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A Murderous Saint: The Paradox of Constantine the Great
Constantine the Great, also known as Constantine I, left a lasting mark on the history of Christianity. But did this ruthless ruler truly deserve to be canonized as a saint?
Eusebius of Caesarea wrote of him, “He had a soul blessed threefold, united with God, free from all earthly impurity.” Yet this soul united with God did not prevent him from ordering the murder of his wife, son, father-in-law, and numerous other relatives. In terms of murderous tendencies, he could rival even the infamous Nero.
However, Nero is viewed by posterity as the embodiment of evil and degeneracy, while Constantine the Great was elevated to the status of a saint. His status as a staunch Christian emperor was not compromised, even though he received baptism on his deathbed.
The Roman Empire’s System of Governance
Constantine should not have become emperor. His father, Constantius Chlorus, had no right to appoint his son to that position. Not because Constantine, born in 272, was the product of a relationship with Helena, a daughter of an innkeeper. Constantius had divorced her when he married Theodora, the daughter of the then-augustus Maximian. It was because the Roman Empire was operating under the tetrarchy system at that time.
