be defeated that very day. Surprised with joy, maxentius went to the temple of jupiter and sacraficed a lamb to jupitor and asked for his favor. and then he ordered his troops out of the city despite the objections of his generals to finally face Constantine. And since he had damaged the Milvian bridge earlier as a trap, maxentius ordered his men to build a temporary bridge to cross the Tiber. As his forces finished the crossing, Constantine’s army appeared in the distance, and maxentius could NOT believe what he saw. For the glory of god, Constantine ordered his cavalry to charge and they annihilate maxentius’ cavalry holding the sign of the glorious cross, and marched his legions forward. Despite being heavily outnumbered 4 to 1, Constantine engaged the enemy. and during this time a storm came about the plain and rain began to pour onto the battle field. but slowly constantines men pushed maxentius’s forces further and further backwards to the Tiber River. and constantines face soak with water raised the most glorias symbol and the enemies of rome trembled. and they fell back all the way to the boat of bridges and many tried to retreat across but the bridge collapsed and swallowed all those who were on it. and what ensued was pure chaos: Tens of thousands of soldiers panicked, at the same time and then maxentius panacking fled back to the damaged bridge. with the rain pourded down their face he relaized the enormity of his mistake. and he rode his horse onto the milvan bridge followed by his troops and the Constantine’s troop. and maxentius steped onto the arch he had ordered damage and he turned around to view constantine, and his troops ran past him. and he looked upon constantine. and constantine looked upon him through the rain and he raised the symbol of christ, and at that very moment lightning for came down from heaven and struck the bridge at his feet. and the bridge below him gave way and Maxentius fell into the river, and he drown in the river and died. and many of his men alongsidehim were pushed into the river and met their maker . And at the end of the day, Rome’s enemy had died, and with this sign, Constantine had Conquered.
and as soon as this had happened the storm cleared and the legions of constantine rejoiced. and constantines forces repaired the bridge and crossed the river and camped. and constantine sent out some of his soliders to recover maxentius’s body which they did. and they brought back his head, and constantine apeared before his army and held up the head and declared. “the tyrant is dead”, “Vivat Christus Rex”. and then after speeking to his adviosors he according to the tenor of his dream he sent to
the mountain of Sirapti: where Saint Svluester was in a certain field of persecution of the Christians
the reason being withdrawn with his clerics, he insisted on readings and prayers: But where he himself a
He saw the multitudes being spoken to: he believed that he was called to the crown of martyrdom: and he turned to
The clergy said to all who were with him: behold, now is an acceptable time: behold, now is
the day of salvation: the time has come in which he has taught us to assign the class of our works
fruit Behold, the Lord again walks spiritually among men: if anyone wants to follow him
him to come: he will deny himself to himself: and take up his cross: and follow him:
And saying this, he made a prayer and fulfilled every mystery, commending the soul
and giving peace to all, he departed. clerics from all over the world followed him
with thirty priests and five deacons desiring to succumb to the passion together:
thinking it better to die with him for Christ than to be feasted in his absence: for he was
always calm in mind and serene: so do all clerics: and like chickens
exhorting his own: that he might show his dear love to all around him: and every hour he admonishes them
he would train them Whence it came to pass: that all the sages of learning renewed passion
they would rather love than fear: and at the same time they would hasten eagerly with him. He went on
therefore, as has been said: he reached the king. Then immediately rising up before him
he saluted, saying: We congratulate you that you have come well: Gui Saint Syluester answered: Peace
the victory from heaven shall be provided for thee;
When the king received this message with a cheerful spirit and a most pleasant expression, he explained to him everything that had happened and had been revealed, according to the previously mentioned text.
At the end of his narration, he inquired about who these gods, Peter and Paul, were, who had visited him and why they had revealed the hidden path to his salvation. To this, Saint Sylvester replied:
“There is only one God, whom we worship, who created the whole world from nothing—that is, heaven and earth and all things in them. Peter and Paul are not gods but servants of God. By pleasing Him through faith, they attained such holiness that they became the foremost among all saints and were made apostles by God.
Thus, they were the first to preach the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to the nations, and from them, the entire Church took its beginning. After completing their apostolic mission, they achieved the crown of martyrdom and are now friends of Almighty God.”
When the emperor heard this and similar things with great joy, he asked: “Do there exist any images of these apostles, so that I may recognize in their likenesses those who were revealed to me and who told me that they were sent by God?”
Then Saint Sylvester ordered his deacon to bring forth an image of the apostles. When the emperor beheld it, he cried out with a great voice, “There is nothing in this image that differs from the faces of those whom I saw in my vision. They told me: ‘Send for Sylvester, the bishop, and he will show you the pool of mercy, in which, when you are washed, you will receive healing from all your wounds.’”
Saint Sylvester replied: “Listen to me, O King, and seek the necessary pool of salvation in this way: First, believe that Christ, the Son of God, came down from heaven and dwelt among men to reveal this pool to those who believe in Him.”
The emperor answered, “Had I not believed, I would not have sent for you at all.”
Then Saint Sylvester said: “Impose upon yourself a week of fasting. Set aside your purple robes and enter your chamber, put on humble garments, lay down sackcloth, and confess that out of ignorance you persecuted Christians. Proclaim not only with your words but also with your heart that He is the Savior of both body and soul. Repent for having killed many of God’s saints. And during this week, command the temples to be closed and all sacrifices to idols to cease. Release the poor from their debts, order prisoners to be set free, grant indulgence to those in exile or suffering in mines or other tribulations. Throughout the week, command almsgiving and acts of charity, ensuring there are trustworthy individuals to carry out these tasks.”
Then Emperor Constantine said: “It is evident that all men devoted to various cults cling to their superstitions, and where falsehoods about God exist, divine glory cannot be found. But if He is invisible, and when invoked through water grants this power to cleanse sins and heal bodies, then it is certain that He is the true God, whose apostles deemed me worthy to visit and instruct me to believe in the one true God as my Savior.”
As Constantine spoke these things, Saint Sylvester laid his hands upon the emperor’s head, blessed him, and made him a catechumen before departing.
and then constantine gathered his army and stood upon a chariot made of gold and pulled by 4 white spotless horses and holding up the head of maxentius. and he processed through the streets of rome which was lined by its residences in thick packs on either side. and he came to the square of the people which was full beyond measure of people who cheered his name, and he gazed at the Flaminio Obelisk which the greatest emperor agustus had brought to the city. and he proceeded south by way of the Via Flaminia through the city and passed many sight. and he came to palentine hill and dismounted his chariat. and he ascended the hill with the severed head of maxentius until he reached the temple of jupiter which was according to custom. and he entered the temple and the priests and the people who surrounded him eagerly awaityed a sacrafice. and a spotless lamb was brought forth and constantine looked at it with great curiosity. the priests their presented constantine with a knife for the sacrafice but constantine kneeled and looked at the lamb. he looked into its saddened eyes and saw its feer. and he himself now reformed and a follower of christ chose mercy instead of glory. and he rose and said “no”. The word cuts through the air like a blade. The priests shift, uncertain, glancing to one another. The people whisper among themselves.
Constantine slowly rises, his expression turning to conviction. He casts the severed head of Maxentius upon the marble altar, the sound of it echoing through the temple. The people gasp.
CONSTANTINE then said with unwavering strength:
“The sacrifice has already been made.“
and the crowd was Silence.
and CONSTANTINE spoke again saying
“Long ago, a Lamb was slain—not for the gods of Rome, but for all men, for all time. No more blood is needed. No more lives must be given. The heavens have declared it so.“
constantine then turned from the altar, and as he did, the sheep follows him, stepping off the platform as if it, too, has been freed. The crowd watched in stunned silence. Some were shocked. Some were in awe.
