<P> Nicaea dealt primarily with the Arian controversy . Constantine himself was torn between the Arian and Trinitarian camps . After the Nicene council, and against its conclusions, he eventually recalled Arius from exile and banished Athanasius of Alexandria to Trier . </P> <P> Just before his death in May 337, Constantine was baptised into Christianity . Up until this time he had been a catechuman for most of his adult life . He believed that if he waited to get baptized on his death bed he was in less danger of polluting his soul with sin and not getting to heaven . He was baptized by his distant relative Arian Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia . During Eusebius of Nicomedia's time in the Imperial court, the Eastern court and the major positions in the Eastern Church were held by Arians or Arian sympathizers . With the exception of a short period of eclipse, Eusebius enjoyed the complete confidence both of Constantine and Constantius II and was the tutor of Emperor Julian the Apostate . After Constantine's death, his son and successor Constantius II was an Arian, as was Emperor Valens . </P> <P> Constantine's position on the religions traditionally practiced in Rome evolved during his reign . In fact, his coinage and other official motifs, until 325, had affiliated him with the pagan cult of Sol Invictus . At first, Constantine encouraged the construction of new temples and tolerated traditional sacrifices; by the end of his reign, he had begun to order the pillaging and tearing down of Roman temples . </P> <P> Beyond the limes, east of the Euphrates, the Sasanian rulers of the Persian Empire, perennially at war with Rome, had usually tolerated Christianity . Constantine is said to have written to Shapur II in 324 and urged him to protect Christians under his rule . With the establishment of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire, Christians in Persia would be regarded as allies of Persia's ancient enemy . According to an anonymous Christian account, Shapur II wrote to his generals: </P>

Who issued a decree making christianity the official religion of rome