Constantine’s Address to the Council on Peace

“My dearest friends, it was once my chief desire to enjoy the sight of you all gathered together. Now that this desire has been fulfilled, I feel bound to give thanks to God, the King of all, because in addition to all his other benefits he has granted me a blessing greater than all the rest: he has let me see you not only all assembled together, but all united in a common harmony of mind. I pray, therefore, that no malicious enemy may interfere from now on to spoil our happy state. Now that the ungodly hostility of the tyrants has been removed forever by the power of God our Savior, I pray that the spirit who delights in evil may devise no other way of exposing the divine law to blasphemous slander. For in my judgment, strife within the church of God is far more evil and dangerous than any kind of war or battle, and these differences of ours seem to me more painful than any trouble from outside.

So when, by the will and with the help of God, I had been victorious over my enemies, I thought nothing more remained but to give thanks to him and to share the joy of those whom he had restored to freedom through me. But as soon as I heard the news I had least expected to receive, I mean the news of your disagreement, I judged it to be of no secondary importance. Earnestly desiring that a remedy for this evil too might be found through my efforts, I at once sent to ask for your presence. And now I rejoice to see your assembly. But I feel that my desires will be most completely fulfilled when I can see you all united in one judgment, with that common spirit of peace and harmony prevailing among you all which you, as men set apart for the service of God, ought to commend to others. Do not delay, then, dear friends. Do not delay, you ministers of God and faithful servants of the one who is our common Lord and Savior. Begin from this moment to put away the causes of the division that has existed among you, and clear away the tangles of controversy by embracing the principles of peace. For by doing so you will be acting in the way most pleasing to the supreme God, and at the same time you will be doing a very great favor to me, your fellow servant.”