Constantine did not look back. He steps forward, climbing atop the temple steps, and turns to face the people of Rome.
and constantine riased his arms and spoke to the people saying:
“People of Rome, hear me!“
“I have conquered—not through the might of Jupiter, not by the favor of Mars, but by the will of the One True God!“
“The gods of old have ruled Rome with fire and blood. They have demanded sacrifice. But today, I tell you—Rome shall no longer bow to stone and idols!“
“Under this sign—this sign of Christ—I conquered! And under this sign, Rome shall rise anew!”
“Men of Rome, wise Senators, and citizens of the Eternal City, hear my words! Long have we been bound in the chains of falsehood, worshiping the idols of our fathers, mere stones carved by human hands, calling them gods though they are deaf and blind to our pleas. These lifeless forms, which we have vainly protected, have never protected us in return. Shall we continue to serve what must be carried, what must be restored when broken? No! The time of darkness is past, and the light of truth now shines upon us.”
“I stand before you not merely as your Emperor, but as one restored by the power of the One True God, Jesus Christ. The false gods of Rome could not heal me, but Christ has the power to cleansed me. Let it be known to all the world: Christ alone is God, and He alone shall be worshiped by the people of this empire!”
“On the First Day: I decree that Christ is the sovereign Lord overall, and that His name shall be exalted throughout the Roman world. The idols of stone and bronze that sit upon the holy places of Christ shall be cast down, and the temples of false gods on these holy sites shall fall to ruin.”
“On the Second Day: Let it be enacted as law that whoever blasphemes the name of Christ shall be justly punished. No longer shall impiety be tolerated in this sacred empire.”
“On the Third Day: I proclaim that any who wrong a Christian shall forfeit half of all their possessions. Those who have persecuted the faithful shall now be subject to the same justice they once denied the righteous.”
“On the fourth Day: Let it be established that any church built in any place shall be a refuge for those who seek justice. No man shall be dragged from the house of God to face the wrath of men, for the mercy of Christ is greater than any human law.”
“On the Fith Day: No one shall be permitted to build a church within the walls of any city without the consent of the bishop appointed by the Apostolic See. Let the order of the Church be upheld in all things, and let no unworthy hands profane the house of God.”
“On the Sixth Day: I decree that a tenth of all royal possessions shall be collected by judicial authority for the construction of churches, so that in every land the name of Christ shall be glorified. This very day, I lay the foundation of a temple to His name within my own palace, so that it may be known to all that we, the rulers of Rome, bow before the Lord of Heaven.”
“Finally, I recognize the Bishop of Romes supreme authority over the Church, as all judges have their king, all priests shall have their high priest. From this day forth, the pontiff shall be greater even than I in matters of faith, for he holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven, given by Christ to Peter, the Rock upon which His Church is built. And in token of this truth, I place upon the head of the Bishop of Rome this crown, not as a sign of earthly dominion, but of divine stewardship.”
“And let this be declared: that any poor soul who truly desires baptism shall receive, from the royal treasury, white garments and twenty solidi, not as a reward, but as a provision, lest any be tempted by greed rather than true faith.”
“Already, twelve thousand men have received baptism in this city alone, not counting women and children! Behold how the people of God increase in glory while the pagans stand confounded!”
“Senators of Rome, I do not compel you, nor do I demand feigned obedience. Faith is a matter of the heart and soul, not of force. The worship of men may be compelled, but the worship of God must be free. Christ, in His divine patience, has endured scorn for many ages, and yet He has not destroyed His adversaries, but offers them salvation. Let none be forced to embrace the faith, nor let any be hindered from receiving it.”
“But let wisdom guide you, O Rome! Shall we continue in the folly of idolatry? Consider well: the false gods of old have perished. If they could not save themselves, how shall they save us? Let these errors be cast away. Let us abandon this superstition which ignorance conceived, folly nurtured, and blindness sustained. Let us worship the one true God, who alone reigns in the heavens, who alone bestows life, who alone has healed me!:
“I, Constantine, once blind, now see. I, who once denied Christ, have been restored by Him. And as He has saved me, so shall He save Rome, if only we turn to Him!”
“Let it be known throughout the empire that the Church of Christ shall never again be persecuted but shall flourish under the protection of the Roman state. And so that all may see my faith is true, I have I have taken the church of Christ within my palace to be built., so that there may be no doubt that Christ is honored in my very heart.”
“From this day forward, let the laws of Rome reflect the wisdom of heaven. Let us abandon the darkness of falsehood and walk in the light of Christ. Let us no longer bow before those we must protect, but worship Him who alone can protect us! And let Rome, the Eternal City, now proclaim the Eternal King, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever!”
Afterward, Saint Sylvester gathered all the priests and deacons with the entire clergy and declared a two-day fast for the whole Church, saying: “If the Ninevites, by fasting for three days at Jonah’s preaching, escaped the deserved wrath and punishment of God, how much more shall we, by fasting and prayer in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, avoid persecution, save souls, acquire peace for the Church, and bring an end to idolatry—if only we ask the Lord through fasting and prayer?”
The fast was observed with great unity, accompanied by fervent prayers. On the sixth and seventh days, when the fast was to be concluded in the evening, Bishop Sylvester said to King Constantine: “Hear me, O King. This pool—every body of water under heaven, whether of the sea, rivers, fountains, marshes, or lakes—has such power in the name of Christ that at His invocation, it washes away all sins and grants salvation according to the faith of the believer.”
Calling the fasting emperor to himself and strengthening him with instruction and steadfastness in faith, he reassured him of absolute certainty. On the evening of the Sabbath, he commanded the emperor to enter the warm bath in the Lateran Palace. When Constantine entered, Sylvester proceeded to bless the font.
After the font was blessed, the emperor entered, and Bishop Sylvester, receiving him, asked, “Do you believe with all your heart in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?”
When the emperor declared loudly that he believed and renounced the deceptions of the devil with all his heart, Saint Sylvester fully immersed him in the baptismal pool and anointed him with the sacred chrism, saying:
“You who cleansed Naaman the Syrian from leprosy in the Jordan, who opened the eyes of the man born blind through water, who restored the sight of the Apostle Paul through baptism and transformed him from a persecutor into a teacher—cleanse now your servant Constantine, the ruler of all the earth. And as You have purified his soul from all filth of sin, so also cleanse his body from this leprosy of the flesh, that from being a persecutor, he may become a believer and a defender, bringing glory to Your Holy Church through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.”
When all had responded “Amen,” suddenly, a light as bright as lightning shone for nearly half an hour, striking everyone with awe and covering their sight.. The air trembles with an otherworldly hum. Gasps escape the onlookers as the water stirs violently, as if unseen forces move within.
A loud sizzling sound fills the room, as though fire had touched the water. The surface ripples and shimmers as strange, shadowy shapes move beneath. Then, from above, the ceiling seems to dissolve into a radiant expanse. A brilliant white dove descends, and from beyond the veil of light, CHRIST HIMSELF appears, His divine radiance overwhelming.
Constantine, still in the font, gazes upward, his face bathed in unearthly light. His lips tremble as he beholds the Risen Lord. Tears stream down his face as Christ extends His hand toward him in silent benediction. The vision fades, the chamber returning to the glow of torches. The scales then fall off his body and the wreath of his life is rejuvenated. Constantine, now cleansed, emerges from the waters. His attendants rush forward, draping him in fresh white garments, but his hands shake as he clutches them to his chest.
He stares at Sylvester, breathless, as if grasping the enormity of what has just transpired.
Emerging purified, Emperor Constantine confessed that he had seen Christ.
and he proseesed to the circus of nero which at this time was in ruins. and next to it sat a graveyard full of many martyrs., and then constantine kneeled before the sacred tomb. His lips trembled, his body wracked with emotion. Then, in an act of profound humility, he removeed his imperial diadem and placed it upon the steps before the altar.
He fell prostrate, pressing his forehead against the cold stone, weeping openly.
and then he said
“I have erred! I have sinned! I have persecuted the saints!”
“I am not worthy to stand at this threshold!”
