Constantine’s Generosity to the Church

This is how the emperor wrote to those who were absent. To those who attended the council, three hundred and eighteen in number, he showed great kindness, speaking to them very gently and giving them gifts. He had many couches made ready for them and entertained them all at one banquet. The most worthy he received at his own table, and he placed the rest at the other tables. Noticing that some of them had had the right eye torn out, and learning that they had suffered this mutilation for the sake of religion, he pressed his lips to the wounds, believing that he would draw a blessing from the kiss. When the feast was over, he again gave them other gifts. He then wrote to the governors of the provinces, directing that an allowance for their keep should be given in every city to virgins and widows and to those who were consecrated to the service of God; and he measured the amount of their yearly allowance more by the impulse of his own generosity than by their need. A third of the sum is still paid out today. Julian, in his ungodliness, withheld the whole of it. His successor granted the sum that is paid out now, since the famine at that time had reduced the resources of the state. If the allowances were once three times what they are at present, the emperor’s generosity can easily be seen from this fact. [a]

I do not think it right to pass over the following incident in silence. Some quarrelsome people wrote accusations against certain bishops and presented their charges to the emperor. Since this happened before harmony had been established, he received the documents, made them into a bundle, sealed it with his ring, and ordered it to be kept safe. After the reconciliation had been brought about, he brought out these writings and burned them in their presence, declaring on oath at the same time that he had not read a word of them. He said that the crimes of priests ought not to be made known to the multitude, so that they would not become a cause of stumbling and lead people to sin without fear. It is also reported that he added that if he were to catch a bishop in the very act of committing adultery, he would throw his imperial robe over the unlawful deed, so that no one would see the sight and be harmed by it. In this way he admonished all the priests as well as honoring them, and then he urged them to return each to his own flock. [b]