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[td]Lenski says there can be no real doubt Constantine genuinely converted to Christianity.<ref name="Lenski"/>{{rp|112}} In his personal views, Constantine denounced paganism as idolatry and superstition in that same document to the provincials where he espoused tolerance.<ref name="H.A.Drake1996"/>{{rp|7}} Constantine and his contemporary Christians did not treat paganism as a living religion; it was defined as a ''superstitio'' β an 'outmoded illusion.'<ref>Salzman, Michele R. "'Superstitio'in the Codex Theodosianus and the Persecution of Pagans1." Vigiliae Christianae 41.2 (1987): 172-188.</ref> Constantine made many derogatory and contemptuous comments relating to the old religion; writing of the "true obstinacy" of the pagans, of their "misguided rites and ceremonial", and of their "temples of lying" contrasted with "the splendours of the home of truth".<ref name="hughes">{{citation | title = A History of the Church | first = Philip | last = Hughes | publisher = Sheed & Ward | year = 1949 | volume = I | chapter = 6 | chapter-url = http://www.ewtn.com/library/CHISTORY/HUGHHIST.TXT}}</ref> In a later letter to the [[Shapur II|King of Persia]], Constantine wrote how he shunned the "abominable blood and hateful odors" of pagan sacrifices, and instead worshiped the High God "on bended knee".<ref name="Brown2013">{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Peter |title=The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph and Diversity, A.D. 200-1000 |date=2013 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |isbn=978-1118301265 |edition=10th}}</ref>{{rp|61}}<ref>Eusebius, ''Life of Constantine'' 4.10.</ref>[/td]Revision as of 03:09, 31 August 2025
[/td][td]Lenski says there can be no real doubt Constantine genuinely converted to Christianity.<ref name="Lenski"/>{{rp|112}} In his personal views, Constantine denounced paganism as idolatry and superstition in that same document to the provincials where he espoused tolerance.<ref name="H.A.Drake1996"/>{{rp|7}} Constantine and his contemporary Christians did not treat paganism as a living religion; it was defined as a ''superstitio'' β an 'outmoded illusion.'<ref>Salzman, Michele R. "'Superstitio'in the Codex Theodosianus and the Persecution of Pagans1." Vigiliae Christianae 41.2 (1987): 172-188.</ref> Constantine made many derogatory and contemptuous comments relating to the old religion; writing of the "true obstinacy" of the pagans, of their "misguided rites and ceremonial", and of their "temples of lying" contrasted with "the splendours of the home of truth".<ref name="hughes">{{citation | title = A History of the Church | first = Philip | last = Hughes | publisher = Sheed & Ward | year = 1949 | volume = I | chapter = 6 | chapter-url = http://www.ewtn.com/library/CHISTORY/HUGHHIST.TXT}}</ref> In a later letter to the [[Shapur II|King of Persia]], Constantine wrote how he shunned the "abominable blood and hateful odors" of pagan sacrifices, and instead worshiped the High God "on bended knee".<ref name="Brown2013">{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Peter |title=The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph and Diversity, A.D. 200-1000 |date=2013 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |isbn=978-1118301265 |edition=10th}}</ref>{{rp|61}}<ref>Eusebius, ''Life of Constantine'' 4.10.</ref>[/td] [td][/td]
[td][/td] [td]Church historians writing after his death wrote that Constantine converted to Christianity and was baptised on his deathbed, thereby making him the first Christian emperor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04295c.htm|title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Constantine the Great|website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/codex-theod1.asp|title=Internet History Sourcebooks Project|website=sourcebooks.fordham.edu}}</ref> Lenski observes that the myth of Constantine being baptized by [[Pope Sylvester I|Pope Sylvester]] developed toward the end of the fifth century in a romantic depiction of Sylvester's life which has survived as the ''Actus beati Sylvestri papae'' (CPL 2235).<ref name="Lenski"/>{{rp|299}} This story absolved the medieval church of a major embarrassment: Constantine's baptism by an [[Arianism|Arian]] bishop, [[Eusebius of Nicomedia]], which occurred while on campaign to Persia. Constantine swung through the Holy Land with the intent of being baptized in the [[Jordan river]], but he became deathly ill at [[Nicomedia]] where he was swiftly baptized. He died shortly thereafter on May 22, 337 at a suburban villa named Achyron.<ref name="Lenski"/>{{rp|81}}[/td]
[td]Church historians writing after his death wrote that Constantine converted to Christianity and was baptised on his deathbed, thereby making him the first Christian emperor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04295c.htm|title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Constantine the Great|website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/codex-theod1.asp|title=Internet History Sourcebooks Project|website=sourcebooks.fordham.edu}}</ref> Lenski observes that the myth of Constantine being baptized by [[Pope Sylvester I|Pope Sylvester]] developed toward the end of the fifth century in a romantic depiction of Sylvester's life which has survived as the ''Actus beati Sylvestri papae'' (CPL 2235).<ref name="Lenski"/>{{rp|299}} This story absolved the medieval church of a major embarrassment: Constantine's baptism by a nishop with [[Arianism|Arian]] sympathies, [[Eusebius of Nicomedia]], which occurred while on campaign to Persia. Constantine swung through the Holy Land with the intent of being baptized in the [[Jordan river]], but he became deathly ill at [[Nicomedia]] where he was swiftly baptized. He died shortly thereafter on May 22, 337 at a suburban villa named Achyron.<ref name="Lenski"/>{{rp|81}}[/td] [td][/td]
[td][/td] [td]===Ban on sacrifices===[/td]
[td]===Ban on sacrifices===[/td]
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