Constantine & Theodosius: Christianity's Transformation

Constantine’s Impact

• Legalized Christianity via the Edict of Milan in 313.
• Funded churches and gave power to bishops.
• Tied Christianity to the imperial structure.
• Aided in defining orthodoxy through the Council of Nicaea.
• Integrated Christian practices with Roman customs, such as Sunday being a day of rest and using the imperial hierarchy in the church.

Theodosius’ Impact

• Made Trinitarian Christianity the state religion in 380.
• Outlawed heresies like Arianism and banned pagan worship.
• Used legal power to enforce belief and punish difference.
• Oversaw state enforcement of Christianity and persecution of non-Christians.

Enhancement of Christianity

• Protected Christians from persecution.
• Funding the Church led to growth in art, architecture, and theology.
• Unified Christian belief and practice across the empire.

Distortion of Christianity

• Christianity became entangled with political power and military violence.
• Faith became enforced through law and punishment rather than personal belief.
• Early Christian values of peace, humility, and forgiveness were replaced with hierarchy and coercion.
• Christianity became more about obeying the empire than following Christ.

Constantine's Evidence as a ‘True Christian’

• Claimed faith and used Christian symbols like Chi-Rho in battle.
• Delayed baptism until death, potentially more political than spiritual.
• Helped the Church but also used it for legitimacy and unity.

Theodosius as a ‘True Christian’

• Deeply committed to Trinitarian Christianity and publicly repented after the Thessalonica massacre.
• Showed humility but still ruled harshly and persecuted others akin to a judge rather than a servant.

Policies Towards Christians

• Emperors favored Nicene/orthodox believers.
• Suppressed Christian heresies, especially Arianism.
• Used laws to control who could worship, what titles they could use, and where they could meet.

Policies Towards Pagans

• Constantine tolerated paganism but favored Christianity.
• Theodosius outlawed pagan worship, including household shrines and public rituals.
• Pagan temples were destroyed, and pagans faced persecution and violence.

Christian Behavior in the Early 400s

• Christians used their newfound power to eliminate former oppressors, lacking living martyrs to model restraint.
• Believed they fought for truth and holiness but were driven by revenge and fear, adopting imperial tactics of law, violence, and control.
• Instances like the murder of Hypatia demonstrate how mob mentality and political rivalry led to brutal outcomes.

Constantine and Theodosius Legacy

• Aided Christian growth and survival but blurred the line between spiritual truth and political power.
• True Christianity which focused on Jesus’ message of peace, humility, and love was often replaced by violence and control.
• Their legacy is mixed: they made Christianity dominant but also distorted its original values.

Biblical Basis of Monasticism

• Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness became a model of isolation and spiritual testing.
• Paul suggested remaining unmarried to focus on the Lord.
• Early Christians shared possessions and dedicated themselves to prayer, fasting, and simplicity.
• Elijah and John the Baptist both lived simply in the wilderness, seen as holy outsiders.

St. Antony's Imitation of the Biblical Model

• He left everything to live in the Egyptian desert in the 200s.
• practiced extreme self-denial, fasting, and isolation, imitating Christ’s time in the wilderness.
• Spent years battling temptations, demons, and distractions, becoming a spiritual role model.

Simeon the Stylite

• He lived on a pillar for about 30 years to be "closer to God.''
• Practiced intense physical suffering to show detachment from the world and preached to visitors from the column.

Antony and Simeon vs the Bible

• The Bible encourages prayer and simplicity but not necessarily extreme isolation or public spectacle.
• Simeon’s style is theatrical and becomes a tourist attraction, contrasting Antony's focus on quiet battle with self and sin versus becoming a celebrity monk.

A ‘New Antony’ or ‘New Simeon’

• A new Antony could call people to slow down, live simply, and listen for God in solitude.
• A new Simeon could challenge people to step away from comfort, live boldly, and point others toward holiness.
• Overall, they could help modern Christians break free from busyness, distraction, and materialism.

The Benedictine Rule & "Pray and Work"

• Life should balance prayer and work to prevent either from taking over.
• Students should balance academics, faith, and personal care to reduce burnout.

