CHAPTER XXV
CONSTANTINE.
[III. 21.
speech, in which he recommended them_tobe the way of letters to those who had not been present at the council.
He commanded also that ample gifts of money should be bestowed on all the people, both in the country and the cities, being pleased thus to honor the festive occasion of the twentieth anniversary of his reign. diligent_in_the maintenance of peace, to avoid contentious disputations,. amongst thémselves, and not to be-jealous, if any one of their number should appear pre-eminent for wisdom and eloquence, but to esteem the excellence of one a blessing common to all.
On the other hand he reminded them that the more gifted should forbear to exalt themselves to the prejudice of their humbler brethren, since it is God's prerogative to judge of real superiority.
Rather should they considerately condescend to the weaker, remembering that absolute perfection in any case is a rare quality indeed.
Each, then, should be willing to accord indulgence to the other for slight offenses, to regard charitably and pass over mere human weaknesses ; holding mutual harmony in the highest honor, that no occasion of mockery might be given by their dissensions to those who are ever ready to blaspheme the word of God: whom indeed we should do all in our power to save, and this
CHAPTER XXIII.
How he wrote to the Egyptians, exhorting them to Peace.
AND now, when all else were at peace, among the Egyptians alone an implacable contention still raged,' so as once more to disturb the emperor's tranquillity, though not to excite his anger.
For indeed he treated the contending parties with all respect, as fathers, nay rather, as prophets of God; and again he summoned them to his presence, and again patiently acted as mediator between them, and honored them with gifts, and communicated also the result of his arbitration by letter.
He confirmed and sanctioned the decrees of the council, and called on them to strive earnestly for concord, and not to distract and rend the Church, but to keep before them the thought of God's judgment.
And these injunctions the emperor sent by a letter written with his own hand. cannot be unless our conduct seems to them attractive.
But you are well aware of the fact, that testimony is by no means productive of blessing to all, since some who hear are glad to secure the supply of their mere bodily necessities, while others court the patronage of their superiors ; some fix their affection on those who treat them with hospitable kindness, others again, being honored with presents, love their benefactors in return; but few are they who really desire the word of testimony, and rare indeed is it to find a friend of truth.
Hence the necessity of endeavoring to meet the case of all, and, physician-like, to administer to each that which may tend to the health of the soul, to the end that the saving doctrine may be fully honored by all.
Of this kind was the former part of his exhortation ;! and in conclusion he enjoined them to offer diligent supplications to
CHAPTER XXIV.
ftow he wrote Frequent Letters of a Religious Character to the Bishops and People.
But besides these, his writings are very numerous on kindred subjects, and he was the author of a multitude of letters, some to the bishops, in which he laid injunctions on them tending to the advantage of the churches of God; and sometimes the thrice blessed one addressed the people of the churches generally, calling them his own brethren and fellow-servants.
But perhaps we may hereafter find leisure to collect these despatches in a separate form, in order that the integrity of our present history may not be impaired by their insertion.
God on his behalf.
Having thus taken leave of them, he gave them all permission to return to their respective countries; and this they did with joy, and thenceforward that unity of judgment at which they had arrived in the emperor's presence continued to prevail, and those who had long been divided were bound together as members of the same body.
CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXII.
flow he ordered the Erection of a Church at Jerusalem, in the Holy Place of our Saviour's
Flow he Cismissed Some, and wrote Letters to Resurrection, Others ; also his Presents.
AFTER these things, the pious emperor addressed himself to another work truly worthy of record, in the province of Palestine.
What Fut, of joy therefore at this success, the emperor presented as it were pleasant fruits in _ 1 Or "such were the injunctions which the emperor laid especially on their consciences."
? Continuation of the Arian controversy.
Ill. 28.]
THE LIFE OF.CONSTANTINE.
then was this work?
He judged it incumbent on him to render the blessed locality of our Saviour's resurrection an object of attraction and veneration to all.
