In religion, Constantine showed marks of his former Paganism even after
his conversion to Christianity. He was an able general and statesman,
whose real character has been obscured by historical excesses, both of
panegyric and of detraction, and around whose name, in connection with
Christianity, interesting and picturesque legends are associated, like
that of the apparition of the Cross and the words (in Greek), “By this
sign, conquer.” He died in 337, leaving the empire to confusion and
civil war under his sons.
Apart from its effects upon the morals, the new religion greatly and
beneficially stirred the mind of the age. Political speculation and
discussion were impossible under a despotism, and active minds turned
to theology, and soon showed that the intellectual power of the time was
to be found within the ranks of Christianity.
Among these early writers and rules of the church, known as the
“Christian Fathers,” the following are the chief, Tertullian, Ambrose,
Cyprian, Lactantius, Jerome, and Augustine being Latin Fathers; Origen,
Gregory, Basil, Chrysostom, and Athanasius being Greek Fathers.