His sobs echoed throughout the Circus of Nero. Behind him, the clergy and Roman noblemen stood in stunned silence. Then, as if moved by divine grace, the people begin to weep as well. The entire congregation, overwhelmed by the sight of their emperor’s humility, cries out in praise and lamentation.
Constantine then rose, his eyes still wet with tears. He turned to the gathered assembly, his voice steady yet filled with passion.
“No longer shall I be the ruler of persecution,
but the builder of the house of God!”
Finally, he removed his royal cloak, and took a spade, and dug the first soil for the foundation of a basilica. He then carried twelve baskets of earth on his shoulders in honor of the twelve apostles. and then he constantine returned to rome and The voices of the laity resounded through all the churches, all the tombs of the saints were honored, and all the confessors who had been exiled in chains to distant lands were recalled with royal honor to their own homelands and became friends of the king.
Constantine then visted the Senate, where the senators implored their master for mercy, proclaiming him the Senior, and Greatest Augustus. And he let them be, for his ire was directed to the other parasites. Seeing his merciful attitude, the Praetorians judged Constantine as yet another Emperor they could exploit, and awaited to be bribed to ensure their loyalty, just waiting for an opportunity to betray him in the future. However, the time had finally come. The time for a new age, the time for revenge. And so, Constantine proclaimed, that the Praetorian Guard, Would BE ABOLISHED! It took hundreds of years, but now Rome’s betrayed Emperors could finally rest in peace. and constantine issued many laws reforming rome, for he banned the savage practices in the colloseum including the murder of innecents and the gladiator games, and he banned the crucifixtion of criminals ruling that the method that exicuted christ shall no longer be practices. he also banned the branding of criminals on the face, and the prohibited all work on Sundays that wasnt necessary. and the senate who was thankful for constantines mercy commisioned a rach to be built in the center of rome, it was placed near the great colloseum and before the roman forum. With Constantine’s deeds forever immortalized in the triumphal arch he then built in Rome. for the arch was built with such strength that while the buildings around it would collapse, it alone would remain as a testimate to constantines conversion.
Moreover, by loud proclamation and monumental inscriptions he made known to all men the symbol of the cross, setting up a trophy of victory over his enemies in the midst of the imperial city,Accordingly, he immediately ordered a lofty spear in the figure of a cross to be placed beneath the hand of a statue representing himself, in the most frequented part of Rome, and the following inscription to be engraved on it in the Latin language: “by virtue of this salutary sign, which is the true test of valor, I have preserved and liberated your city from the yoke of tyranny. I have also set at liberty the roman senate and people, and restored them to their ancient distinction and splendor.”
and it was at this time that Constantine decided that the faith revealed to him must be protected throughout the empire. for in this time the empire was split between constantine, licinius and diaz. diaz at the time had ignored the edict of galerauis and was instituting a gave persecution of christinas. so constantine convened a council in Mediolanum, and met with licinius, and as a act of friendship let him mary his sister promised, and together they issued the Edict of Milan which states.
“When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I Licinius Augustus fortunately met near Mediolanum (Milan), and were considering everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought -, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many, those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity ought certainly to be made first, so that we might grant to the Christians and others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred; whence any Divinity whatsoever in the seat of the heavens may be propitious and kindly disposed to us and all who are placed under our rule And thus by this wholesome counsel and most upright provision we thought to arrange that no one whatsoever should be denied the opportunity to give his heart to the observance of the Christian religion, of that religion which he should think best for himself, so that the Supreme Deity, to whose worship we freely yield our hearts) may show in all things His usual favor and benevolence. Therefore, your Worship should know that it has pleased us to remove all conditions whatsoever, which were in the rescripts formerly given to you officially, concerning the Christians and now any one of these who wishes to observe Christian religion may do so freely and openly, without molestation. We thought it fit to commend these things most fully to your care that you may know that we have given to those Christians free and unrestricted opportunity of religious worship. When you see that this has been granted to them by us, your Worship will know that we have also conceded to other religions the right of open and free observance of their worship for the sake of the peace of our times, that each one may have the free opportunity to worship as he pleases ; this regulation is made we that we may not seem to detract from any dignity or any religion.
Moreover, in the case of the Christians especially we esteemed it best to order that if it happens anyone heretofore has bought from our treasury from anyone whatsoever, those places where they were previously accustomed to assemble, concerning which a certain decree had been made and a letter sent to you officially, the same shall be restored to the Christians without payment or any claim of recompense and without any kind of fraud or deception, Those, moreover, who have obtained the same by gift, are likewise to return them at once to the Christians. Besides, both those who have purchased and those who have secured them by gift, are to appeal to the vicar if they seek any recompense from our bounty, that they may be cared for through our clemency,. All this property ought to be delivered at once to the community of the Christians through your intercession, and without delay. And since these Christians are known to have possessed not only those places in which they were accustomed to assemble, but also other property, namely the churches, belonging to them as a corporation and not as individuals, all these things which we have included under the above law, you will order to be restored, without any hesitation or controversy at all, to these Christians, that is to say to the corporations and their conventicles: providing, of course, that the above arrangements be followed so that those who return the same without payment, as we have said, may hope for an indemnity from our bounty. In all these circumstances you ought to tender your most efficacious intervention to the community of the Christians, that our command may be carried into effect as quickly as possible, whereby, moreover, through our clemency, public order may be secured. Let this be done so that, as we have said above, Divine favor towards us, which, under the most important circumstances we have already experienced, may, for all time, preserve and prosper our successes together with the good of the state. Moreover, in order that the statement of this decree of our good will may come to the notice of all, this rescript, published by your decree, shall be announced everywhere and brought to the knowledge of all, so that the decree of this, our benevolence, cannot be concealed.”
and while both men signed the document freely, only Constantine believed it in his heart.
when Daia heard of his alley maxentius’ defeat, he was way back in the Syrian desert, and immediately marched west. On his way, he continued persecuting Christians non-stop, in clear violation of the Edict of Milan. Nevertheless, Constantine said he would pardon him if he vowed to follow the law from now on. Which Daia refused, gathering some 70,000 men, crossing the Bosphorus and taking Byzantium. Suddenly forced into another Civil War, Constantine had no time to reinforce Licinius’ army before he marched off. and on the eve before battle licinius where he and his army would surley die he recieved a vision
an angel of the Lord stood before Licinius in
his sleep and warned him to rise very quickly and pray to the
supreme God with all his anny. Victory would be his if he did this.
He dreamt that, after these words he got up and that the same
angel who was giving the advice stood over him instructing him
how and with what words the prayer was to be made. Licinius then
shook off his sleep, ordered a secretary to be summoned, and
dictated the following words just as he had heard them
His speech given, Licinius faced Daia’s overwhelming numbers at Tzirallum. Confident in his numbers, Daia just stayed on the defensive, knowing that Licinius’ men would soon give up. Eventually the incessant attacking proved him wrong, but too late for him by them. As his army was crushed, he crossed the Bosphorus Strait fleeing to Anatolia.
