1,700 years of freedom

By Peter Espeut

During the first few decades after the first Christian Pentecost (which we remember this coming Sunday), Christianity quickly spread across the Roman Empire; good roads and relative peace assisted the evangelisation thrust of the new Church, considered a new superstition by the Imperial Romans who worshipped their emperor as god.

In 64 AD, a great fire broke out in Rome, destroying much of the city and driving thousands into poverty. Emperor Nero was suspected by many to be the arsonist. The Roman historian Tacitus stated that, to shift blame away from himself, "Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace". It was during the reign of Nero that both St Peter and St Paul were martyred in Rome.

For the next two and a half centuries, Christians suffered from open persecution; incited by anti-Christian sentiment, mobs roamed about throwing stones at Christians. The refusal of Christians to worship the Roman emperor was considered an act of treason against the State, punishable by execution; and thousands were. Christians were barred from holding high public office.

The most widespread official persecution of Christians was carried out by Emperor Diocletian from 303-311; Christian buildings and the homes of Christians were torn down, and their sacred books were burned. Christians were arrested, tortured, mutilated, burned, starved, and condemned to gladiatorial contests to amuse spectators.

The Great Persecution officially ended in April 311 when Galerius, senior emperor of the Tetrarchy, issued an edict of toleration which granted Christians the right to practise their religion, though it did not restore to them any seized property. Constantine, Caesar in the Western empire, and Licinius, Caesar in the East, also were signatories to this edict of toleration.

Constantine's Legacy

Emperor Constantine was exposed to Christianity by his mother, Helena; he made it clear that he believed his successes in battle were alone due to the protection of the Christian God. In 312, just before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it Greek words translating "by this sign, you will conquer!", often rendered in Latin 'in hoc signo vinces'. Constantine commanded his troops to adorn their shields with the Chi-Rho, a Christian symbol for the Christ, and thereafter they were victorious.

Following the battle, the new emperor ignored the altars to the Roman gods and did not carry out the customary sacrifices there to celebrate a general's victorious entry into Rome. Instead, he went directly to the imperial palace.

In 313 (1,700 years ago this year), Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan announcing "that it was proper that the Christians and all others should have liberty to follow that mode of religion which to each of them appeared best", thereby granting tolerance to all religions, including Christianity.

The Edict of Milan went a step further than the 311 Edict of Toleration by Galerius, returning all confiscated property to Christians and the Christian Church. This edict made the Roman empire officially neutral with regard to religious worship; it neither made the traditional religions illegal nor made Christianity the state religion (as occurred later). It did, however, raise the status of Christianity within the Roman empire.

EARLY CHRISTIANITY TURNING POINT

The conversion of Constantine was a turning point for early Christianity. After his victory, Constantine took the role of patron for the previously persecuted Christian faith. He supported the Church financially, built a large number of Christian churches, granted privileges (e.g., exemption from certain taxes) to the clergy, promoted Christians to high-ranking offices, returned property confiscated during the Great Persecution of Diocletian, and endowed the Church with land and other wealth.

In the year 313, the Christian Church was emancipated from state persecution, and an era of religious freedom began that has lasted until today. I do not understand why the Christian world is not celebrating this important anniversary. The 1,600th anniversary was widely celebrated in 1913, including here in Jamaica.

It is clear, though, that this era of freedom for Christians ushered in by the Emperor Constantine 1,700 years ago is coming to an end. For example, the firm doctrinal belief that homosexuality is unnatural and immoral is being called a mental illness (homophobia), and official persecution of Christians for their religious beliefs has already begun. The legal legitimacy and the very existence of Christianity are being challenged.

Christianity prospered in its early history throughout serious physical and material persecution. It will survive this latest attack, which is based on false logic and spurious arguments about rights, and thrive.

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and Roman Catholic deacon. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.