Constantine the Great 337

Feastday

Born 272

Died 337

M. or C. Flavius Valerius Constantinus) Roman emperor, born Nish, Serbia c.275, died 337. Son of a Roman officer, Constantius, and Saint Helena, Constantine attended the court of Diocletian and later fought under Galerius, the Eastern Emperor. On the resignation of Diocletian and Maximian (305), Constantius was made emperor but died in 306, and Constantine was raised to the dignity of Cæsar, by the army in Britain. Maxentius, the tyrannical profligate son Maximian, was proclamed cæsar in Rome. Galerius and Licinius acknowledged Constantine as emperor, and in 311 war broke out between Maxentius and Constantine. With a small army Constantine invaded Italy. He was victor at Susa, Turin, and Verona. Assured by a vision that he would triumph in the sign of Christ, he marched on Rome and completely defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, 28 October 312. Shortly after, with his brother-in-law Licinius, he issued the Edict of Milan, granting liberty of worship to the Christians (313). In 314 the treachery of Licinius in the East led Constantine to attack him at Cibalre, and later at Castra Jarba, but a peace was soon arranged, which lasted for eight years. Licinius then began to persecute the Christians and infringe on Constantine's rights. The latter routed his army near Chalcedon. Constantine, now sole emperor, transferred his capital to Constantinople, and devoted himself to promoting the moral, economical, and political welfare of the empire. He remained a catechumen till shortly before his death, when he received Baptism. As Pontifex Maximus, although he protected the rights of heathenism, he abolished offensive forms of worship, and suppressed divination and magic. He bestowed many favors on the Church, granting clerics immunity from taxation and military service, allowing the Church the right of inheritance, and removing the legal disabilities attendant on celibacy. He forbade the abduction of young girls, and did much for the welfare of children, women, and slaves. He adorned the churches magnificently, and strictly obeyed the precepts of Christianity. ¹

1. Taken from the New Catholic Dictionary at http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/ncd02308.htm

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“And while he [the Emperor Constantine] was praying with fervent entreaty, a most marvellous 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 [Eusebius], when he was honoured 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 a trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, ‘Conquer By This.’ At this sight he was struck with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed the miracle. He said [to me], 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 with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens, and 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. . . . [B]eing struck with amazement at the extraordinary vision, and resolving to worship no other God save him who had appeared to him, he sent for those who were acquainted with the mysteries of [God’s] doctrines and inquired who that God was and what was intended by the sign of the vision he had seen” ¹

References

St Eusebius, Life of Constantine 1:28–32 (A.D. 337)