On entering Nicomedia, Licinius gave thanks to God, by whose
help he had been victorious, and on 13 June in Constantine’s and
his own third consulships, he ordered the letter which had been
sent to the governor about the restoration of the Church to be
publicly displayed.
and then licinuis continued to pursue diaz. and Making a last stand, Daia fortified himself in the Cilician gates against Licinius. licinius knowing his overwhelming supuriority sent his legions alone, who then crush Daia’s forces. Fleeing to Tarsus, in his last moments, he then like Galerius, proclaiming an end to the persecutions, accepting the Edict of Milan, and then died a most terrible death that was increadibly painful. Now in charge over the Eastern Empire, the vices of power made Licinius show his true colors. With that, he massacred Daia’s entire family, executed Severus the Second’s son for being a friend of his, and then hunted down Diocletian’s wife and daughter, murdering them in both. Hearing of this horrific carnage from afar, Constantine’s alliance with Licinius immediately began deteriorating. And as that happened, Armenia had gotten a new king again, a Christian this time. Who then proclaimed Christianity as Armenia’s state religion, Putlawing all other pagan interpretations of God. A premonition if there ever was one. And talking of Christianity, Constantine was faced with a major source of disunity within the churhc.
for bishops lead by certains bishops in north africa had ruled that Caecilian bishop of carthage ordination was invalid. they believed that Christian clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective and their prayers and sacraments to be valid, they therfore believed that any priests who had allowed rome to burn scriptures in exchange for protect of their flock from exicution were traitors and their ordinations invalid. seeing the potential disunity in the church, Constantine called upon Sylvester and had a council held at the lateran, and the bishops from all over the empire discussed the matter and found the donotists guilty. the donatists however rejected this synod and developed new objections to the church. so again constantine called a council this time in gaal in the city of arlees. the council was not attented by sylvester as he“was not able to to leave the place where the Apostles to this day have their seats [place of judge] and where their blood without ceasing witnesses to the glory of God.
and the council met and they resolved that donotist and his follwers were heritics of the highest regard and that they had rendered unto them selves excomunication. and then they sent their findings to selvester saying
“wise to attend this great assemblage, we firmly believe that a more severe verdict would then have been passed against them [Donatists] and if you had been judging here with us, we should all have rejoiced with deeper joy… and we resolved to write first of all to you, who hold the greater dioceses, that through you preferably our resolutions should be made known to everyone“
and so it was proclaimed by the bishops and approved by the pope and enforced by Constantine that the Donatists were heretics and the enemies of Rome.
. As years passed, Fausta would bear Constantine six children: Constantine the Second, Constantius the Second, and Constans. Plus another three girls: Constantina, Helena, and Fausta, but who cares. and Constantia bore a child with Licinius as well: Licinius the Second. This will be one fucked family tree. For a while. And with so many potential heirs, Constantine then proposed to revive Diocletian’s Tetrarchy. Sending Julius to speak with Licinius, Constantine then married Anastasia to Bassianus, a friend of Senecio, who was BFFs with Licinius. Proposing to elevate him as Caesar alongside Crispus, Constantine’s now grown eldest son. To which Licinius refused outright, Later ordering Senecio to order Bassianus to go and murder Constantine in his sleep. However, Bassianus hadn’t been the first one to try that, completely failing in his plot, and getting executed for the attempt. And when Constantine demanded Senecio to be handed over for judgement, Licinius refused, tearing down all of Constantine statues in his realm, and thus declaring war. And wait a second here… The Empire was now split West and East among two men with family ties who hated each other on the precipice of Civil War? Oh if God wants to replay the Augustus arc so bad, you can’t blame ME for already knowing who the Livia of this story is. So yeah, Constantine then led a force of 20,000 men over the Alps into Illyria, and Licinius gathered 35,000 men and marched west. They finally clashed in Pannonia, where the infantry clashed for hours, Constantine flanked and destroyed the enemy forces, and Licinius just fled in the dark of night. Fleeing to the east, Licinius raised one of his generals, Valens, as his co-Augustus to ensure his loyalty. Remember that name, it’s kind of confusing. After declining a peace treaty, getting fucked on the battlefield, and escaping again, It was only after encircling Constantine to no avail that he felt secure enough to negotiate. Constantine then forced Licinius recognized him as the Senior Augustus, took everything west of Thrace, and had Valens executed. With that done, Constantine then formed a new Tetrarchy on his own, Elevating Crispus and Constantine the Second to Caesars, with Licinius the Second added in as another 5th wheel. He then moved this capital to Sirmium, so he could keep an eye on Licinius up close, Sending Crispus to go defend the west from barbarians in his name. Protecting all from three massive Germanic invasions, and being as talented as his father, Crispus became just as loved and admired by all. And back to Licinius, he disobeyed his own edict and started persecuting Christians again
And at first he made secret enquiry respecting the ministers of God subject to his dominion, who had never, indeed, in any respect offended against his government, in order to bring false accusations against them. And when he found no ground of accusation, and had no real ground of objection against them, he next enacted a law, to the effect that the bishops should never on any account hold communication with each other, nor should any one of them absent himself on a visit to a neighboring church; nor, lastly, should the holding of synods, or councils for the consideration of affairs of common interest, be permitted. Now this was clearly a pretext for displaying his malice against us. For we were compelled either to violate the law, and thus be amenable to punishment, or else, by compliance with its injunctions, to nullify the statutes of the Church; inasmuch as it is impossible to bring important questions to a satisfactory adjustment, except by means of synods. In other cases also this God-hater, being determined to act contrary to the God-loving prince, enacted such things. For whereas the one assembled the priests of God in order to honor them, and to promote peace and unity of judgment; the other, whose object it was to destroy everything that was good, used all his endeavors to destroy the general harmony.
Accordingly he passed a second law, which enjoined that men should not appear in company with women in the houses of prayer, and forbade women to attend the sacred schools of virtue, or to receive instruction from the bishops, directing the appointment of women to be teachers of their own sex. These regulations being received with general ridicule, he devised other means for effecting the ruin of the churches. He ordered that the usual congregations of the people should be held in the open country outside the gates, alleging that the open air without the city was far more suitable for a multitude than the houses of prayer within the walls.
Failing, however, to obtain obedience in this respect also, at length he threw off the mask, and gave orders that those who held military commissions in the several cities of the empire should be deprived of their respective commands, in case of their refusal to offer sacrifices to the demons. Accordingly the forces of the authorities in every province suffered the loss of those who worshipped God; and he too who had decreed this order suffered loss, in that he thus deprived himself of the prayers of pious men. And why should I still further mention how he directed that no one should obey the dictates of common humanity by distributing food to those who were pining in prisons, or should even pity the captives who perished with hunger; in short, that no one should perform a virtuous action, and that those whose natural feelings impelled them to sympathize with their fellow-creatures should be prohibited from doing them a single kindness? Truly this was the most utterly shameless and scandalous of all laws, and one which surpassed the worst depravity of human nature: a law which inflicted on those who showed mercy the same penalties as on those who were the objects of their compassion, and visited the exercise of mere humanity with the severest punishments.
Such were the ordinances of Licinius. But why should I enumerate his innovations respecting marriage, or those concerning the dying, whereby he presumed to abrogate the ancient and wisely established laws of the Romans, and to introduce certain barbarous and cruel institutions in their stead, inventing a thousand pretenses for oppressing his subjects? Hence it was that he devised a new method of measuring land, by which he reckoned the smallest portion at more than its actual dimensions, from an insatiable desire of acquisition. Hence too he registered the names of country residents who were now no more, and had long been numbered with the dead, procuring to himself by this expedient a shameful gain. His meanness was unlimited and his rapacity insatiable. So that when he had filled all his treasuries with gold, and silver, and boundless wealth, he bitterly bewailed his poverty, and suffered as it were the torments of Tantalus. But why should I mention how many innocent persons he punished with exile; how much property he confiscated; how many men of noble birth and estimable character he imprisoned, whose wives he handed over to be basely insulted by his profligate slaves, and to how many married women and virgins he himself offered violence, though already feeling the infirmities of age? I need not enlarge on these subjects, since the enormity of his last actions causes the former to appear trifling and of little moment. For the final efforts of his fury appeared in his open hostility to the churches, and he directed his attacks against the bishops themselves, whom he regarded as his worst adversaries, bearing special enmity to those men whom the great and pious emperor treated as his friends. Accordingly he spent on us the utmost of his fury, and, being transported beyond the bounds of reason, he paused not to reflect on the example of those who had persecuted the Christians before him, nor of those whom he himself had been raised up to punish and destroy for their impious deeds: nor did he heed the facts of which he had been himself a witness, though he had seen with his own eyes the chief originator of these our calamities (whoever he was), smitten by the stroke of the Divine scourge.
