8
Conversion in the fourth century |
|
312–25 |
The impact of Constantine's conversion |
332–63 |
The life and religious convictions of Julian |
354–97 |
The conversion of Augustine |
324–553 |
Politics and Christianity: Bishops and bishoprics |
324–553 |
Politics and Christianity: Christian identities |
c.300–450 |
Novatians |
c.312–30 |
Melitians |
c.312–411 |
African Christianity, the Donatists |
319–81 |
The Arian controversy, the Council of Nicaea (325), and the career of Athanasius |
381 |
The Council of Constantinople |
428–31 |
Nestorius, Cyril of Alexandria, and the first Council of Ephesus |
449–51 |
The Robber Council of Ephesus and the Council of Chalcedon |
c.450–550 |
The Monophysite schism in Syria and Egypt |
482 |
The Henotikon of Zeno |
484–518 |
The Acacian schism splits the western and eastern churches |
527–53 |
The religious policies of Justinian |
Christians in the fourth century and throughout late antiquity were confident of their ability to absorb pagan traditions, and triumphantly aware that the tide of religious change was flooding in their direction. The period as a whole may be seen through Christian sources as a vast collective narrative of conversion, comprising innumerable episodes which fitted into this large picture. Two accounts loom large in the historiography, from each end of the fourth century; the conversion of the emperor Constantine, and the conversion of St Augustine. These have done more than anything else to shape perceptions of the phenomenon. They are counterbalanced by an equally famous conversion in the other direction, that of the emperor Julian.