State and Church relationships in the time of Constantine the Great.

INTRODUCTION Momentous changes occurred both in the Church and in the political structure of the Roman Empire during the forth century. Christianity, once a persecuted minority faith, became the religion of the empire by the end of the century by Constantine's conversion in 312 CE. The relationship between the Church and the state was changed to reunite the once separated provinces to favour Christianity. Constantine achieved the unification of the East and West of the Roman …

…Constantine's control over the bishops but also showed collaboration between the state and the church. This set the stage of a continual struggle between the Holy Roman Empire and the Pop over who had ultimate power. The Papal Theory and Imperial Theory were in question as to which one was correct, this continued on until the Reformation. Therefore consequential changes occurred between the Church and the State relationship from Constantine's conversion to the Christian Church.