Communal Meals in Silence

• Monks ate together quietly for spiritual reading, however it may restrict student conversation.
• Useful for promoting mindfulness and reflection

Obedience to a Rule and Leader (The Abbot)

• Unity can be built by following structured rules and obeying a chosen leader.
• Could feel too strict or paternalistic for students.

Stability in Monasticism

• Monks promised to stay at their monastery for life.
• Encourages deep commitment to the community but could also feel limiting to students.

Daily Rhythms (Fixed Schedules)

• Monks followed a strict daily schedule for prayer, meals, work, and sleep.
• Can help students manage time better and promote healthier habits, but could be overly rigid as well.

Manual Labor

• Monks worked with their hands in gardening, cooking, and cleaning as part of spiritual life.
• Useful for teaching responsibility, teamwork, and humility, however students might resist required chores.

Hospitality

• Monasteries welcomed all guests as if they were Christ.
• Reinforces kindness, inclusion, and openness to others.

Moderation

• Avoid excess in food, speech, sleep, and activity.
• Could help with wellness, reduce stress, and prevent extremes in partying or overworking.

Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)

• Monks spent time slowly reading Scripture and reflecting on it deeply.
• Could deepen students’ spiritual lives and improve focus by encouraging reflection over rushing.

Humility

• Monks practiced self-awareness, gentleness, and putting others first.
• It could build a culture of kindness, listening, and less competition depending on the college setting.

Hope College compared to a Monastery

• A community with spiritual life, and a rhythm of prayer and study.
• Considered much more individualistic than a monastery because of options like choosing classes, social lives, and beliefs.

Celtic Christianity

• Originated in the 400s during the collapse of the Western Roman Empire characterized by political chaos and mixed religion

Key people in Celtic Christianity

• St. Patrick was a central figure who spread Christianity in Ireland.
• St. Brigid was a foundational Irish saint who helped shape early Celtic Christian communities.
• Columba and Columbanus, known as "Wandering saints" founded monasteries across Europe in the 6th-7th centuries.

Preservation of Christianity

• Monasteries became key points during the cultural collapse, where Monks copied books, taught, and kept Christian practices alive.

Core Components

• Celtic traditions were characterized by their love of nature & joyful spirituality.
• The Sacred Journey described it as a personal journey & focused attention from individuals on what they thought.
• Art was a key component of that faith.

Resolution with Rome

• Differences in practice with Roman Christianity.
• Issues resolved at the Synod of Whitby in 664, joining the Roman Church officially.

Modern Day Application

• A modern and deeper connection to nature.
• Have a more personal approach to what each Christian actually entails.

Context of 700s & 800s Popes & Carolingians

• Throughout these events, the Carolingians sought endorsement in exchange for their military power.
• The Popes wanted to prove their spiritual authority over the political figures.

Deals Between Popes & Carolingians

• Pepin the short promised the Pope protection is exchange for the ability to become king.
• Pepin was later coronated by Pope Stephen II, strengthening his role politically.
• Pope Leo III coronated Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in an event that was controversial to Charlemagne.

Popes Claim in Authority

• Kings and Emperors needed to be blessed by them to assume power.
• They were even perceived to be the highest power itself.

Pope Gregory VII Power

• Asserted spiritual authority over secular leadership, including Emperors and Kings.
• Insisted that spiritual power superceeds political power,

Impact on King Henry IV

• Pope Gregory had him exiled from the church.
• Many people claim that he abused his spiritual authority as a result of Henry's behavior.

Heliand Portrayal

• Story of Jesus with germanic culture.
• Story depicts Jesus as tribal cheiftain, rather than a savior.
• The people celebrated Carnival.

Carnival Significance

• There were festivals of food and costumes.
• They loved the chaos and mayhem before lent.

Pope Gregory VII Power

• The claim to have spiritual power over rulers.
• Claimed that the Pope was the highest authority on Earth.

Pope Gregory

• Stable, spiritual powers, with the ability to communicate with God.
• His successor became a strong component in shaping the church.