In this manner, he of whom we have spoken continued to rush headlong towards that destruction which awaits the enemies of God; and once more, with a fatal emulation of their example whose ruin he had himself witnessed as the consequence of their impious conduct, he re-kindled the persecution of the Christians, like a long-extinguished fire, and fanned the unhallowed flame to a fiercer height than any who had gone before him.
At first, indeed, though breathing fury and threatenings against God, like some savage beast of prey, or some crooked and wriggling serpent, he dared not, from fear of Constantine, openly level his attacks against the churches of God subject to his dominion; but dissembled the virulence of his malice, and endeavored by secret and limited measures to compass the death of the bishops, the most eminent of whom he found means to remove, through charges laid against them by the governors of the several provinces. And the manner in which they suffered had in it something strange, and hitherto unheard of. At all events, the barbarities perpetrated at Amasia of Pontus surpassed every known excess of cruelty.
For in that city some of the churches, for the second time since the commencement of the persecutions, were leveled with the ground, and others were closed by the governors of the several districts, in order to prevent any who frequented them from assembling together, or rendering due worship to God. For he by whose orders these outrages were committed was too conscious of his own crimes to expect that these services were performed with any view to his benefit, and was convinced that all we did, and all our endeavors to obtain the favor of God, were on Constantine’s behalf.
For in that city some of the churches, for the second time since the commencement of the persecutions, were leveled with the ground, and others were closed by the governors of the several districts, in order to prevent any who frequented them from assembling together, or rendering due worship to God.
and as licinius was doing these things, Constantine was defending the Danube from both Goths and Sarmatians, Crushing them both in battle and even killing the new Gothic King before he caused much trouble. Thing is, the barbarians began invading from Licinius’ side instead, forcing Constantine to constantly cross the border and clean up the mess. And instead of helping him defend his citizens, he declared war on Constantine again, gathering 165,000 men to fight Constantine’s 130,000. Fortifying himself beside the river by Adrianople, Licinius also betrayed civilisation and recruited a huge Gothic horde to serve him.
and constantine made the usual warlike preparations to defeat licinius, and assembled his whole forces, both of horse and foot. But before them all was carried the standard which I have before described, as the symbol of his full confidence in God.
Constantine took with him the priests of God, feeling well assured that now, if ever, he stood in need of the efficacy of prayer, and thinking it right that they should constantly be near and about his person, as most trusty guardians of the soul.
Now, as soon as the tyrant understood that Constantine’s victories over his enemies were secured to him by no other means than the cooperation of God, and that the persons above alluded to were continually with him and about his person; and besides this, that the symbol of the salutary passion preceded both the emperor himself and his whole army; he regarded these precautions with ridicule (as might be expected), at the same time mocking and reviling the emperor with blasphemous words.
On the other hand, he gathered round himself Egyptian diviners and soothsayers, with sorcerers and enchanters, and the priests and prophets of those whom he imagined to be gods. He then, after offering the sacrifices which he thought the occasion demanded, enquired how far he might reckon on a successful termination of the war. They replied with one voice, that he would unquestionably be victorious over his enemies, and triumphant in the war: and the oracles everywhere held out to him the same prospect in copious and elegant verses. The soothsayers certified him of favorable omens from the flight of birds; the priests declared the same to be indicated by the motion of the entrails of their victims. Elevated, therefore, by these fallacious assurances, he boldly advanced at the head of his army, and prepared for battle.
And when he was now ready to engage, he desired the most approved of his bodyguard and his most valued friends to meet him in one of the places which they consider sacred. It was a well-watered and shady grove, and in it were several marble statues of those whom he accounted to be gods. After lighting tapers and performing the usual sacrifices in honor of these, he is said to have delivered the following speech:
Friends and fellow-soldiers! These are our country’s gods, and these we honor with a worship derived from our remotest ancestors. But he who leads the army now opposed to us has proved false to the religion of his forefathers, and adopted atheistic sentiments, honoring in his infatuation some strange and unheard-of Deity, with whose despicable standard he now disgraces his army, and confiding in whose aid he has taken up arms, and is now advancing, not so much against us as against those very gods whom he has forsaken. However, the present occasion shall prove which of us is mistaken in his judgment, and shall decide between our gods and those whom our adversaries profess to honor. For either it will declare the victory to be ours, and so most justly evince that our gods are the true saviours and helpers; or else, if this God of Constantine’s, who comes we know not whence, shall prove superior to our deities (who are many, and in point of numbers, at least, have the advantage), let no one henceforth doubt which god he ought to worship, but attach himself at once to the superior power, and ascribe to him the honors of the victory. Suppose, then, this strange God, whom we now regard with ridicule, should really prove victorious; then indeed we must acknowledge and give him honor, and so bid a long farewell to those for whom we light our tapers in vain. But if our own gods triumph (as they undoubtedly will), then, as soon as we have secured the present victory, let us prosecute the war without delay against these despisers of the gods.
while preparing Constantine also bound a whole Frankish horde into his service binding them with the divine magic of his Chi Rho standard. Facing Licinius, Constantine found a good spot to cross the river, ordering a bridge to be built far away as a distraction. And once Licinius fell for the bait, Constantine crossed and flanked his lines, pushing him back and casting his standard’s divine magic on his own legions. Blessing them with so much power it made Licinius flee again.
Indeed, wherever this appeared, the enemy soon fled before his victorious troops. And the emperor perceiving this, whenever he saw any part of his forces hard pressed, gave orders that the salutary trophy should be moved in that direction, like some triumphant charm against disasters: at which the combatants were divinely inspired, as it were, with fresh strength and courage, and immediate victory was the result.
Accordingly, he selected those of his bodyguard who were most distinguished for personal strength, valor, and piety, and entrusted them with the sole care and defense of the standard. There were thus no less than fifty men whose only duty was to surround and vigilantly defend the standard, which they carried each in turn on their shoulders. These circumstances were related to the writer of this narrative by the emperor himself in his leisure moments, long after the occurrence of the events: and he added another incident well worthy of being recorded.
For he said that once, during the very heat of an engagement, a sudden tumult and panic attacked his army, which threw the soldier who then bore the standard into an agony of fear, so that he handed it over to another, in order to secure his own escape from the battle. As soon, however, as his comrade had received it, and he had withdrawn, and resigned all charge of the standard, he was struck in the belly by a dart, which took his life. Thus he paid the penalty of his cowardice and unfaithfulness, and lay dead on the spot: but the other, who had taken his place as the bearer of the salutary standard, found it to be the safeguard of his life. For though he was assailed by a continual shower of darts, the bearer remained unhurt, the staff of the standard receiving every weapon. It was indeed a truly marvelous circumstance, that the enemies’ darts all fell within and remained in the slender circumference of this spear, and thus saved the standard-bearer from death; so that none of those engaged in this service ever received a wound.
The van, however, of the enemy, unable to resist the emperor’s first assault, threw down their arms, and prostrated themselves at his feet. All these he spared, rejoicing to save human life. But there were others who still continued in arms, and engaged in battle. These the emperor endeavored to conciliate by friendly overtures, but when these were not accepted he ordered his army to commence the attack. On this they immediately turned and betook themselves to flight; and some were overtaken and slain according to the laws of war, while others fell on each other in the confusion of their flight, and perished by the swords of their comrades.
