Into
Constantine was the son of Constantius 1 and only came into power in 324 as sole emperor, after the death of his father and after many battles. It is said that during this time something happened to change the history of Christianity. It was the conversion of Constantine which took place. This is believed to have taken place prior to the Battle of the Milvan Bridge in 312, this was also seen as the turning point of Christianity from a persecuted minority to the established religion of the Empire, and the time Constantine became a Christian.
The following year the Edict of Milan was written which had a big impact on Christianity. This was a joint declaration at Milan proclaiming equal toleration for Christians and non- Christians, which no doubt reflected a policy which Constantine had already been operating in
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Hall writes, the Empire was thus drawn into the Church as well as the Church drawn into the Empire, and also that the Church was a ready instrument. But in its struggle to identify itself against schismatics and heretics, the Body of Christ had to come to recognize itself in terms of the communion of individual Christians with their local bishop. This was I think a certain way to build and grow in popularity within both Church and Empire keeping both sides happy.
The council of Nicaea as mentioned earlier brought a huge gathering of bishops and during the gathering they confirmed the condemnation of Arius. This is the point when they put forward the Creed of the Church but Constantine also added the homoousios, which was to affirm that God the Son and God the Father are of one substance. This certainly didn’t sit well with Arius.
The issues Arius had, and which was the cause of the Arian controversy was how to understand the meaning of the Trinity. His belief that the Son cannot be the same as the Father as in substance or be as one did not sit comfortable with him, and for this others would call what he was describing heresy.