The Church in Fourth Century : from Constantine to Augustine Class #4: “A Christian Nation”, Part 1

Constantine’s Favor of the Christian Church exempted Christian clergy from military and municipal duty abolished various customs and ordinances offensive to Christians facilitated emancipation of Christian slaves legalized bequests to catholic churches enjoined civil observance of Sunday (Solis) contributed liberally to the building of churches and the support of the clergy erased heathen symbols from coinage gave his sons a Christian education

Constantine’s mother, Helena “rediscovered” holy places built Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem and church on the Mt. of Olives announced discovery of Mt. Sinai & built St. Catherine’s monastery built Church of Holy Sepulcher on supposed site of Jesus’ tomb ordered Hadrian’s temple to Venus torn down and built a church at site believed to be Jesus’ tomb. Uncovered 3 crosses, one proven to be Jesus’ by divine healing discovered nails of crucifixion & holy tunic

Move to Constantinople A new Christian Rome, “for which now, sea and land emulate each other, to load it with their treasures, and crown it queen of cities.” Gregory of Nazianzen

“A Christian Rome” no idol temples/altars but churches and crucifixes gladiatorial games forbidden grew quickly to rival Rome and Alexandria for bishopric power

The Byzantine Church Seen as an “overcoming”, a spiritual victory, the Kingdom of God on earth Martyrdom was openly remembered and celebrated while relief was felt by bishops and priests escaping further threat The hope for heaven was almost immediately replaced with the glory of earth

The Byzantine Church Paganism in all its forms became under attack Church and State could now act upon each other As the state began to act under Christian influence So the church began to secularize & paganize

The Byzantine Church Being “Christian” was now politically correct and even fashionable, advantageous to the upper classes and the career-minded Clergy received fixed income, “tenure” and, as a result, grew more corrupt and immoral The church grew wealthy through avoidance of confiscation, taxation and endowment

The Byzantine Church “The distinguished heathen prefect, Praetextatus, said to Pope Damasus, that for the price of the bishopric of Rome he himself might become a Christian at once. The bishops of Constantinople, according to the account of Gregory Nazianzen, who himself held that see for a short time, were not behind their Roman colleagues in this extravagance, and vied with the most honorable functionaries of the state in pomp and sumptuous diet. The cathedrals of Constantinople and Carthage had hundreds of priests, deacons, deaconesses, subdeacons, prelectors, singers, and janitors.” Schaff

The Byzantine Church Church Office of Bishop was now established and even endued with powers of juridical affairs The role of the woman was elevated – female virtue and marriage; adultery, concubinage and exposure were dealt with severely Christianity moved from being of the “few” to the masses, from poverty to luxury

The Byzantine Church Church buildings began being constructed at a fever pace and in unprecedented magnificence. Some pagan temples converted but most found unsuitable and torn down. New buildings consecrated with great solemnity and with the depositing of relics.

The Byzantine Church Church buildings must now exude royalty and superiority in the land. The “basilica” design of civic buildings was readily adopted for this purpose.

The Holy Site Church Church buildings constructed on specific sites needed the extra space in which veneration could take place.

The Priestly Worship The activity of worship becomes formalized & specialized The only manual is that of the OT priesthood “brought forward” This gives rise to the focus of the Lord’s Supper and diminishes the more “undramatic” activity of preaching.

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