In these circumstances their commander, finding himself bereft of the aid of his followers, having lost his lately numerous array, both of regular and allied forces, having proved, too, by experience, how vain his confidence had been in those whom he thought to be gods, ignominiously took to flight to byzantium, by which indeed he effected his escape, and secured his personal safety, for the pious emperor had forbidden his soldiers to follow him too closely, and thus allowed him an opportunity for escape. And this he did in the hope that he might hereafter, on conviction of the desperate state of his affairs, be induced to abandon his insane and presumptuous ambition, and return to sounder reason. So Constantine, in his excessive humanity, thought and was willing patiently to bear past injuries, and extend his forgiveness to one who so ill deserved it; but Licinius, far from renouncing his evil practices, still added crime to crime, and ventured on more daring atrocities than ever. Nay, once more tampering with the detestable arts of magic, he again was presumptuous: so that it might well be said of him, as it was of the Egyptian tyrant of old, that God had hardened his heart
and licinius named another general as co-emperor: a man named Martinian, who he then sent east to gather a new army for him. And despite being injured, Constantine pressed on. But after realizing just how fucking hard it was to siege Byzantium, He ordered his son Crispus back from the west to lead his naval campaign. Sent to face Licinius’ fleet while vastly outnumbered in battle, not only did Crispus win decisively, but God then sent a storm to destroy the remaining ships, leaving only four survivors. After this catastrophe, Licinius then fled to Anatolia, and was pursued by Constantine all the way to Chrysopolis.
and he began also to look about him for other gods, having been deceived by those in whom he had hitherto trusted. And, without bestowing a thought on what he had himself publicly spoken on the subject of false deities, or choosing to acknowledge that God who had fought on the side of Constantine, he made himself ridiculous by seeking for a multitude of new gods.
Having now learned by experience the Divine and mysterious power which resided in the Cross, by means of which Constantine’s army had become habituated to victory, he admonished his soldiers never to direct their attack against this standard, nor even incautiously to allow their eyes to rest upon it; assuring them that it possessed a terrible power, and was especially hostile to him; so that they would do well carefully to avoid any collision with it. And now, having given these directions, he prepared for a decisive conflict with him whose humanity prompted him still to hesitate, and to postpone the fate which he foresaw awaited his adversary. The enemy, however, confident in the aid of a multitude of gods, advanced to the attack with a powerful array of Goths, preceded by certain images of the dead, and lifeless statues, as their defense. On the other side, the emperor, secure in the armor of godliness, opposed to the numbers of the enemy the salutary and life-giving sign, as at once a terror to the foe, and a protection from every harm. And for a while he paused, and preserved at first the attitude of forbearance, from respect to the treaty of peace to which he had given his sanction, that he might not be the first to commence the contest.
But as soon as he perceived that his adversaries persisted in their resolution, and were already drawing their swords, he gave free scope to his indignation, and by a single charge overthrew in a moment the entire body of the enemy killing tens of thousand and making lcinius flee again, thus triumphing at once over them and their gods.
And after fleeing to Nicomedia, Licinius was arrested. but constantine showing mercy allowed him to live. but like maximian before him he attempted to kill constantine in his sleep, and when caought, Constantine then proceeded to deal with this adversary of God and his followers according to the laws of war, and consign them to fitting punishment. Accordingly the tyrant himself, and they whose counsels had supported him in his impiety, were together subjected to the just punishment of death by being hung till dead. After this, those who had so lately been deceived by their vain confidence in false deities, acknowledged with unfeigned sincerity the God of Constantine, and openly professed their belief in him as the true and only God.
And now, the impious being thus removed, the sun once more shone brightly after the gloomy cloud of tyrannic power. Each separate portion of the Roman dominion became blended with the rest; the Eastern nations united with those of the West, and the whole body of the Roman empire was graced as it were by its head in the person of a single and supreme ruler, whose sole authority pervaded the whole. Now too the bright rays of the light of godliness gladdened the days of those who had heretofore been sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. Past sorrows were no more remembered, for all united in celebrating the praises of the victorious prince, and avowed their recognition of his preserver as the only true God. Thus he whose character shone with all the virtues of piety, the emperor Victor, for he had himself adopted this name as a most fitting appellation to express the victory which God had granted him over all who hated or opposed him, assumed the dominion of the East, and thus singly governed the Roman empire, re-united, as in former times, under one head. Thus, as he was the first to proclaim to all the sole sovereignty of God, so he himself, as sole sovereign of the Roman world, extended his authority over the whole human race. Every apprehension of those evils under the pressure of which all had suffered was now removed; men whose heads had drooped in sorrow now regarded each other with smiling countenances, and looks expressive of their inward joy. With processions and hymns of praise they first of all, as they were told, ascribed the supreme sovereignty to God, as in truth the King of kings; and then with continued acclamations rendered honor to the victorious emperor, and the Cæsars, his most discreet and pious sons. The former afflictions were forgotten, and all past impieties forgiven: while with the enjoyment of present happiness was mingled the expectation of continued blessings in the future.
and constantine passed many laws after he took the east, he freed those who had been unjustly made slaves, and he returned property to those who had it stolen and returned the church to legality.
and it was in those days of victory that a bishop named aruis in the east caused much disunity in the church. for he had started teaching that jesus himself was not consubstantian from the father and was a created being. and this sowed much disunity in the church and constantine was sad at heart. and constantine looking to resolve the conflict that was dividing the empire called upon the bishops of orthodox belief to decry this heresy. but this failed and the lies of arius continued to have influence. and seeing this falure he conversed with the bishop sylvester, and it was suggested that a world wide council be held, for the issue could divide the church in two.
So Constantine convoked a general council, and invited the speedy attendance of bishops from all quarters, in letters expressive of the honorable estimation in which he held them. Nor was this merely the issuing of a bare command but the emperor’s good will contributed much to its being carried into effect: for he allowed some the use of the public means of conveyance, while he afforded to others an ample supply of horses for their transport. The place, too, selected for the synod, the city Nicæa in Bithynia, was appropriate to the occasion. As soon then as the imperial injunction was generally made known, all with the utmost willingness hastened there, as though they would outstrip one another in a race; for they were impelled by the anticipation of a happy result to the conference, by the hope of enjoying present peace, and the desire of beholding something new and strange in the person of so admirable an emperor. Now when they were all assembled, it appeared evident that the proceeding was the work of God, inasmuch as men who had been most widely separated, not merely in sentiment but also personally, and by difference of country, place, and nation, were here brought together, and comprised within the walls of a single city, forming as it were a vast garland of priests, composed of a variety of the choicest flowers.
and altogether 250 bishops came from all over to the council
Now when the appointed day arrived on which the council met for the final solution of the questions in dispute, each member was present for this in the central building of the palace, which appeared to exceed the rest in magnitude. On each side of the interior of this were many seats disposed in order, which were occupied by those who had been invited to attend, according to their rank. As soon, then, as the whole assembly had seated themselves with becoming orderliness, a general silence prevailed, in expectation of the emperor’s arrival. And first of all, three of his immediate family entered in succession, then others also preceded his approach, not of the soldiers or guards who usually accompanied him, but only friends in the faith. And now, all rising at the signal which indicated the emperor’s entrance, at last he himself proceeded through the midst of the assembly, like some heavenly messenger of God, clothed in raiment which glittered as it were with rays of light, reflecting the glowing radiance of a purple robe, and adorned with the brilliant splendor of gold and precious stones. Such was the external appearance of his person; and with regard to his mind, it was evident that he was distinguished by piety and godly fear. This was indicated by his downcast eyes, the blush on his countenance, and his gait. For the rest of his personal excellencies, he surpassed all present in height of stature and beauty of form, as well as in majestic dignity of mien, and invincible strength and vigor. All these graces, united to a suavity of manner, and a serenity becoming his imperial station, declared the excellence of his mental qualities to be above all praise. As soon as he had advanced to the upper end of the seats, at first he remained standing, and when a low chair of wrought gold had been set for him, he waited until the bishops had beckoned to him, and then sat down, and after him the whole assembly did the same.
The bishop who occupied the chief place in the right division of the assembly then rose, and, addressing the emperor, delivered a concise speech, in a strain of thanksgiving to Almighty God on his behalf. When he had resumed his seat, silence ensued, and all regarded the emperor with fixed attention; on which he looked serenely round on the assembly with a cheerful aspect, and, having collected his thoughts, in a calm and gentle tone gave utterance to the following words.
