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Saint Constantine the Great
The first Christian Emperor who legalized Christianity and convened the First Ecumenical Council
The first Christian Emperor who legalized Christianity and convened the First Ecumenical Council
Emperor and Equal-to-the-Apostles Feast Day: May 21
Saint Constantine the Great (272-337 AD) stands as one of the most pivotal figures in Christian history, earning the title “Equal-to-the-Apostles” for his role in establishing Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire and his contributions to the early Church.
Born Flavius Valerius Constantinus in Naissus (modern Serbia), Constantine was the son of Constantius Chlorus, a Roman general who later became Caesar. Raised in the court of Emperor Diocletian, Constantine witnessed firsthand the Great Persecution of Christians that began in 303 AD.
After his father’s death in 306 AD, Constantine was proclaimed Augustus by his troops in Britain. What followed was a series of civil wars as Constantine fought to consolidate power over the entire Roman Empire.
The defining moment of Constantine’s life came in 312 AD before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge against his rival Maxentius. According to the historian Eusebius, Constantine saw a vision of a cross of light in the sky with the words “In this sign, conquer” (In hoc signo vinces). That night, Christ appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to use the sign of the cross in battle.
Constantine ordered his soldiers to paint the Chi-Rho symbol (☧) on their shields and standards. His decisive victory at the Milvian Bridge marked the beginning of his conversion to Christianity and the transformation of the Roman Empire.
In 313 AD, Constantine and his co-emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan, which granted religious tolerance throughout the empire and specifically legalized Christianity. This revolutionary decree ended centuries of persecution and allowed Christians to worship openly for the first time.
The edict declared: “We have granted to these Christians free and absolute permission to practice their religion… so that the Divinity… may be propitious and favorable to us and to all who are placed under our authority.”
In 330 AD, Constantine established a new capital for the empire on the site of ancient Byzantium, naming it Constantinople (modern Istanbul). This “New Rome” was conceived as a Christian city from its foundation, adorned with churches and Christian symbols rather than pagan temples.
Constantinople would become the center of Eastern Christianity and the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, serving as the “Queen of Cities” for over a thousand years until the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453.
Constantine’s most significant contribution to Church unity was convening the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325 AD. Faced with the Arian heresy that denied the divinity of Christ, Constantine gathered bishops from throughout the Christian world to address this threat to orthodox faith.
The Council produced the Nicene Creed, which affirmed that Christ is “true God and true man,” of the same essence (homoousios) as the Father. Constantine’s role in preserving orthodox Christology earned him lasting gratitude from the Church.
As emperor, Constantine enacted numerous laws reflecting Christian values:
Constantine delayed his baptism until near death, a common practice at the time to ensure forgiveness of all sins. He was baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia in 337 AD and died shortly thereafter on Pentecost Sunday.
His last words reportedly were: “Now I know that I am truly blessed; now I am assured of immortality and am about to enjoy the light of Christ.”
The Orthodox Church venerates Constantine as “Equal-to-the-Apostles” alongside his mother Saint Helen. His feast is celebrated on May 21, shared with his mother who discovered the True Cross.
Constantine’s conversion marked the end of the age of martyrs and the beginning of the Christian Roman Empire. His reign established the foundation for Byzantine civilization and the spread of Orthodox Christianity throughout the world.
Saint Constantine represents the ideal of the Christian emperor who uses temporal power in service of the Gospel. His example inspired later Orthodox rulers and established the concept of symphonia - the harmony between Church and state in promoting Christian civilization.
His vision of the cross reminds us that Christ’s victory over death extends to all realms of human existence, including politics and governance. Through Constantine, God demonstrated that even the mightiest earthly powers can be transformed by divine grace.
Prayer to Saint Constantine: Holy Emperor Constantine, Equal-to-the-Apostles, you saw the sign of Christ’s victory and transformed an empire through faith. Intercede for us that we may be faithful witnesses to Christ in our own time and place, using whatever authority we have in service of His Kingdom. Amen.