In the year 324 CE Constantine became the ruler of the entire Roman Empire. For the first time a Christian emperor had ascended the throne, although there is some dispute about the depth of his faith. Some see him as a wily statesman who exploited Christianity for political purposes, while others maintain that the emperor believed wholeheartedly that he had been chosen by the Christian God and that Jesus was his protector and guardian and the cause of his victories in battle. What is not disputed is that Constantine did much to entrench Christianity and enhance both its status and that of Jerusalem. Upon assuming power Constantine published two edicts. One provided compensation for anyone who had been persecuted for his Christian beliefs, the other gave Christianity a preferential status in the empire. Although proclaiming tolerance for the old religions, Constantine asserted that ritual purity and sanctity were conditional on obedience to God's sacred laws that is, within the church. He renewed the prohibition on the residence of Jews in Jerusalem, permitting them to mourn for its destruction once a year, on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. A year after ascending the throne, Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea. Its declared purpose was to decide on theological disputes which had arisen concerning the essence and nature of Christ. However, the emperor took advantage of the gathering to determine the order and organization of the church. The Nicaean Council established a special, privileged, status for the Bishop of Jerusalem. At the same time, Constantine uncovered the site of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem, and built on it the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. As a result of his policy combining unequivocal legislation giving preference to Christianity with impressive building projects Jerusalem was transformed from a marginal pagan town into a flourishing Christian city and became a powerful magnet for pilgrims from the whole Roman Empire. |
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