Lecture 17.Constantine's
Conversion and the Rise of the Christian State
I. Persecution
Ends
A.
Great Persecution (301-303):ends
in west; continues in East until 312
B.
Galerius' Edict of Toleration (312)
II. Constantine's
Rise to Power
A.
Proclamation
-Diocletian's
tetrarchy (four man rule)
-Constantine
son of emperor Constantius
-Proclaimed
by troops in Britain in 306
B.
Maxentius "the persecutor"
-The
Battle of the Milvian Bridge (311)
-Constantine's
vision:Chi-Rho ("ChR"ist) = labarum
-Rome
as a Christian Capitol:Lateran;
St. Peter's
C.
Licinius
-Edict
of Milan (313):religious toleration;
political move
-Constantine's
Defeat of Licinius in 324:for persecuting
Xains
-Constantinople
as a Christian Capitol:images from
across empire; Churches, esp. Holy Apostles
D.
Persia
-Expedition
on behalf of Xians in 337:dies en
route
III.Benefactions
and Restrictions
A.
Controversy:Acts of Pilate v. Eusebius
History
of the Church (xianity = oldest; victorious; legitimate)
B.
Imperial Patronage of the Christian Church
1.
Church Benefactions:Building, esp.
Holy Sepulchre in
Jerusalem
2.
Elevation of Clergy:exemption from
town council; use of imperial livery; episcopal judges
3.
Imperial Law and Christian Morality:Sunday;
no branding of face
C.
Imperial Restrictions on Jewish and Pagan Practice:
conversion
from Xianity forbidden; Private Divination forbidden
IV. Ambiguities
A.
The "Christian Emperor":murder
of son / wife; Baptism by Arian heretic
B.
The Sun God (Sol Invictus):Arch
of Constantine in Rome (Sacrifice);
Porphyry Column in Conspl.
C.
Constantine and Paganism:keeps
"Pontifex Maximus"; monotheism >> God's representative
-"His
character is formed after the Divine original of the Supreme Sovreign"
