Constantine the Great

Constantine the Great

During the rule of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, Christianity became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire. Constantine was introduced to Christianity by his mother and his conversion into Christianity is an important part of its early history. After he declared himself a Christian, in 313 AD he issued the Edict of Milan, which promoted equality among all religions, and Christian worship became legal. In 325 AD Constantine summoned the Council of Nicaea, which was the first Ecumenical Council, this council brought together representatives of all Christians and brought about a consensus among them concerning various issues. During this council the doctrine of the Holy Trinity was established, also the Nicene Creed was formed which is a document of the core Christian beliefs. Other councils were held during this time to find a consensus on all disputes that were present in Christianity. Constantine was also responsible for the commission of the first Christian Bibles.

An artists depiction of the Council of Nicaea

While Christianity gained popularity within the Roman Empire during Constantine’s rule, it also continued to spread outside of the Roman Empire towards the east and other regions within Europe. Around this time is when Christian Monasticism, or Christian monks, first appeared. In 318 AD Saint Pachomius organized his followers and established the first monastery.