<P> The accession of Constantine was a turning point for early Christianity . After his victory, Constantine took over the role of patron of the Christian faith . He supported the Church financially, had an extraordinary number of basilicas built, granted privileges (e.g., exemption from certain taxes) to clergy, promoted Christians to high - ranking offices, returned property confiscated during the Great Persecution of Diocletian, and endowed the church with land and other wealth . Between 324 and 330, Constantine built a new imperial capital at Byzantium on the Bosporos, which would be named Constantinople for him . Unlike "old" Rome, the city began to employ overtly Christian architecture, contained churches within the city walls, and had no pre-existing temples from other religions . </P> <P> In doing this, however, Constantine required those who had not converted to Christianity to pay for the new city . Christian chroniclers tell that it appeared necessary to Constantine "to teach his subjects to give up their rites...and to accustom them to despise their temples and the images contained therein," This led to the closure of temples because of a lack of support, their wealth flowing to the imperial treasure; Constantine did not need to use force to implement this . Only the chronicler Theophanes has added that temples "were annihilated", but this was considered "not true" by contemporary historians . </P> <P> Constantine respected cultivated persons, and his court was composed of older, respected, and honored men . Men from leading Roman families who declined to convert to Christianity were denied positions of power yet still received appointments; even up to the end of his life, two - thirds of his top government were non-Christian . </P> <P> Constantine's laws enforced and reflected his Christian attitudes . Crucifixion was abolished for reasons of Christian piety, but was replaced with hanging, to demonstrate the preservation of Roman supremacy . On March 7, 321, Sunday, already sacred to Christians and to the Roman Sun God Sol Invictus, was declared an official day of rest . On that day markets were banned and public offices were closed, except for the purpose of freeing slaves . There were, however, no restrictions on performing farming work, which was the work of the great majority of the population, on Sundays . </P>

When was the roman empire converted to christianity