Constantine
the Great received not from men the imperial purple, but from Divine Grace.. (Exapostilarion)
It is the year 312. Constantine, the
young son of the former Emperor Constantius Chlorus, is marching on Rome.
Proclaimed successor to his deceased father, by the Roman army in Britain,
Constantine has been petitioned to deliver the Eternal City from the tyranny
of the cruel usurper, Maxentius. But
the young commander has misgivings. Surely to take up arms against the
spiritual center, the mother-city of the Roman Empire is an act of
sacrilege? And furthermore, Maxentius
has a strong army and has already
repelled two attacks on the city. What guarantee is that Constantine's army
will be victorious? He has to chose between his pagan heritage and a future that still remains unknown. And yet
the young Constantine has been prepared for this moment in history since his
early childhood.
“Holding the form
of idols in time of travail as nothing.” - Canon to St Constantine.
Born on the 27th
February, 273, in the ancient city of Naissus, (modern day Nis) in Serbia,
Constantine was brought up by pious pagan parents. His father, the future
emperor,was a Roman officer, while his mother, Helena was of lowly birth from
Bythnia. Unlike other Romans of his time,
Constantine’s parents did not worship idols but sought the One true God.
“As for the images
of the heathen they are but silver and gold; the work of men's hands .” (Ps
134)
And although Constantius Chlorus was a pagan emperor, he protected
Christians under his jurisdiction and according to Eusebius, Bishop of
Caesarea, chose to surround himself with Christian advisers at his court. The
young Constantine was consequently brought up in an atmosphere that was
religious and ethical.
Later his father sent him to complete his formal education at the court
of the senior emperor, Diocletian where he was exposed to pagan and even
Christian scholars, despite the widespread persecution of Christians during
that time. He was also exposed to the decadence and immorality of the Imperial
Court. However the impressionable youth also met many Christians. He was deeply
impressed by the Christian communities in which the elderly, youth, simple and
wise and even children bore witness to the truth of their faith. Constantine
marvelled at their virtuous lives, their purity and willingness to suffer
death. It was with great difficulty that Constantine struggled to preserve his
purity and innocence in the midst of intrigue and depravity. St Dimitri of
Rostov says that it was the goodness planted in his heart as a child that
enabled him to distance himself from the evil companionship in which he was
compelled to abide.
“Woe is me that I
am constrained to dwell with Mesech....” (Ps 83)
At the court of Diocletian, Constantine became an imperial guard and in
his early thirties rose to the rank of
general. He was by this time renowned as a brilliant leader and for his
military talent.
Constantine with his small army has crossed the Alps, winning two
battles in Italy and is now approaching Rome along the Via Flaminia towards the
Milvian Bridge that spans the Tiber. It
is the 28th October. As Constantine rests with his troops he
suddenly sees a cross shape emblazoned on the noonday sun. with the words “In
this sign conquer.” His whole army is witness to this miracle.
“A most powerful
weapon, hast Thou given to the Emperor, Thy precious Cross, through which he
righteously reigned on earth, shining with godliness.” (Stichera from Vespers).
Meanwhile in Rome,
Maxentius is planning to make battle outside the walls of the city instead of
with standing a siege. He feels confident. Surely the gods are with him. It
is the anniversary of his accession to
the throne.
That night on the eve of battle, Constantine has a dream in which Christ
appears to him and tells him to make a standard with the Chi-Rho symbol and to
paint this sign on the shields of the
soldiers.
On the day of the battle, Maxentius
chooses to meet Constantine and make his stand outside the city instead of
within the walls of Rome. To prevent the advance of the opposing army,
Maxentius orders the Milvian Bridge, a stone bridge that crosses the Tiber, to
be partially destroyed. He has a pontoon bridge constructed to get his army
across the river. The next day the battle begins. In the heat of the fray, the
troops of Maxentius are forced to retreat and in the rout, the tyrant is thrown
from his horse into the the Tiber and drowns. Constantine wins a decisive
victory and enters Rome on the 29th October. His victory secured complete
control of the western part of the empire.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Constantius, the new emperor not only protected the local Christian communities but included Christian counsellors in his court. The next year, 313, Constantine together with Licinius, the emperor of the east, issued the Edict of Milan. By this edict, freedom of religion was proclaimed. It was Christianity however—and not paganism—that enjoyed the Emperor's explicit support. The Christian clergy was given legal privileges and tax immunity. Confiscated property was returned to the Church and to those Christians who had suffered losses under the pagan emperors. Bishops became a trusted part of the imperial entourage. The Edict hastened the process of evangelizing the Roman Empire.
By the grace of God and the blood of
the martyrs, a symphony between Church and State was born.
The Church in her spiritual wisdom
proclaims the Holy Emperor Constantine a saint, calling him another Paul and
describing him as having the gentleness of David, the wisdom of Solomon, and
the Orthodox Faith of the Apostles.
The victory over Maxentius was not simply a military victory but a
victory over “the ruler of this world.” (John 12: 13). It was the victory of
the Cross. And by accepting the Cross, St Constantine not only liberated the
people of Rome and Christians throughout the empire, but he liberated himself.
