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AFTER the Synod the emperor spent some time in recreation, and
after the public celebration of his twentieth anniversary of his
accession, he immediately devoted himself to the reparation of the
churches. This he carried into effect in other cities as well as in
the city named after him, which being previously called Byzantium, he
enlarged, surrounded with massive walls, and adorned with various
edifices; and having rendered it equal to imperial Rome, he named it
Constantinople, establishing by law that it should be designated New
Rome. This law was engraven on a pillar of stone erected in public
view in the Strategium, near the emperor's equestrian statue. He
built also in the same city two churches, one of which he named
Irene, and the other The Apostles. Nor did he only improve the
affairs of the Christians, as I have said, but he also destroyed the
superstition of the heathens; for he brought forth their images into
public view to ornament the city of Constantinople, and set up the
Delphic tripods publicly in the Hippodrome. It may indeed seem now
superfluous to mention these things, since they are seen before they
are heard of. But at that time the Christian cause received its
greatest augmentation; for Divine Providence preserved very many
other things during the times of the emperor Constantine. Eusebius
Pamphilus has in magnificent terms recorded the praises of the
emperor; and I considered it would not be ill-timed to advert thus to
them as concisely as possible.
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