1

Vita Constantini

CHAPTERS OF THE GODLY LIFE OF THE BLESSED EMPEROR CONSTANTINE

Pin.1.t BOOK 1

Pin.1.1 Prologue concerning the death of Constantine. Pin.1.1,3 Concerning his sons who became emperors. Pin.1.2 Further prologue. Pin.1.3 Concerning God honoring pious emperors and destroying tyrants. Pin.1.4 That God honored Constantine. Pin.1.5 That he reigned piously for over thirty years as sole monarch, and lived for over sixty. Pin.1.6 That he was a servant of God and a conqueror of nations. Pin.1.7 A comparison with Cyrus the king of the Persians and Alexander of the Macedonians. Pin.1.8 That he ruled almost the entire inhabited world. Pin.1.9 That he was the pious son of an emperor and left the empire to his sons as emperors. Pin.1.10 Concerning this history being both necessary and profitable for the soul. Pin.1.11 That he has now related only the God-beloved deeds of Constantine. Pin.1.12 That Constantine was brought up, like Moses, in the houses of tyrants. Pin.1.13 Concerning his father Constantius, how he would not join Diocletian, Maximian, and Maxentius in persecuting the Christians. Pin.1.14 How his father Constantius, having been reproached for poverty by Diocletian, filled his treasuries and then gave the money back to those who had brought it. Pin.1.15 Concerning the persecution by the others. Pin.1.16 How his father Constantius, having feigned idolatry, cast out those who were willing to sacrifice, but kept in his palace those who purposed to confess. Pin.1.17 Of the same, concerning his Christ-loving disposition. Pin.1.18 That when Diocletian and Maximian had abdicated, Constantius was then first augustus, priding himself on his fine children. Pin.1.19 Concerning his son Constantine, who as a young man had formerly come to Palestine with Diocletian. Pin.1.20 The departure of Constantine to his father because of the plots of Diocletian. Pin.1.21 The death of Constantius, who left his son Constantine as Emperor. Pin.1.22 How, when Constantius was carried forth for burial, the armies proclaimed Constantine augustus. Pin.1.23 The destruction of the tyrants, in a brief summary. Pin.1.24 That by the will of God Constantine obtained the rule. Pin.1.25 The victories of Constantine over the barbarians and Britons. Pin.1.26 How he determined to free Rome from Maxentius. Pin.1.27 That, reflecting on the ruin of those who practiced idolatry, he chose Christianity instead. Pin.1.28 How, when he prayed, God granted him a vision, a cross of light in the sky at midday and an inscription advising him to conquer by this. Pin.1.29 How the Christ of God appeared to him in his sleep and commanded him to use a sign like the cross in his wars. Pin.1.30 The construction of this same cross-shaped sign. Pin.1.31 A description of the cross-shaped sign, which the Romans now call the labarum. Pin.1.32 How Constantine, having been instructed, used to read the divine scriptures. Pin.1.33 Concerning the adulteries of Maxentius in Rome. Pin.1.34 How the wife of the prefect killed herself for the sake of her chastity. Pin.1.35 The slaughter of the Roman people by Maxentius. Pin.1.36 The magical arts of Maxentius and the scarcity of food in Rome. Pin.1.37 The defeat in Italy of the armies of Maxentius. Pin.1.38 The death of Maxentius at the bridge of the river Tiber. Pin.1.39 The entry of Constantine into Rome. Pin.1.40 Concerning his statue holding a cross, and its inscription. Pin.1.41 Rejoicings throughout the provinces and the benefactions of Constantine. Pin.1.42 The honors of bishops and the buildings of churches. Pin.1.43

1

Vita Constantini

ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΚΑΤΑ ΘΕΟΝ ΒΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΥ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ

