In the early stages of Christianity, Christians were brutally persecuted by the Romans because the Christian beliefs went against the Roman pagan beliefs on other gods. Traditionally, emperors were very hostile towards Christians. It was virtually impossible for Christianity to spread with such hostility and persecution. But then in 312 A.D., the emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. This was seen as a huge victory for the Christians even though there was no visible signs of victory. There was also no one specific moment where the Christians had won against the Pagans, it was very gradual and patchy. ¹ When Constantine died, he died in a white robe which signified that he was a Christian novice. He was also buried in next to the tombs of the 12 apostles and in a way was looked upon as the thirteenth in their number. In later years after the death of Constantine, the Church came under an inner struggle on the person of God and how to deal with the pagans. This struggle lasted for centuries until the attitude of the Church changed. At this time, Christianity was the dominant religion of the area, but the pagans kept a firm grip on Rome and its old pagan traditions. The Church then changed its approach on the pagans. It shifted from toleration to proscription. ³ Soon pagan worship dissolved and Christianity fully enveloped the territories which eventually led to Latin
In the early stages of Christianity, Christians were brutally persecuted by the Romans because the Christian beliefs went against the Roman pagan beliefs on other gods. Traditionally, emperors were very hostile towards Christians. It was virtually impossible for Christianity to spread with such hostility and persecution. But then in 312 A.D., the emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. This was seen as a huge victory for the Christians even though there was no visible signs of victory. There was also no one specific moment where the Christians had won against the Pagans, it was very gradual and patchy. ¹ When Constantine died, he died in a white robe which signified that he was a Christian novice. He was also buried in next to the tombs of the 12 apostles and in a way was looked upon as the thirteenth in their number. In later years after the death of Constantine, the Church came under an inner struggle on the person of God and how to deal with the pagans. This struggle lasted for centuries until the attitude of the Church changed. At this time, Christianity was the dominant religion of the area, but the pagans kept a firm grip on Rome and its old pagan traditions. The Church then changed its approach on the pagans. It shifted from toleration to proscription. ³ Soon pagan worship dissolved and Christianity fully enveloped the territories which eventually led to Latin