Constantine’s Letter on Building Churches

“Constantine Augustus, the great and victorious, to Eusebius. [a] “I am well aware, and fully convinced, my beloved brother, that because the servants of Christ our Savior have suffered until now from wicked plots and tyrannical persecutions, the buildings of all the churches must either have fallen into complete ruin through neglect, or, through fear of the wrongdoing that hung over them, have been left below their proper dignity. “But now freedom has been restored, and that dragon has been driven out from the government of the empire, by the providence of God and through our agency. I think the divine power has become known to all, and that those who until now have lived in error, through fear, unbelief, or depravity, will come to know the One who truly is, and will be led into the true and right way of life. “So work diligently at repairing the churches under your own charge, and urge the leading bishops, priests, and deacons of other places to take up the same work with zeal, so that all the churches still standing may be repaired or enlarged, and new ones built wherever they are needed. You, and others through you, may apply to the magistrates and to the provincial authorities for everything needed for this purpose, for they have received written orders to obey with zeal whatever Your Holiness commands. May God keep you, beloved brother.” [b]

In this way the emperor wrote to the bishops of each province about building churches. From his letter to Eusebius of Palestine it is easy to learn what steps he took to obtain copies of the holy books. [d]