Pin.1.t ΛΟΓΟΣ Α

Pin.1.1 Προοίμιον περὶ τῆς Κωνσταντίνου τελευτῆς. Pin.1.1,3 Περὶ υἱῶν αὐτοῦ βασιλευσάντων. Pin.1.2 Ἔτι προοίμιον. Pin.1.3 Περὶ θεοῦ τιμῶντος εὐσεβεῖς βασιλεῖς καὶ ἀπολλύντος τυράννους. Pin.1.4 Ὅτι ὁ θεὸς Κωνσταντῖνον ἐτίμησεν. Pin.1.5 Ὅτι ἐβασίλευσε μὲν εὐσεβῶς ὑπὲρ τὰ τριάκοντα ἔτη μοναρχήσας, ἔζησε δὲ ὑπὲρ τὰ ἑξήκοντα. Pin.1.6 Ὅτι θεοῦ μὲν δοῦλος ἦν ἐθνῶν δὲ νικητής. Pin.1.7 Πρὸς Κῦρον τὸν Περσῶν βασιλέα καὶ Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν Μακεδόνων σύγκρισις. Pin.1.8 Ὅτι τῆς οἰκουμένης πάσης σχεδὸν ἐκράτησεν. Pin.1.9 Ὅτι υἱὸς βασιλέως εὐσεβὴς καὶ υἱοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατέλιπε τὴν ἀρχήν. Pin.1.10 Περὶ τοῦ καὶ ἀναγκαίαν εἶναι καὶ ψυχωφελῆ τὴν ἱστορίαν ταύτην. Pin.1.11 Ὅτι μόνας τὰς Κωνσταντίνου νῦν ἱστόρησε θεοφιλεῖς πράξεις. Pin.1.12 Ὅτι ὡς Μωϋσῆς ἐν οἴκοις τυράννων ἀνετράφη Κωνσταντῖνος. Pin.1.13 Περὶ Κωνσταντίου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μὴ ἀνασχομένου τῶν περὶ ∆ιοκλητιανὸν καὶ Μαξιμιανὸν καὶ Μαξέντιον διῶξαι τοὺς Χριστιανούς. Pin.1.14 Ὅπως Κωνστάντιος ὁ πατὴρ ὀνειδισθεὶς πενίαν ὑπὸ ∆ιοκλητιανοῦ καὶ τοὺς θησαυροὺς πλήσας ἀπέδωκε πάλιν τοῖς προσενέγκασι τὰ χρήματα. Pin.1.15 Περὶ τοῦ ὑπὸ τῶν ἄλλων διωγμοῦ. Pin.1.16 Ὅπως Κωνστάντιος ὁ πατὴρ εἰδωλολατρείαν σχηματισάμενος τοὺς μὲν θύειν θελήσαντας ἐξέβαλε, τοὺς δὲ ὁμολογῆσαι προθεμένους εἶχεν ἐν τῷ παλατίῳ. Pin.1.17 Τοῦ αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆς φιλοχρίστου προαιρέσεως. Pin.1.18 Ὅτι ∆ιοκλητιανοῦ καὶ Μαξιμιανοῦ ἀποδυσαμένων πρῶτος ἦν λοιπὸν αὔγουστος ὁ Κωνστάντιος, ἐν εὐτεκνίᾳ κομῶν. Pin.1.19 Περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ Κωνσταντίνου νεανίου ἅμα ∆ιοκλητιανῷ τὸ πρὶν εἰς Παλαιστίνην παραγενομένου. Pin.1.20 Κωνσταντίνου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα διὰ τὰς ἐπιβουλὰς ∆ιοκλητιανοῦ ἀναχώρησις. Pin.1.21 Τελευτὴ Κωνσταντίου τὸν υἱὸν Κωνσταντῖνον Βασιλέα καταλιπόντος. Pin.1.22 Ὅπως Κωνσταντίου προκομισθέντος τὰ στρατεύματα Κωνσταντῖνον αὔγουστον ἀνηγόρευσεν. Pin.1.23 Καταστροφὴ τῶν τυράννων δι' ὑπομνήσεως ὀλίγης. Pin.1.24 Ὅτι βουλήσει θεοῦ Κωνσταντῖνος ἔσχε τὸ βασιλεύειν. Pin.1.25 Κωνσταντίνου κατὰ βαρβάρων καὶ Βρεττανῶν νῖκαι. Pin.1.26 Ὅπως Ῥώμην ἐλευθερῶσαι Μαξεντίου προέθετο. Pin.1.27 Ὅτι τὰς εἰδωλολατρησάντων καταστροφὰς ἐνθυμηθεὶς μᾶλλον τὸν χριστιανισμὸν ἐξελέξατο. Pin.1.28 Ὅπως εὐξαμένῳ τὴν ὀπτασίαν ὁ θεὸς παρέσχε, σταυρὸν ἐκ φωτὸς ἐν οὐρανῷ μεσημβρίᾳ καὶ γραφὴν τούτῳ νικᾶν παραινοῦσαν. Pin.1.29 Ὅπως ὁ Χριστὸς τοῦ θεοῦ καθ' ὕπνους αὐτῷ φανεὶς ὁμοιοτρόπῳ τοῦ σταυροῦ σημείῳ κεχρῆσθαι κατὰ τοὺς πολέμους προσέταξεν. Pin.1.30 Κατασκευὴ τοῦ αὐτοῦ σταυρικοῦ σημείου. Pin.1.31 Ἔκφρασις σταυροειδοῦς σημείου, ὅπερ νῦν οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι λάβαρον καλοῦσιν. Pin.1.32 Ὅπως κατηχηθεὶς Κωνσταντῖνος τὰς θείας γραφὰς ἀνεγίνωσκεν. Pin.1.33 Περὶ τῶν Μαξεντίου μοιχειῶν τῶν ἐν Ῥώμῃ. Pin.1.34 Ὅπως ἡ τοῦ ἐπάρχου διὰ σωφροσύνην ἑαυτὴν ἀνεῖλεν. Pin.1.35 Ἀναίρεσις δήμου Ῥωμαίων ὑπὸ Μαξεντίου. Pin.1.36 Μαγεῖαι Μαξεντίου καὶ ἔνδεια τροφῶν ἐν Ῥώμῃ. Pin.1.37 Ἧττα ἐν Ἰταλίᾳ Μαξεντίου στρατευμάτων. Pin.1.38 Μαξεντίου θάνατος ἐν γεφύρᾳ ποταμοῦ Τιβέριδος. Pin.1.39 Εἴσοδος ἐν Ῥώμῃ Κωνσταντίνου. Pin.1.40 Περὶ ἀνδριάντος αὐτοῦ σταυρὸν κατέχοντος καὶ τῆς ἐπιγραφῆς. Pin.1.41 Εὐφροσύναι κατὰ τὰς ἐπαρχίας καὶ δωρεαὶ Κωνσταντίνου. Pin.1.42 Ἐπισκόπων τιμαὶ καὶ ἐκκλησιῶν οἰκοδομαί. Pin.1.43