He issued immediate injunctions, therefore, for the erection in that spot of a house of prayer: and this he did, not on the mere natural impulse of his own mind, but being moved in spirit by the Saviour himself. ers, or even of the emperors themselves ever yet appeared, with ability to abolish these daring impieties, save only that one who enjoyed the favor of the King of kings.
And now, acting as he did under the guidance of the divine Spirit, he could not consent to see the sacred spot of which we have spoken, thus buried, through the devices of the adversaries, under every kind of impurity, and abandoned to forgetfulness and neglect; nor would he yield to the malice of those who had contracted this guilt, but calling on the divine aid, gave orders that the place should be thoroughly purified, thinking that the parts which had been most polluted by the enemy ought to receive special tokens, through his means, of the greatness of the divine favor.
As soon, then, as his commands were issued, these engines of deceit were cast down from their proud eminence to the very ground, and the dwelling-places of error, with the statues and the evil spirits which they represented, were overthrown and utterly destroyed.
CHAPTER XXVI.
That the Holy Sepulchre had been covered with Rubbish and with Idols by the Ungodly.
For it had been in time past the endeavor of impious men (or rather let me say of the whole race of evil spirits through their means), to consign to the darkness of oblivion that divine monument of immortality to which the radiant angel had descended from heaven, and rolled away the stone for those who still had stony hearts, and who supposed that the living One still lay. among the dead ; and had declared glad tidings to the women also, and removed their stonyhearted unbelief by the conviction that he whom they sought was alive.
This sacred cave, then, certain impious and godless persons had thought to remove entirely from the eyes of men, sup-
CHAPTER XXVII.
How Constantine commanded the Materials of the Idol Temple, and the Soil itself, to be removed at a Distance. posing in their folly that thus they should be able effectually to obscure the truth.
Accordingly they brought a quantity of earth from a distance with much labor, and covered the entire spot ; then, having raised this to a moderate height, they paved it with stone, concealing the holy cave beneath this massive mound.
Then, as though their purpose had been effectually accomplished, they prepare on this foundation a truly dreadful sepulchre of souls, by building a gloomy shrine of lifeless idols to the impure spirit whom they call Venus, and offering detestable oblations therein on profane and accursed altars.
For they supposed that their object could not otherwise be fully attained, than by thus burying the sacred cave beneath these foul pollutions.
Unhappy men! they were unable to comprehend how impossible it was that their attempt should remain unknown to him who had been crowned with victory over death, any more than the blazing sun, when he rises above the earth, and holds his wonted course through the midst of heaven, is unseen by the whole race of mankind.
Indeed, his saving power, shining with still greater brightness, and illumining, not the bodies, but the souls of men, was already filling the world with the effulgence of its own light.
Nevertheless, these devices of impious and wicked men against the truth had prevailed for a long time, nor had any one of the governors, or military commandNor did the emperor's zeal stop here; but he gave further orders that the materials of what was thus destroyed, both stone and timber, should be removed and thrown as far from the spot as possible; and this command also was speedily executed.
The emperor, however, was not satisfied with having proceeded thus far: once more, fired with holy ardor, he directed that the ground itself should be dug up to a considerable depth, and the soil which had been polluted by the foul impurities of demon worship transported to a far distant place.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Discovery of the Most Holy Sepulchre} Tuis also was accomplished without delay.
But as soon as the original surface of the ground, beneath the covering of earth, appeared, immediately, and contrary to all expectation, the venerable and hallowed monument of our Saviour's resurrection was discovered.
Then indeed did this most holy cave present a faithful simili1 On the site of the sepulchre, compare Besant, Sepulchre, the Holy, in Smith and Cheetham, 2 (1880), 1881-1888.
He discusses (a2) Is the present site that fixed upon by the officers of Constantine? and (4) Was that site certainly or even probably the true spot where our Lord was buried?
Compare also reports of the Palestine Exploration Fund Survey, ¥erusalem, 1884, p. 429-435
(Conder).
CONSTANTINE.
[III. 28.
iis nine Mise SoS ee heavenly things are superior to human affairs.
