Roman Emperor Constantine was born in the city of Naisse.On his father's side he allegedly belonged to Illyrian race.His father, Constantius Chlorine, rules the Western part of the Roman Empire (Britain and Gaul).His mother, Helen, who later became a saint, was a Christian.
Emperor Diocletian wanted to take to court the young Constantine in Nicomedia.In 305 Maximian and Diocletian laid imperial title with yourself.Thus, the West became lord Constantius Chlorine, and in the East - the gallery.
In 306, after the death of his father Constantine returned to Gaul, where he was proclaimed Augustus.Meanwhile, in Rome, a rebellion broke out against the gallery.Population and recognized the authority of the army of Maxentius, son of Maximian, to lay down the title of emperor, but later had joined his son and take over the imperial san.
These events formed the background for the beginning of the civil war.Galleries and Maximian died.Emperor Constantine united with Licinius (one of the new August), defeated Maxentius near Rome.Last drowned in the Tiber while fleeing.
Licinius and Constantine gathered in Milan.It was published the Edict of Milan of vseverii.Then followed a series of events that resulted in the Emperor Constantine became the sole ruler of the empire.He did not leave the capital Rome.The main city of his state became Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople.
Emperor Constantine was deeply convinced that Christianity alone can unite the diverse population of the state.The governor supported the Church, returning from exile preachers, erected temples, took care of the clergy.
deeply honoring religion, Emperor Constantine the Great wanted to find the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.To do this, the governor sends his mother to Jerusalem, giving it the authority and material means.Queen Elena with the help of the Jerusalem Patriarch Macarius found a cross in the year 326.During his stay in Palestine, Helen made many righteous deeds for the church.She ordered all the places that one way or another were connected with the life of Christ and his mother, were cleared of traces of paganism.In these holy places were erected church.Emperor Constantine ordered to build a temple of the Lord's Resurrection above the cave with the Holy Sepulchre.
Queen Helen found the Cross gave deposited patriarch, taking with him his small part.After returning to Constantinople, she soon died (in 327).For acts for the Church and works on gaining Cross became known as the queen Elena Equal to the Apostles.
Soon, however, there are differences in the church and heresy.I should say that at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Constantine emerged heresy Novatians and Donatists, which was initially rejected by the two councils, and then finally condemned in 316, the cathedral of Milan.
In the East, meanwhile did the doctrine of Arius, rejects the divinity of Jesus.In this regard, in the year 325 in Nicaea was convened by order of Constantine Ecumenical Council.Here the heresy of Arius was condemned, formed faith.It included the term "consubstantial with the Father."Thus, in the minds of Christians ever entrenched the truth of the divinity of Christ.
After the Ecumenical Council Constantine continued to work for the good of the Church, despite the fact that he remained a pagan.
In 326, Emperor of the rules already the twenty-first year.One of the personal tragedies of the ruler became his trial beloved son and heir Crisp, unmasked in the plot.Despite the fact that the emperor had three sons by his second wife Fausta, Constantine felt alone, believing that we need people around him only because they can convey a vast empire.
Baptism ruler took the end of life.Constantine died in 337 at Pentecost.
