The TRUTH About CONSTANTINE the Great

The Roman Emeror Constantine the Great and his conversion to christianity are very complicated subjects. This video attemps to answer some questions surrounding this momentous historical event in a oversimplified manner.

Sources:

Nicholson, Oliver. “Constantine’s Vision of the Cross.” Vigiliae Christianae, vol. 54, no. 3, Brill, 2000, pp. 309–23,

Norwich, JJ . A Short History of Byzantium

[spectrum]

Well done, this was a pretty accurate video. Constantine's motivations have always been difficult to decipher precisely because he (or his propaganda) contradicted himself so much. My own headcannon is Constantinople (in other words, a new capital) was always on his mind to re-create a new Rome free from its Hellenistic roots, favoring a single monotheistic entity to unify the Empire. He initially favored Sol Invictus, but gradually changed to favor the Christian God.

Also, you should have way more subscribers than what you currently have.

[daniels]

Like many early Christian rulers, Constantine was essentially pagan in his *actions* regardless of his professed beliefs. It helped that Christianity was *not* as unified as many people like to pretend that it was at that time. Constantine was brutal and pragmatic, not pious and benevolent. The early Church, not being as powerful as some think, had to make concessions or else risk losing the support of their secular ruler. Christ may have been Lord, but Constantine was Emperor.

[wilsontheconqueror]

Well that fact that Constantine legalized Christianity and was baptized as the first Roman Emperor when most of the nobility and senatorial class were still Pagan is enough proof of a belief in the Christian God.

[ikengaspirit]

I feel like this idea of a firm distinction between religions is a bi-product of Christian Churches having an official and firmly held dogma but that isn't how religious beliefs and affiliation play out among real people.

It instead plays out as a fluid intersection/line that separates religions.

So Constantine holding some Pagan believes even when he identifies as Christian and held Christian views as Paramount doesn't make him Pagan or semi-Pagan, he was Christian.

The same way that European Peasants holding on to Pagan believes as real in form of witchcraft beliefs and superstitions, doesn't make them any less Christian.

[markadams]

I head, as Romans often did, they identified their gods with gods of other cultures, specially the Greeks. Jupiter = Zeus, Juno = Hera, and so on. He likely identified Jesus with Sol Invictus.

[GarfieldRex]

Quality is a synonym of this channel 👌 loved the research, script, style, and animation. Thank you! And blessings. Greetings from 🇨🇴

[Eazy-ERyder]

WHAT the..?!?
This video being called "The Great Lie" is bafflingly MISleading, even in regards the content of the video ItSelf

[AleaRandomAm]

Video idea: What if my wife never left me?

[davidblyth]

Incorrect!
Constantine did not interfere with the bishops at the conference.
His concern was the division by the Arian heresy>
The successor of Peter in Rome remained the final authority on doctrine.
While he didn't attend the Council of Nicea himself, he endorsed its finding!
This was not a new religion but the continuation of the Church established by the Christ.
It took over 80 years to stop the Arian history which was quite prevalent in the East.
Athanasius was a pivotal figure who often had to flee for his life or was exiled

[soare]

Right after Constantine's baptism, his leprosy fell off him. No subjective conviction can alter the truth. "You who didn't love the truth, you'll find pleasure in injustice." St. John Chrysostom

[saxtonhalegaming]

My two cents is that Constantine grew up Pagan but because of an influx of Christian influence he began to see some truth in it. Eventually he fully converted despite keeping some old beliefs. I think that he may have shown sympathies toward the old Pagan way of Rome simply due to tradition. Rome had historically been Pagan, therefore it would be hard to shake that identity. Perhaps he was baptized on his deathbed because he knew that during his life he had to do cruel and morally wrong acts which would be unbecoming of a Christian, so he delayed it so secure his empire and only later repented.

But as you said, primary sources regarding Constantine are few and many are contradictory. So a lot of information are educated theories as to what the life of Constantine really was. However, I do personally believe that he truly converted.

[Shusiareed]

Ideas:

- What if the HRE managed to become a centralized state
- What if Rome conquered Germania
- What if the Reformation never happend
- What if the catholics won the 30 years war
- What if Cesar lived

[stuntman]

Constantine and Helen are Canonized Saints in the Orthodox Church. There is no vagueness

[georgekallides]

"Eν τούτω νίκα" is what appeared in the sky together with a cross, which means "win with this" that is, the cross, not "conquer" as referred to in the video. Konstantinos was the initiator for the statement of the symbol of faith, declared free religious worship, built Constantinople as the capital of the future 1000 years Christian empire, and worshiped the resurrected God in his life.
His mother, Helen, unearthed the holy cross and built the temple of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. They are both depicted as saints of the Orthodox Church in the same icon holding the holy cross between them. Saint Konstantinos and Saint Helen are isapostles, equal to the Apostles, as they spread Christianity as true apostles.

[jimmynolet]

I have his books Constantine definitely was Christian he spoke about too many secret things....I'm Prodestant

[IamSome]

Simple answer: Yes

*Its like asking if he existed or not*

[tecumsehcristero]

8:31 you claim that "Constantine would involve himself in the decisions of the councils"
See how Constantine only called one council 1st Nicea in AD 325 I don't know why you are puralizing the word council but more importantly
Constantine did Not involve himself in the debates, decisions or outcome of the council. In fact Constantine died an Ayran not a Nicean Christian.
I would like to know what source gave you the idea that Constantine was involved in the outcome of the decision of Nicea? Because neither myself not any scholar of late antiquity has access to that information since all sources point or explicitly state the contrary.
PS Richard Dawkins, Pen Jillette and Edward Gibbon do not count as authoritative scholars on the life, beliefs and actions of Constantine The Great

[uncatila]

Constantine in heaven will watch the protestants scream for water as they wallow in purgatory for the sin of unbelief.

[gideonwlind]

Could I suggest a potential video for you to make? :)

[marcusaurelius]

Here’s an idea for a video what if Bulgaria and Serbia we’re part of Russia