For this cause it is ever my first, and indeed my only object, that, as the authority of the tude of his return to life, in that, after lying buried in darkness, it again emerged to light, and afforded to all who came to witness the sight, a clear and visible proof of the wonders of which that spot had once been the scene, a testimony to the resurrection of the Saviour clearer than any voice could give. truth is evincing itself daily by fresh wonders, so our souls may all become more zealous, with all sobriety and earnest unanimity, for the honor of the Divine law. I desire, therefore, especially, that you should be persuaded of that which I suppose is evident to all beside, namely, that I have no greater care than how I may best adorn with a splendid structure that sacred spot, which, under Divine direction, I have disencumbered as it were of the heavy weight of foul idol worship ; a spot which has been accounted holy from the beginning in God's judgment, but which now appears holier still, since it has brought to light a clear assurance of our Saviour's passion.
CHAPTER XXIX.
How he wrote concerning the Erection of a Church, both to the Governors of the Provinces, and to the Bishop Macarius.
IMMEDIATELY
after the transactions I have recorded, the emperor sent forth injunctions which breathed a truly pious spirit, at the same time granting ample supplies of money, and commanding that a house of prayer worthy of the worship of God should be erected near the Saviour's tomb on a scale of rich and royal greatness.
This object he had indeed for some time kept in view, and had foreseen, as if by the aid of a superior intelligence, that which should afterwards come to pass.
He laid his commands, therefore, on the governors of the Eastern provinces, that by an abundant and unsparing expenditure they should secure the completion of the work on a scale of noble and ample magnificence.
He also despatched the following letter to the bishop who at that time presided over the church at Jerusalem, in which he clearly asserted the saving doctrine of the faith, writing in these terms.
CHAPTER XXXI.
That the Building should surpass all the Churches in the World in the Beauty of its
Walls, its Columns, and Marbles.
"Tr will be well, therefore, for your sagacity to make such arrangements and provision of all things needful for the work, that not only the church itself as a whole may surpass all others whatsoever in beauty, but that the details of the building may be of such a kind that the fairest structures in any city of the empire may be excelled by this.
And with respect to the erection and decoration of the walls, this is to inform you that our friend Dracilianus, the deputy of the Pretorian Preefects, and the governor of the province, have received a charge from us.
For our pious directions to them are to the effect that artificers and laborers, and whatever they shall understand from your sagacity to be needful for the advancement of the work, shall forthwith be furnished by their care.
And as to the columns and marbles, whatever you shall judge, after actual inspection of the plan, to be especially precious and serviceable, be diligent to send information to us in writing, in order that whatever quantity or sort of materials we shall esteem from your letter to be needful, may be procured from every quarter, as required, for it is fitting that the most marvelous place in the world should be worthily decorated.
CHAPTER XXX.
Constantine's Letter to Macarius respecting the Building of the Church of our Saviour.
" Vicror Constantius, Maximus AUGUSTUS, to Macarius.
"Such is our Saviour's grace, that no power of language seems adequate to describe the wondrous circumstance to which I am about to refer.
For, that the monument of his most holy Passion, so long ago buried beneath the ground, should have remained unknown for so long a series of years, until its reappearance to his servants now set free through the removal of him! who was the common enemy of all, is a fact which truly surpasses all admiration.
For if all who are accounted wise throughout the world were to unite in their endeavors to say somewhat worthy of this event, they would be unable to attain their object in the smallest degree.
Indeed, the nature of this miracle as far transcends the capacity of human reason as
CHAPTER XXXII.
That he instructed the Governors concerning the Beautifying of the Roof; also concerning the Workmen, and Materials.
"WITH respect to the ceiling? of the church, 1 [Licinius appears to be meant, whose death had occurred a.p.
326, in which year the alleged discovery of the Lord's sepulchre took place. — Bag.] 1 The word used is the technical '' camera," meaning properly a
THE LIFE OF CONSTANTINE.
ite 72 1] magnificence beautified with rare columns, and profusely enriched with the most splendid decorations of every kind.
I wish to know from you whether in your judgment it should be panel-ceiled,? or finished with any other kind of workmanship.
