h
by Christianity's evident ethical power and by its philosophical
character (cf. the Apologists of the 2nd century). That it could seem at
once a simple way of living for the common man and a profound philosophy
of the universe for the speculative thinker meant much for its
success.[1]

But it did not win its victory without a struggle. Superstition,
misunderstanding and hatred caused the Christians trouble for many
generations, and governmental repression they had to suffer
occasionally, as a result of popular disturbances. No systematic effort
was made by the imperial authorities to put an end to the movement until
the reign of Decius (250-251), whose policy of suppression was followed
by Diocletian (303 ff.) and continued for some years after his
abdication. In spite of all opposition the Church steadily grew, until
in 311 the emperor Galerius upon his death-bed granted toleration (see
Eusebius _H.E._ x.4, and Lactantius, _De mortibus persecutorum_, 34),
and in 313 the emperors Constantine and Licinius published the edict of
Milan, proclaiming the principle of complete religious liberty, and
making Christianity a legal religion in the full sense (see Eusebius x.
5, and Lactantius 48. Seeck, _Zeitschrift fuer Kirchengeschichte_, xii.
381 sq., has attempted to show that the edict of Milan had no
significance, but without success).

Constantine, recognizing the growing strength of the Church and wishing
to enlist the loyal support of the Christians, treated them with
increasing favour, and finally was baptized upon his death-bed (337).
Under his successors, except during the brief reign of Julian (361-363),
when the effort was made to reinstate paganism in its former place of
supremacy, the Church received growing support, until, under Theodosius
the Great (379-395), orthodox Christianity, which stood upon the
platform adopted at Nicaea in 325, was finally established as the sole
official religion of the state, and heathen worship was put under the
ban. The union between Church and State thus constituted continued
unbroken in the East throughout the middle ages. The division of the
Empire resulted finally in the division of the Church, which was
practically complete by the end of the 6th century, but was made
official and final only in 1054, and the Eastern and Western halves, the
Greek Catholic and the Roman Catholic Churches, went each its separate
way. (See Theodosian Code, book 16, for the various imperial edicts