“Prior to Constantine, the religion of Roman Empire was officially paganism and the belief in multiple gods. “Both Helena and Constantine played a critical role relative to the history of Christianity and its spread in what is today western Europe,” Holquin says. Their beliefs and customs outlawed, Christians were tortured and killed, often by beheading or stoning. “He was pivotal because he was the first emperor to end the state-sponsored persecution of Christians.”Ĭonstantine didn’t work alone he had help, and it came from a familiar place - his mother.Ĭonstantine and his mother, Helena, promoted and spread the values of Christianity at a time when Christians-and all of those who didn’t follow the traditional pagan beliefs of the Roman Empire-faced widespread persecution.
Arthur Holquin, pastor emeritus of Mission San Juan Capistrano and vicar for Divine Worship for the Diocese of Orange. “Constantine was very good to Christians,” says Msgr. Many religious scholars, however, consider his most important legacy to be protecting Christians from persecution and legitimizing the faith in an oppressive ancient world. Few ancient figures draw as much interest than Constantine, the controversial leader known for his exploits on the battlefield and efforts to unify the Roman Empire.