“It was once my chief desire, dearest friends, to enjoy the spectacle of your united presence; and now that this desire is fulfilled, I feel myself bound to render thanks to God the universal King, because, in addition to all his other benefits, he has granted me a blessing higher than all the rest, in permitting me to see you not only all assembled together, but all united in a common harmony of sentiment. I pray therefore that no malignant adversary may henceforth interfere to mar our happy state; I pray that, now the impious hostility of the tyrants has been forever removed by the power of God our Saviour, that spirit who delights in evil may devise no other means for exposing the divine law to blasphemous calumny; for, in my judgment, intestine strife within the Church of God, is far more evil and dangerous than any kind of war or conflict; and these our differences appear to me more grievous than any outward trouble. Accordingly, when, by the will and with the co-operation of God, I had been victorious over my enemies, I thought that nothing more remained but to render thanks to him, and sympathize in the joy of those whom he had restored to freedom through my instrumentality; as soon as I heard that intelligence which I had least expected to receive, I mean the news of your dissension, I judged it to be of no secondary importance, but with the earnest desire that a remedy for this evil also might be found through my means, I immediately sent to require your presence. And now I rejoice in beholding your assembly; but I feel that my desires will be most completely fulfilled when I can see you all united in one judgment, and that common spirit of peace and concord prevailing among you all, which it becomes you, as consecrated to the service of God, to commend to others. Delay not, then, dear friends: delay not, you ministers of God, and faithful servants of him who is our common Lord and Saviour: begin from this moment to discard the causes of that disunion which has existed among you, and remove the perplexities of controversy by embracing the principles of peace. For by such conduct you will at the same time be acting in a manner most pleasing to the supreme God, and you will confer an exceeding favor on me who am your fellow-servant.“
As soon as the emperor had spoken these words in the Latin tongue, which another interpreted, he gave permission to those who presided in the council to deliver their opinions. On this some began to accuse their neighbors, who defended themselves, and recriminated in their turn. In this manner numberless assertions were put forth by each party, and a violent controversy arose at the very commencement. Notwithstanding this, the emperor gave patient audience to all alike, and received every proposition with steadfast attention, and by occasionally assisting the argument of each party in turn, he gradually disposed even the most vehement disputants to a reconciliation. At the same time, by the affability of his address to all, and his use of the Greek language, with which he was not altogether unacquainted, he appeared in a truly attractive and amiable light, persuading some, convincing others by his reasonings, praising those who spoke well, and urging all to unity of sentiment, until at last he succeeded in bringing them to one mind and judgment respecting every disputed question.
The result was that they were not only united as concerning the faith, but that the time for the celebration of the salutary feast of Easter was agreed on by all. Those points also which were sanctioned by the resolution of the whole body were committed to writing, and received the signature of each several member. Then the emperor, believing that he had thus obtained a second victory over the adversary of the Church, proceeded to solemnize a triumphal festival in honor of God.
and constantine then produced a letter in regards to this council which he sent to all of its corners stating
“At this meeting the question concerning the most holy day of Easter was discussed, and it was resolved by the united judgment of all present, that this feast ought to be kept by all and in every place on one and the same day. For what can be more becoming or honorable to us than that this feast from which we date our hopes of immortality, should be observed unfailingly by all alike, according to one ascertained order and arrangement? And first of all, it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul. For we have it in our power, if we abandon their custom, to prolong the due observance of this ordinance to future ages, by a truer order, which we have preserved from the very day of the passion until the present time. Let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd; for we have received from our Saviour a different way. A course at once legitimate and honorable lies open to our most holy religion. Beloved brethren, let us with one consent adopt this course, and withdraw ourselves from all participation in their baseness. For their boast is absurd indeed, that it is not in our power without instruction from them to observe these things. For how should they be capable of forming a sound judgment, who, since their parricidal guilt in slaying their Lord, have been subject to the direction, not of reason, but of ungoverned passion, and are swayed by every impulse of the mad spirit that is in them? Hence it is that on this point as well as others they have no perception of the truth, so that, being altogether ignorant of the true adjustment of this question, they sometimes celebrate Easter twice in the same year. Why then should we follow those who are confessedly in grievous error? Surely we shall never consent to keep this feast a second time in the same year. But supposing these reasons were not of sufficient weight, still it would be incumbent on your Sagacities to strive and pray continually that the purity of your souls may not seem in anything to be sullied by fellowship with the customs of these most wicked men. We must consider, too, that a discordant judgment in a case of such importance, and respecting such religious festival, is wrong. For our Saviour has left us one feast in commemoration of the day of our deliverance, I mean the day of his most holy passion; and he has willed that his Catholic Church should be one, the members of which, however scattered in many and diverse places, are yet cherished by one pervading spirit, that is, by the will of God. And let your Holinesses’ sagacity reflect how grievous and scandalous it is that on the self-same days some should be engaged in fasting, others in festive enjoyment; and again, that after the days of Easter some should be present at banquets and amusements, while others are fulfilling the appointed fasts. It is, then, plainly the will of Divine Providence (as I suppose you all clearly see), that this usage should receive fitting correction, and be reduced to one uniform rule.”
but the work of the satan and his angels was not fully abaited for they resolved to attack constantine at his very heart.
for Crispus who was like constantine in all ways only younger, and his stepmother Fausta was taken over with lust for him. Leaving her bed to try and seduce Crispus one night, But Crispus rejected her with disgust: To get her revenge and to secure her own son’s ascension to power, Knowing that magic wouldn’t work on Constantine, Fausta claimed that Crispus had tried to rape her, and was plotting to murder him. Believing her, and completely devastated, Constantine did not listen to the protests of his son and he was seized, tried, and executed. and constantine was overcome with grief as he had killed his firstborn son who had been with him since the courts of diocleatian. who had lead his armys and never betrayed him until suposedly now.
But the pain of losing his beloved son wouldn’t lessen, for while visiting his mother Helena in Rome, as he lamented his loss, she taught him the truth. Helena told constantine that Fausta had lied to him. Now boiling with rage, Constantine couldnt contain himself, he threw Fausta into a bathing room, and cranked up the heat until she suffocated to death. her death was slow and painful and she suffered for many hours.
and Constantine was in immense grief and knew that he had gravely sinned, and for a moment thought of abondoning christ who he thought would now abandon him, but he resolved to speak with Sylvester the bishop. and he came to the palace of the lateran which brought back many sad memories for it had used to be the palace of fuasta.
and he spoke to the bishop and said “i have sinned against the almighty god, for i have killed my son unjustly. how can the god of the christians ever forgive me for this grave sin.”
and the bishop responded. ” do not fear oh constantine for our god is a god of mercy, for he does not forgive man just once but a thousand times. and so through this confession you will still recieve salvation. but i warn you oh emperer that god does not forget the sins that man has done, for on the last day you will be judged according to your works through purgatorial flames. so i resolve to tell you oh emperor that it would be wise to seek an indulgence for this is the only way to lesson your sentence in purgatory for truly i say to you, you will not leave until you have payed the last penny.”
and then sylvester forgave him of his sins. and constantine resolving to acquire for himself a generous indulgence decided upon sending his mother Helena along with his troops to the holy land to discover and preserve the relics of christ.
