Acte politice și legislative în favoarea Bisericii Creștine, în timpul domniei lui Constantin cel Mare (306-337)

Abstract

This article is referring to the enactments promulgated by the Emperor Constantine the Great in favour of the Christian Church. Following the victory against Maxentius in October 28, 312, Constantine along with Licinius give a new input to the imperial legislation. Thus, the meeting from Mediolanum, in January-February 313, is the momentum of a new Procedure Code in order to apply the Edict of Galerius (311). The Christian Church did not received only the right to freely express its faith, but also some other rights than even the pagan cults did not had: compensation/ restitution of the churches, and other properties, restoration of all of them from the public funds, subvention of the clergy, the right of the Church to issue official documents granting freedom for the slaves. Also, the legislation delivered by Constantine the Great had a clear Christian influence. Thus, the torturing deeds and the opprobrium of the prisoners were removed, etc. The Emperor promulgated official documents even in relation with the social assistance, following a process of building up settlements for those in needs.