First, the background of Constantine's tolerant Christianity
Constantine promoted imperial Christianity for quite profound reasons. Christianity came into being in 1 century. After many centuries of development, it has gained a firm foothold in West Asia, North Africa and Europe. Although Christians were indeed influenced by unstable imperial policies, the foundation of Christianity stood firm.
According to the church statistics of 249-25 1, there are 46 elders in the known churches in western Rome, with an average of 14 priests in each church and about 20 junior clergy. This shows that a well-organized religious group has been formed within the empire. In the eastern part of the empire, the distribution of believers is obviously more than that in the west. In addition to the Roman diocese, four of the five major dioceses in the early history of the Empire were in the Eastern Empire.
By the time of Constantine, the flourishing Christian faith had spread irreversibly to every corner of the empire. It seems that all classes of the whole empire are full of believers who worship Jesus and hate Apollo, whether they are royalty, soldiers fighting for their country, farmers living in the frontier or wandering businessmen.
The Pantheon of Rome that stands today.
More importantly, various schools of Christianity began to prevail in the imperial army after widely absorbing foreigners who poured into the borders of various provinces to serve as soldiers. At that time, the military organization had become a powerful force to decide to abolish the emperor. Constantine's propaganda of Christianity can not only maintain the soldiers' goodwill towards him, but also enhance the cohesion and loyalty of the troops.
In addition, Constantine the Great's kindness to Christianity was also influenced by his father. Father Constantine himself is a moderate political leader and advocates religious tolerance. He repeatedly ordered "tolerance of Christians" in Britain and Gaul, which was quite different from Diocletian's orders in Augustus.
Diocletian in film and television dramas
Galerius, the "Caesar" in western Rome, tried to suppress Christians in exchange for religious unity within the empire. He slandered Christians for rebelling all over Italy, and blamed Christians for arson and defection. He also encouraged Diocletian to issue a decree prohibiting imperial residents from believing in Christianity and punishing those staunch Christians with severe laws.
Persecute Christians
As the conflict between polytheists and Christians intensified, the civilian class of the whole empire was seriously divided. Galerkin did not succeed in suppressing Christian belief, but instead aroused complaints from the whole empire. As the first person who encouraged Diocletian to slaughter Christians, Galerius's behavior was mostly "embarrassing".
The Battle of Anqiao in Milvi in 3 12 AD can be said to be the "direct reason" for Constantine's conversion to Christianity. According to Eusebius and others, before Constantine the Great fought Maximus, an angel suddenly gave him a dream. The angel promised him that as long as you carved the "Kaile symbol" on the shield, you would "win by this".
The symbol "Le Kai" on the flag of Constantine.
After you obeyed the dream, you really won. It can be seen that it seems inevitable for your family to tolerate and promote Christianity this time, whether from the prosperity of Christianity itself, or from the soldiers' "desire to join the army" at that time, or from the Constantine family and their own goodwill towards Christianity.
Constantine led the army to meet the enemy, and a cross appeared in the air.
Second, Constantine promoted Christianity in Rome.
Constantine was not the Roman emperor who was regarded as "the protector of priests". He didn't show bloody violence like a heretic. As a Christian, Constantine's attitude towards paganism has always been very tolerant but not harsh, which not only shows the gentle nature of the emperor as a believer, but also fully shows his tolerant and broad personal mind and political vision.
After the implementation of the Milan Decree, which officially legalized Christianity in 3 13, Constantine showed an attitude of "bridging rather than provoking" the dispute between Orthodox Christianity and paganism within the empire. He himself once said: "I long for God's people (all Roman citizens) to live in peace, and for the sake of our common world and everyone's conscience, don't split up with each other. Let people who are lost in mistakes enjoy peace and stability as people who believe in God. Let everyone return to friendship and even embark on the right path. "
Promulgate the Milan decree
This means that Constantine believed that after the Christian name was removed, everyone in the Roman Empire basically had the right to freely choose religious beliefs. Constantine did not want to strongly promote the spread of Christianity within the empire, but gave it a "space for free development." He assured people that he would not destroy traditional temples, and he could also "measure and use" those who adhered to polytheism. However, during your reign, Christian bureaucrats are indeed more likely to be promoted.
The emperor himself was very enthusiastic about sponsoring the construction of Christian churches, such as the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which were all invested with his private property. At the same time, he also demanded that the church property confiscated for religious persecution be returned within the empire, and that the guardian who died before be given a pension to rehabilitate him. He gave Christianity, Judaism and other religions the "tax exemption right for temples and clergy" that originally belonged to polytheism.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
He also reiterated to the people many times that his power comes from God, and this power to rule the empire has a real basis from faith. Because there is indeed a saying in Christian doctrine that "you must obey those who are in power on the ground." Christianity's various creeds of persuading people to be kind and teaching people peace really brought new vitality to the Roman Empire at that time. At that time, the respect of the empire for the emperor himself had been greatly reduced. After Constantine converted to Christianity, there were few large-scale disturbances and rebellions.
Constantine and Jesus: the origin of the idea of divine right of monarchy
You also convened the first Christian Grand Council in 325. After the meeting, Constantine personally participated in the formulation of the nicene creed, which established the special relationship between the emperor and the church. The most important historical significance of the meeting is to establish the trinity belief of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, which is also the premise to test whether believers have "pure faith" in the western world today. It is because of your name recognition of Christianity that Christianity jumped from a minority religion to a "western religion" in less than 100 years. This is also the reason why he has the deepest influence on the European world.