IMO he was one of the greatest Emperors. I think he gets a bad rap because of his supposed monothelitism. I understand that some scholars think he was innocent of it or that he abjured it on his death bed. If Constantine is a saint after all he did (murder of wife and son) I think Heraclius might be worthy too. He did so much to restore the Emperor. He was one of the last great Emperors.

Alexius, I'm not quite sure what the question is. Personally, as a Greek American, I think that the history is very interesting, but on the other hand, I'm not sure that it has a serious impact on us Christians today. Could you explain why you are concerned about this issue?

Blessings!

Isn't it because of his victory over the Persians and the recovery of the Holy Cross that the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was established? Constantine and Justinian are held up as saints. And now there is doubt over whether Heraclius was really a heretic. IMO Heraclius is the equal of Constantine and Justinian.

And regarding Justinian as a saint I bought a book awhile back from an Orthodox book store called "Justinian the Great - The Emperor and Saint". And I believe Justinian had a problem with some type of heresy anthro___<?>.

And wasn't Constantine baptized by a semi-Arian and he is a saint.

I think that our holy ancestor Constantine came into veneration because of what he did for us Byzantine (and other) Christians. I'm not sure that his 'sacramental' progeny is of critical importance. For us Greeks, he was a 'good guy'. What purpose do we serve in trying to disambiguate his spiritual heritage? Doing this seems to serve the structuralist program rather than the spiritual elements that nourish the Byzantine Church today.

Blessings!

Blessings!

Be assured that I'm not trying to bring Constantine (or Justinian) down but rather raise up Heraclius to what I think is his long neglected and overdue place as a great protector, defender and champion of the Church. The man to me is a true hero and worthy of admiration and praise as are Constantine and Justinian.

AlexiusComnenus hello? Are you one of the Lascaris-Comnenus family? Greeting if you ever return.

Personaly I hold the Emperor Constantine and Justinian in high opion but hold all the Christian Emperors in such. They laid the foundation for the West. The West is differnt due to the influence of Christianity on the Imperial constitution. The rights of one person rather than the state orientation of so many lands. Freedom is the wine that makes for the success of the West.

I suspect that simple freedom and rights to property are the simple driving force for the success of the West and it's science and math. Poverty would be ended in many lands if the people were but free to engage in simple commerce.

Christ is Born!

Oh boy, a juicy history topic! I absolutely love history, though I only have a few minutes now.

About Heraclius:

1. He had an incesteous relationship with his niece, Martina (or Marina?)

2. His war with the Persians is sometimes thought as the real First Crusade.

I think that the status of the Christian Roman and Byzantine Emperors is well worth talking about.

God Bless

Michael

Friends,

Constantine was a saint? Perhaps our traditions differ. Please explain.

God bless,

Aelthric

[ 12-27-2001: Message edited by: Aelthric ]

Not only was the Emperor Constantine a Saint but it appears that he may have started the first Knightly Order. It is the Order of St. Constantine the Great. It's original purpose was the protection of the true cross and it has a sister organization for women if I recall was named after his mother.

[ 12-28-2001: Message edited by: Angelus ]