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Five Theological Orations
Gregory of NazianzusDense but decisive sermons on the Trinity from the theologian of Constantinople.
Constantine the Great
c. 272 – 337 · b. Naissus
Emperor
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 272, Naissus
- Died
- 337, Nicomedia
- Region
- east
- Era
- nicene
- Significance
- Major Father(3/4)
- Also known as
- Constantine I · Flavius Valerius Constantinus
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Constantine changed the conditions under which Christianity lived.
- Event connection
- Edict of Milan (313)
- Primary source
- Eusebius, Vita Constantini 1-4
First Christian Roman emperor. Issued the Edict of Milan (313), convened the Council of Nicaea (325), and was baptized on his deathbed by Eusebius of Nicomedia.
Why Constantine the Great matters
Constantine changed the conditions under which Christianity lived. Before him, the church could be persecuted; after the Edict of Milan in 313, it could own property, build openly, receive imperial favour, and gather bishops under imperial summons. He convened the Council of Nicaea in 325, founded Constantinople, and tied Christian history to Roman power in a new way. He did not make Christianity the state religion, and his own baptism came only at the end of his life, but every later Christian argument about empire, patronage, and political power runs through him.
Recommended reading near Constantine the Great
A cover-visible starting point chosen from the curated reading path, either by this figure or by their era.
Chain to Jesus
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Common questions
- Who was Constantine the Great?
- Constantine the Great (272–337) — First Christian Roman emperor. Issued the Edict of Milan (313), convened the Council of Nicaea (325), and was baptized on his deathbed by Eusebius of Nicomedia.
- Who did Constantine the Great correspond with?
- Eusebius of Caesarea.
- Who baptized Constantine the Great?
- Eusebius of Nicomedia.
Sources for biography
- Eusebius, Vita Constantini 1-4 primary
- Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 44-48 primary
- Socrates Scholasticus, Hist. Eccl. 1.1-1.39 primary
documented connections(4)
- corresponded Eusebius of CaesareaEusebius preserves multiple letters from Constantine and delivered an oration in his presence.Eusebius, Vita Constantini 2.46, 3.60-63, 4.35-36
- knew of (incoming) Eusebius of CaesareaEusebius wrote the Vita Constantini and the Tricennial Oration in his honour.Eusebius, Vita Constantini 1-4
- baptized by Eusebius of NicomediaConstantine received baptism from Eusebius of Nicomedia on his deathbed in 337.Eusebius, Vita Constantini 4.61-62 · Jerome, Chronicon (s.a. 337)
- knew of (incoming) HelenaHelena was the mother of Constantine.Eusebius, Vita Constantini 3.42-47
tradition connections(2)
- knew of (incoming) LactantiusJerome reports that in his old age Lactantius was tutor in Latin to Crispus, son of Constantine, in Gaul. Lactantius dedicated De Mortibus Persecutorum within Constantine's circle.Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 80 · Jerome, Chronicon ad ann. 318
- knew of (incoming) Gregory the IlluminatorAgathangelos's History of the Armenians records a journey of King Trdat and Gregory to Rome to meet Constantine; the historicity is debated but the tradition links them as contemporary Christian rulers/founders.Agathangelos, History of the Armenians 877-895
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.🔗WikidataStructured data hub linking to library catalogues, archives, and academic sources worldwide.🏛️WikisourcePublic-domain primary texts and translations (search).⛪Catholic Encyclopedia1913 reference — long entries, useful for less-known figures (search for Constantine the Great).