Constantine the Great

I've always felt that Constantine's mother Helena must have been a closet Christian all along and must have raised Constantine in the faith. The vision at the Battle of Milvian Bridge then becomes a coming out of the closet for Constantine rather than a conversion out-of-the-blue to an unpopular and illegal religion that he knew nothing about and had no reason to favor. Certainly during Constantine's reign Helena enjoyed an exaggerated level of honor and privilege, and she used that position to build churches and shrines and promote the church in every way possible. For Helena, and apparently also for Constantine, Christianity was seen as their spiritual basis for assuming power, not just a cynical ploy to unite the empire under one religion as some historians assume. Helena had been been replaced as the wife of Constantius Chlorus, and Constantine had been officially passed over for the succession, but circumstances had allowed him to rise above that and assume power anyway. In his own mind he wasn't usurping power so much as taking on his God-given destiny. And that destiny-bestowing God was the Christian God, so He had to be properly acknowledged in public, which Constantine through his mother set about doing with conspicuous enthusiasm.

Thanks for setting the record straight on Constantine's role during the Council of Nicaea, and the controversy that the council discussed. I frequently see accusations that Constantine imposed his will on the theology of the church and the canon at that council. As you say, Constantine unavoidably changed the church by making it legal, ending the persecutions and giving it his personal allegiance. But he didn't intentionally change the theology of the church or its writings. He didn't even try to exercise power to appoint bishops, as kings often try to do in subsequent ages.

Incredibly informative especially for the lay theologian like myself. Love this channel. Thank you Dr. Reeves.

This lecture is truly a good simplified overview of the situation. Such leaves me to wonder what went on in the heads of the participants and actors of history. Of course, a lot of what really went on ends up to be speculation as we can't recreate history. But definitely a great lecture and one which I look towards as I continually study the later Early Church and it's penetration into government.

Good stuff! Really enjoyed this video, most informative. :)

believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic church... - Nicea, circa 381

Dr. Reeves, I'm learning a lot watching your lectures. Thank you very much. Your channel is amazing! Please, keep sharing your knowledge with us. Greetings from Brazil =)

I dig the tune you play in all the credits.

I am a Protestant and my wife Catholic, (a cradle Catholic she'll tell you) and both 64 y.o. My request to you sir is please explain St. Peter's role as the first Pope. You have enlightened me in "tons" of knowledge which I very much appreciate. I have studied both the OT and the NT and C.S. Lewis' writings...and believe. By 330 A.D. Peter should have already be dead (or killed). Thanks in advance for any clarification.

Very informative!

When you said that Constantine entered Hagia Sofia, I'm guessing we're not talking about the 6th Century building?

Thank you so much for enlightening us with this amazing lecture series. Albeit; I've to point out two observations/reservations I have regarding this episode. 1) You mentioned that Constantine entered Hagia Sophia. (major) 2) In a map the Egyptian city of Alexandria is shown to be east of the Nile delta where in fact its west. (minor) I've to add that I seldom comment on YouTube videos and wouldn't have commented if these lectures weren't so perfectly amazing so that's how I'd like them to be . cordially; a big fan

great presentation bru

does somebody have tabs to the intro or at least know the name of that piece? Thanks

This guy's presentations are awesome.

Hey quick question, you mentioned in your video that Constantine attended mass in the Hagia Sophia, isn't that incorrect due to the fact that Constantine was born in 272 AD, and died in 337 AD, but the Hagia Sophia had been built around: 532 AD. So chronologically that wouldn't add up. Otherwise very informative video!

Dr. Reeves, As a Catholic, I find your lectures, fascinating, as well as very fair to the Catholic Church. There seems to be no attempt to read history through your own faith tradition, but rather a straightforward presentation of the history of Christianity. As regards Constantine, is there reliable evidence that his baptism by the Arian Bishop, Eusebius of Nicomedia, indicated his assent to the Arian heresy, or was it more a practical matter of just being baptized by his local Bishop. There seems to be some considerable theological controversy about the validity of Conatantine's baptism, as well the nature of the relationship between Eusebius, and Constantia and Licinius. It's difficult to find an unbiased assessment. Pax et Bonum.

Keunu reeves

How can any one talk of Constantin's conversion with out talking about Constantin's mother? How can any one talk about the "favored of Diocletian" Constantin's estrangement from Diocletian with out talking about his most Christian mother?

If I may, at this video at 11:23 you say that what Constantine heard was Latin "In hoc signo vinces" but I was taught that what he heard was Greek "Εν Τούτο Νίκα". As a matter of a fact if you look at the top right of the painting you show depicting the fact it is painted! In fact some famous Latin sayings were said by the Romans in Greek but the Latin translation has become famous. Like "Alea iacta est" said by Caesar which was in fact "Ἀνερρίφθω κύβος" .