and therefore Helena went to Jerusalem. Finding that which was once Jerusalem, desolate ‘as a Preserve for autumnal fruits she sought carefully the sepulchre of Christ, from which he arose after his burial; and after much difficulty, by God’s help she discovered it. for Those who embraced the Christian faith, after the period of his passion, greatly venerated this tomb; but those who hated Christianity, having covered the spot with a mound of earth, erected on it a temple to Venus, and set up her image there, not caring for the memory of the place. This succeeded for a long time; and it became known to the emperor’s mother. Accordingly she having caused the statue to be thrown down, the earth to be removed, and the ground entirely cleared, found three crosses in the sepulchre: one of these was that blessed cross on which Christ had hung, the other two were those on which the two thieves that were crucified with him had died. With these was also found the tablet of Pilate, on which he had inscribed in various characters, that the Christ who was crucified was king of the Jews. Since, however, it was doubtful which was the cross they were in search of, the emperor’s mother was not a little distressed; but from this trouble the bishop of Jerusalem, Macarius, shortly relieved her. And he solved the doubt by faith, for he sought a sign from God and obtained it. The sign was this: a certain woman of the neighborhood, who had been long afflicted with disease, was now just at the point of death; the bishop therefore arranged it so that each of the crosses should be brought to the dying woman, believing that she would be healed on touching the precious cross. Nor was he disappointed in his expectation: for the two crosses having been applied which were not the Lord’s, the woman still continued in a dying state; but when the third, which was the true cross, touched her, she was immediately healed, and recovered her former strength. In this manner then was the genuine cross discovered. The emperor’s mother erected over the place of the sepulchre a magnificent church,216 and named it New Jerusalem, having built it facing that old and deserted city. There she left a portion of the cross, enclosed in a silver case, as a memorial to those who might wish to see it: the other part she sent to the emperor, who being persuaded that the city would be perfectly secure where that relic should be preserved, privately enclosed it in his own statue. Moreover the nails with which Christ’s hands were fastened to the cross (for his mother having found these also in the sepulchre had sent them) Constantine took and had made into bridle-bits and a helmet, which he used in his military expeditions. The emperor supplied all materials for the construction of the churches, and wrote to Macarius the bishop to expedite these edifices. When the emperor’s mother had completed the New Jerusalem, she reared another church not at all inferior, over the cave at Bethlehem where Christ was born according to the flesh: nor did she stop here, but built a third on the 22mount of his Ascension. So devoutly was she affected in these matters, that she would pray in the company of women; and inviting the virgins enrolled in the register217 of the churches to a repast, serving them herself, she brought the dishes to table. She was also very munificent to the churches and to the poor;
and in this same time Constantine resolved to create a new city in the east. So in his search through lands and regions he reached Thessalonici. When he saw its mountains and plains with their easy connection to the sea, and that it was well supplied with water and generally abundant, he thought this was the place that God wanted for the foundation. He spent two periods there and built churches wonderful for their size, beauty and adornment, and inaugurated enormous gracious baths. He also laid in water supplies to serve every need of the citizens, but when he saw that a plague was threatening the place, in great distress he abandoned it. He travelled to Chalcedon in Bithynia and finding it long since demolished by the Persians he determined to make his foundation here. Without further ado he set about starting the work, but eagles took the workers’ plumb lines and carried them off to Byzantium. This happened many times and when the emperor learned of it he did not know what to do. Then one of his intimate servants called Euphratas said this: “There is the place, master, that the Lord wants the building of the city.” The emperor was pleased by this suggestion and straight away went across there, inspected the place which was then a bare hillside, and put Euphratas in charge of the work, with instructions to build a city that would please the mother of God. He gave him plenty of assistance and lots of money, and told him to take what would help him from the surrounding country.
And he named the city Constantinople after his own name; and as if it were his native city, he adorned it with great magnificence and wished to make it equal to Rome. Then he sought out new citizens for it from every quarter,46 and lavished such wealth on the city, that thereon he all but exhausted the imperial fortunes. the new capitol was free of all pagan influence at at the center of the city stood the statue which contained a piece of the true cross, which stands on a large column of porphyry in the forum called Constantine’s. There he also established a senate47 of the second rank, the members of which had the title of clari. and in this time helena having lived a life of piety, she died when about eighty years old. Her remains were conveyed to New Rome, the capital, and deposited in the imperial sepulchres.
Then he began war against the Goths, rendering aid also to the Sarmatians, who had appealed to him for help.49 The result was that almost a hundred thousand of the Goths were destroyed by hunger and cold through Constantinus Caesar.50 Then he also received hostages, among whom was Ariaricus, the king’s son. 32
When peace with the Goths had thus been secured, Constantine turned against the Sarmatians, who were showing themselves to be of doubtful loyalty. But the slaves of the Sarmatians rebelled against all their masters51 and drove them from the country. These Constantine willingly received, and p529 distributed more than three hundred thousand people of different ages and both sexes through Thrace, Scythia, Macedonia, and Italy
. Of his three sons, Constantine the Second was the opposite of his father: Weak, vain, and treacherous. Constantius the Second was intelligent and strong, but had grown cynical and distant due to Fausta’s upbringing. And Constans was a homeosexual. So he then looked onto his nephews, like the sons of Constantia’s new marriage: Dalmatius and Hannibalianus. As well as the sons of Julius, like Gallus: And also his half-brother: A very young Julian, in whom he sensed the most potential, but had to ignore due to his age. After giving it some thought, he sought again to revive the Tetrarchy by giving the West to Constantine the Second, Italy and it’s surroundings to Constans, the East to Constantius the Second, and both Thrace and Greece to Dalmatius. as for Hannibalianus, he was named King of Kings, Constantine gave the entire unconquered Sassanid Empire to his nephew
Then Constantine, having heard of an insurrection of some barbarians in the East, observed that the conquest of this enemy was still in store for him, and resolved on an expedition against the Persians. Accordingly he proceeded at once to put his forces in motion, at the same time communicating his intended march to the bishops who happened to be at his court, some of whom he judged it right to take with him as companions, and as needful coadjutors in the service of God. They, on the other hand, cheerfully declared their willingness to follow in his train, disclaiming any desire to leave him, and engaging to battle with and for him by supplication to God on his behalf. Full of joy at this answer to his request, he unfolded to them his projected line of march; after which he caused a tent of great splendor, representing in shape the figure of a church, to be prepared for his own use in the approaching war. In this he intended to unite with the bishops in offering prayers to the God from whom all victory proceeds. however constantine soon fell sick.
At first he experienced some slight bodily indisposition, which was soon followed by positive disease. In consequence of this he visited the hot baths of his own city; and thence proceeded to that which bore the name of his mother. Here he passed some time in the church of the martyrs, and offered up supplications and prayers to God. Being at length convinced that his life was drawing to a close, he drew fourth the bishops and addressed them in the following words.
The time is arrived which I have long hoped for, with an earnest desire and prayer that I might obtain the salvation of God.
After he had thus spoken, the prelates performed the annointing of the sick in the usual manner by the placing of hand. Thus was Constantine the first of all sovereigns who was regenerated and perfected in a church dedicated to the martyrs of Christ; he rejoiced in spirit, was renewed, and filled with heavenly light: his soul was gladdened by reason of the fervency of his faith, and astonished at the manifestation of the power of God. At the conclusion of the ceremony he arrayed himself in shining imperial vestments, brilliant as the light, and reclined on a couch of the purest white, refusing to clothe himself with the purple any more.
All these events occurred during a most important festival, I mean the august and holy solemnity of Pentecost, which is distinguished by a period of seven weeks, and sealed with that one day on which the holy Scriptures attest, the ascension of our common Saviour into heaven, and the descent of the Holy Spirit among men. In the course of this feast the emperor received the privileges I have described; and on the last day of all, which one might justly call the feast of feasts, he was removed about mid-day to the presence of his God, leaving his mortal remains to his fellow mortals, and carrying into fellowship with God that part of his being which was capable of understanding and loving him. Such was the close of Constantine’s mortal life.
The soldiers along with the Senate placed his remains in a gold sarcophagus and held a great lament, mourning him as a beloved father and not as a deceased emperor. Constantius the emperor of Europe arrived – for none of his sons had been present at his death – and buried him regally in the church of the holy apostles alongside his mother. For the great church had lately been built by Constantine and Irene.
20. About the apparition of the cross. During this period on the 28th July at midday a cross appeared above sacred Golgotha. At this time the most pious Cyril was bishop of the church in Jerusalem, that is to say holy Zion, after he had succeeded Maximinus.