Emperor Constantine the Great

Commemorated as

The Holy Right-believing Emperor Constantine the Great, Equal-to-the-Apostles

c. 272–337

Also known as Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine · Constantine the Great · St. Constantine

The first Christian Roman emperor; by the Edict of Milan he ended the persecution of Christians, convened the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, and founded Constantinople.

Life

Constantine the Great was the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, and is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as Equal-to-the-Apostles. By the Edict of Milan he ended the imperial persecution of Christians, convened the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, and founded a new capital at Constantinople.

Most accounts place his birth at Naissus (modern Niš, Serbia) around 272, though the OCA synaxarion gives 274 and other sources range as late as 288. He was the son of the army officer Constantius Chlorus, who rose to the rank of caesar under Diocletian, and of Helena, a woman of humble origin later venerated as a saint. He is jointly commemorated with his mother on May 21.

Acclaimed emperor by his troops at Eboracum (York) after his father's death in 306, Constantine consolidated control of the Roman world through a series of campaigns, defeating Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in 312 and Licinius in 324. His reign reshaped the relationship between the Roman state and the Church and gave the empire an eastern capital that would endure for over a thousand years.

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Timeline

c. 272 Birth at Naissus Constantine was born, by most accounts on 27 February, at Naissus (modern Niš, Serbia) in Moesia Superior. The OCA synaxarion gives the year as 274, and other sources range up to 288. He was the son of Constantius Chlorus and Helena.
297–305 Military service and education Educated at Diocletian's court in Nicomedia, where he studied Latin literature, Greek, and philosophy, Constantine served in campaigns in Syria (297), in Mesopotamia under Galerius (298–299), and against barbarians on the Danube.
25 July 306 Acclaimed emperor at York After his father Constantius died at Eboracum (York), Constantine was acclaimed augustus by his army. Galerius initially granted him only the rank of caesar. He ruled Britain, Gaul, and Spain, commanding one of Rome's largest armies.
28 October 312 Battle of the Milvian Bridge Before the decisive battle against Maxentius near Rome, Constantine, according to Eusebius, saw a vision of a cross of light bearing the inscription 'In this sign thou shalt conquer.' He defeated Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber, becoming master of the West.
313 Edict of Milan Meeting Licinius at Milan, Constantine agreed the Edict of Milan, granting full religious tolerance, legalising Christianity, restoring Church property seized during Diocletian's persecution, and establishing Sunday as a day of worship.
324 Sole ruler of the empire Constantine defeated Licinius at Adrianople and Chrysopolis, becoming sole emperor and extending the provisions of religious tolerance eastward, ending three centuries of Christian persecution.
325 First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea Constantine convened the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, attended by 318 bishops, which condemned the Arian heresy, affirmed Christ's consubstantiality with the Father, and produced the Nicene Creed.
May 337 Baptism Having remained a catechumen through his life, Constantine received holy baptism near the end of his life, by most accounts at the hands of Eusebius of Nicomedia; some traditions ascribe the baptism instead to Pope Sylvester I.
22 May 337 Death and burial Constantine died at Achyron near Nicomedia, aged approximately 65; the OCA synaxarion records his repose on Pentecost. He was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.

Contributions & Legacy

Family and Early Life

Constantine's father, Flavius Constantius (Constantius Chlorus), was a Roman army officer of Illyrian or Thracian background who became caesar under Diocletian and later augustus. His mother, Helena, is described as a woman of low social standing, possibly from Drepanum in Bithynia, later renamed Helenopolis; the New Advent encyclopedia characterises her as 'a woman of humble extraction but remarkable character and unusual ability.' Whether his parents were legally married or Helena was his father's concubine remains disputed.

Constantine received a formal education at Diocletian's court in Nicomedia and distinguished himself in early military service before joining his father in Britain. When Constantius died at York on 25 July 306, the troops proclaimed Constantine, and the OCA synaxarion relates that 'the future ruler of all the whole Roman Empire, was raised to respect Christianity.'

Rise to Power

Galerius initially recognised Constantine only as caesar, ruling Britain, Gaul, and Spain with one of Rome's largest armies. In spring 312 he moved against Maxentius, who controlled Italy and Rome. On 28 October 312 he defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, where his rival drowned in the Tiber, making Constantine master of the West.

According to several sources, the victory was preceded by a vision: Eusebius describes a cross of light with the inscription 'In this sign thou shalt conquer,' while OrthodoxWiki records 'a chi-rho in the sky, with the inscription By this sign shalt thou conquer.' Constantine completed his consolidation of power by defeating Licinius at Adrianople (3 July 324) and Chrysopolis, becoming sole emperor.

The Church and the Empire

The Edict of Milan, agreed with Licinius in 313, granted full religious tolerance to Christianity and all religions, legalised the Christian faith, restored property confiscated during Diocletian's persecution, and established Sunday as a day of worship. By 323–324, controlling the entire Roman world, Constantine extended these protections eastward, ending three centuries of Christian persecution.

Constantine granted the Church substantial privileges, including immunity from taxation for clergy, property inheritance rights, and ecclesiastical jurisdiction over certain matters. His legislation also improved protections for children, slaves, and women. The New Advent encyclopedia notes that his character holds genuine contradictions: generous to the point of prodigality in almsgiving and church adornment, yet capable of cruelty, having executed his brother-in-law Licinius, his son Crispus, and his wife Fausta.

In confronting the Arian controversy he 'avoided any direct interference with dogma,' deferring to synodal decisions. He convened the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325, attended by 318 bishops, which condemned Arianism, affirmed the divinity of Christ, and produced the Nicene Creed. He also commissioned the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Foundation of Constantinople

Rather than maintain Rome as his seat, Constantine transferred his capital eastward to the ancient city of Byzantium. Rebuilt and officially styled 'New Rome' (Nea Roma), it came to bear his own name as Constantinople in his honour and served as the empire's capital for over a thousand years.

Veneration and Legacy

Constantine is venerated as a saint in Eastern Christianity, designated by the Church as Equal-to-the-Apostles. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on 21 May together with his mother, Saint Helen. The OCA synaxarion records that he 'accepted holy Baptism on his deathbed, having prepared for it all his whole life.' He is credited with transforming world history by giving Christianity a recognised and protected place within the Roman state, earning the title 'the Great.'

St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite affirmed that 'Constantine the Great always was a Saint and Equal to the Apostles, for so he was called in the Minutes of the Ecumenical Synods, as well as in the common and traditional glory of the Church.'

Relics & Shrines

Constantine was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. The OCA synaxarion records that relics are preserved at multiple locations, including Mount Athos, Cyprus, and Russian monasteries.

Related Saints

Empress Helen · His mother; jointly commemorated May 21 as Equals-to-the-Apostles

Notes

Jointly commemorated May 21 with his mother Helen as Equals-to-the-Apostles; split into separate rows for finder clarity. See OS-2751 (Empress Helen).

Sources: Synaxarion