60 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION 



remorse he experienced after the crimes he sanc- 

 tioned in Rome, the execution of his son and 

 others accused of treason, and partly by his dis- 

 gust with the paganism which ever sought to draw 

 him back to its embrace. Constantinople was a 

 grand city. Churches were the principal build* 

 ings. Monasteries and schools were numerous. 

 Its Bishop was given the title of Ecumenical, or 

 Universal Patriarch. There Constantine died, in 

 his sixty-fourth year, after reigning thirty-one 

 years as emperor. 



How marvellous were now the changes which 

 came to pass in the history of the Church. 

 Stately buildings began to arise in every place, 

 and the heathen temples were converted into 

 churches. It was no longer necessary to worship 

 in the secresy of obscure places, but the songs of 

 praise rang out boldly all over the empire. The 

 court of the emperor was thronged with the clergy, 

 who were loaded with favors, and many of the 

 high offices were in their hands. Wealth pouied 

 into the treasury of the Church, and the resources 

 of the realm were made tributary to her advance- 

 ment. Protected by the power of the government, 

 the missionaries could go everywhere and proclaim 

 their message. 



The whole influence of the empire was thrown 

 upon the side of the Church. It was a marvel- 

 lous change ! Some of the very men who had 