If the panel ceiling be adopted, it may also be ornamented with gold.
For the rest, your Holiness will give information as early as possible to the beforementioned magistrates how many laborers and artificers, and what expenditure of money is required.
You will also be careful to send us a report without delay, not only respecting the marbles and columns, but the paneled ceiling also, should this appear to you to be the most beautiful form.
God preserve you, beloved. brother !"
CHAPTER XXXV.
Description of the Atrium and Porticos.
THE next object of his attention was a space of ground of great extent, and open to the pure air of heaven.
This he adorned with a pavement of finely polished stone, and enclosed it on three sides with porticos of great length.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Description of the Walls, Roof, Decoration, and How the Church of our Saviour, the New JeruGilding of the Body of the Church. salem prophesied of in Scripture, was built,
For at the side opposite to the cave, which was the eastern side, the church itself was erected ; a noble work rising to a vast height, and of great extent both in length and breadth.
The interior of this structure was floored with marble slabs of various colors ; while the external surface of the walls, which shone with polished stones exactly fitted together, exhibited a degree of splendor in no respect inferior to that of marble.
With regard to the roof, it was covered on the outside with lead, as a protection against the rains of winter.
But the inner part of the roof, which was finished with sculptured panel work, extended in a series of connected compartments, like a vast sea, over the whole church ;? and, being overlaid throughout with the purest gold, caused the entire building to glitter as it were with rays of light.
Tuis was the emperor's letter ; and his directions were at once carried into effect.
Accordingly, on the very spot which witnessed the Saviour's sufferings, a new Jerusalem was constructed, over against the one so celebrated of old, which, since the foul stain of guilt brought on it by the murder of the Lord, had experienced the last extremity of desolation, the effect of Divine judgment on its impious people.
It was opposite this city that the emperor now began to rear a monument to the Saviour's victory over death, with rich and lavish magnificence.
And it may be that this was that second and new Jerusalem spoken of in the predictions of the prophets,! concerning which such abundant testimony is given in the divinely inspired records.
First of all, then, he adorned the sacred cave itself, as the chief part of the whole work, and the hallowed monument at which the angel radiant with light had once declared to all that regeneration which was first manifested in the Saviour's person.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Description of the Double Porticos on Either Side, and of the Three Eastern Gates.
BeEsIDEs this were two porticos on each side, with upper and lower ranges of pillars,' corresponding in length with the church itself; and these also had their roofs ornamented with gold.
Of these porticos, those which were exterior to the church were supported by columns of great size, while those within these rested on piles? of
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Description of the Structure of the Holy Seputchre.
Tus monument, therefore, first of all, as the chief part of the whole, the emperor's zealous ae PS) Es ES a eee ee out of heaven," &c.; an extraordinary, nay, almost ludicrous application of Scripture, though perhaps characteristic of the author's age.— Bag.] And it may be said characteristic of Eusebius himself, for it is not his only sin in this regard. certain style of vaulted ceiling, but here it is perhaps the generic ceiling if the specific word below means panel ceiling.
2 This is the word for the Lacunaria or panel ceilings, a style of ceiling where "' planks were placed across these beams at certain intervals leaving hollow spaces," ' which were frequently covered with gold and ivory, and sometimes with paintings."
Compare article Doweus, in Smith, Dict. Gr. and Rom. Ant.
The passage may mean either 'with respect to the ceiling .
. whether... wainscoted" or 'with respect to the Camera . .
. whether panel ceiled."
1 It would seem from this description that the paneling was like that of Santa Maria Maggiore at Rome, a horizontal surface rather than the pointed roof paneled.
1 Whether this means two series, one underground and one above (Modz. and many), or not, is fully discussed by Heinichen in a separate note (Zzsebzus, vol. 3, p520-521).
2 [These inner porticos seem to have rested on mas: piles, because they adjoined the sides of the church, and had to ar its to Rev. xxi, 2:
"' And coming down from God, 1 [Apparently referring (says Valesius) I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,