Re: Fw: GEN-MEDIEVAL-D Digest V06 #214

Dear James,

You have not been very lucky with your source.

« Constantine I never took the formal steps to become a Christian
....»

This beeing clearly O.T. I will refrain from long comments. But he was
baptized before he died by his own choice and explaining that he wished
to be baptized in the Jordan but life did not made it possible. In
those days christians were normally baptised only as adults.

« ... but advised the various Councils ...»

He was present, in the ecumenical council in Nicea made the first
speech but was not involved with the doctrine wich he left to the
sinods (with the *possible* exception of the "filiosque" question wich
was the basis of the Arian schism). All can be (I am not saying that it
was) seen as a wise conduct of a careful sovereign.

« ... and in 330, though retaining the title of Pontifex Maximus (Now
known as Pope)»

That one was really misleading!
Rome had its Pagan Gods and its antics. When one God was in the favour
of people, his High Priests adquired enormous power and that could
threat the emperors. To prevent this, they took the title of Pontifex
Maximus, placing themselves above any High Priest of any God.
Much later, in the power struggle between the Popes and the Emperors,
the Pope took the some title as the only detainer of the spiritual
power. Same words for different contexts.

« He also built the City of New Rome (now Istambul).»

Never heard it called New Rome (I can't guarantee it never was).
Constantine rebuilt a Byzantine town to make it the new capital but the
name was Constantinople and so remained for centuries. In modern Greek
its still called Constantinople and I think Istambul only became used
internationally already in the XX century. You may remember a hit of
the sixties "Istambul (not Constantinople)" still played by several
artists and bands.

Regards,
Francisco

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