Constantine the Great favoured Christianity. He built some of the early Christian churches, arbitrated between different Christian doctrines and promoted Christians in the imperial administration.

Despite this, Constantine continued to observe Roman religion. He was keen on celebrating Apollo and the sun-god. He retained the title of Pontifex Maximus (the head of Roman state religion) throughout his life. The triumphal Arch of Constantine which celebrated his victory at the battle of the Milvian Bridge bore pagan symbols and no Christian symbols. In 321 he instructed Christians and non-Christians to observe the venerable day of the sun, the day of the cult of sun-worship. Roman coins had pagan gods on them for 8 years after the battle. Even after that, Christian symbols appeared only as Constantine’s personal attributes. The Chi Rho (the first known Christian symbol which preceded the cross) was between his hands or on his labarum (a military standard with a Chi-Rho on it) but never on the coins themselves.

It is not certain whether Constantine converted to Christianity. It was said that he was lying dying in the city of Nicomedia he spoke of his hope to be baptised in the River Jordan, where Christ was said to have been baptized, requested the baptism straight away. According to Eusebius, the bishops performed the sacred ceremonies according to custom” in Nicomedia. However, it is not certain whether these words actually meant baptism or whether these events actually occurred.

The most notable Christian churches Constantine had built were the original Basilica of St Peter’s in Rome, the St John Lateran’s Basilica (the city of Rome’s first Cathedral and the original residence of the Popes), the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem.

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