Constantinople Istanbul Turkey

Christianity had been introduced to Anatolia through the missionary activity of Saint Paul, a Greek-speaking Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, and his companions.

Christians possibly even constitute a majority of the population in most of Anatolia by the time Christianity is granted official toleration under the Edict of Milan in CE 313.

A patriarchate is established before the end of the fourth century in Constantinople, with ecclesiastical jurisdiction over much of the Greek East.

Constantine, now sole emperor of East and West, had in 324 made Byzantium the official capital of Roman Empire.

(There is no evidence that the city’s title of Nova Roma, or New Rome, was actually used for official purposes in Constantine's own time).

By this time, Constantine, who has on several occasions granted special privileges to individual churches and bishops, now openly embraces Christianity.

In order to resolve the shortage of labor in the provinces, Constantine decrees in 327 that rural slaves can only be sold in the province where they reside.

Eusebius of Nicomedia, formerly bishop of Berytus, had been bishop of the seat of the imperial court under Constantine.

(A leading exponent of Arianism, Eusebius was likely a fellow disciple, with Arius, of Lucian of Antioch.)

Although Eusebius signed the formula approved at the Nicaean council declaring the full divinity and equality of Christ with the Father, he had soon begun advocating Arianism with renewed zeal.

This resulted in his banishment by Constantine, but the favor of the empress restored him to his post.

He had employed his growing political and ecclesiastical power to obtain the banishment of Athanasius, in 335.

In 338, Eusebius, who had baptized Constantine as the first Christian emperor shortly before his death, becomes bishop of Constantinople.

Constantinople, capital of Emperor Constantius II, now becomes the largest city of the world, taking the lead from Rome, capital of Emperor Constans, his brother.

Following the shift of the empire's administrative center, official interest in monumental sculpture has declined, the early Christians regarding large sculptures in the round as idolatrous.

Carving in relief continues on a small scale on the portable ivory panels known as diptychs.

Valentinian entrusts the East to his younger brother Valens, an inexperienced man and fervent Arian Christian whom he raises to the rank of Augustus, or co-emperor, on March 28, 364 at Hebdomon outside of Constantinople, where Valens will build the imperial Palace of Magnaura.

For the first time, the two parts of the empire are truly separate, except for the selection of consuls, in which Valentinian has precedence.

Although perhaps not a Christian himself, Valentinian is notably tolerant of both Arian and orthodox Christians; both Augusti agree to allow religious toleration (which Valentinian, unlike Valens, will maintain throughout his reign.)

Valentinian selects his brother Valens as co-Augustus at Constantinople on March 28, 364, over the objections of Dagalaifus, the magister equitum.

Ammianus makes it clear that Valens was subordinate to his brother.

The remainder of 364 will be spent delegating administrative duties and military commands.

Valentinian retains the services of Dagalaifus and promotes Aequitius to Comes Illyricum.

Valens is given the Prefecture of Oriens, governed by prefect Salutius.

Valentinian gains control of Italy, Gaul, Africa, and Illyricum.

Valens resides in Constantinople, while Valentinian’s court is at Milan.

John Chrysostom, having again come into a conflict with the Empress and incurring her wrath, is sent into exile on June 20, 404. (He will die three years later on an enforced journey to Pontus.)

During the subsequent riots, Constantinople’s half-century-old cathedral of Constantine is largely burned down to the ground.

Nothing remains of the first church today.

Shortly afterward, Eudoxia, having borne Arcadius four daughters and a son and now in her third pregnancy, is left bleeding from a miscarriage and shortly dies of an infection on October 6, 404.

One Atticus, an ordained presbyter who had soon became known as a rising man, had proved himself one of John Chrysostom's most bitter adversaries.

If not, as Palladius of Galatia asserts, the architect of the whole cabal, he certainly took a very leading part in carrying it into execution.

The organization of the Synod of the Oak owed much to his practical skill.

Pope Innocent I at Rome had ordered a synod to reinstate Chrysostom as bishop, but his envoys had been imprisoned.

Chrysostom’s successor, the aged Arsacius, had died on November 5, 405.

Four months of intrigue ended in the selection of Atticus as the new bishop of Constantinople.

Emperor Theodosius II starts to reform the Codex Theodosianus in Constantinople, establishing a committee to codify all Roman laws.

All funds raised by Jews to support schools has to be turned over to the state treasury.