Church History for Children

Harold, The Little Servant of Constantine the Great (2)

It was so quiet in the streets of Rome! As quickly as they could, the people walked to their homes with worried faces. The children didn’t even dare to play outside on the streets. An unusual silence hung over the city, an anxious waiting. What would happen tomorrow? What if the soldiers of Constantine would win and march into their city? Oh no! That would not happen! Maxentius had three times as many soldiers! He could not lose!

In one of the houses in the city lived a boy named Joseph. He saw his father’s face, but his father didn’t look worried at all. No, there was even a little sparkle in his eyes as if he expected something nice. And when they had their morning prayers, he even prayed for the emperor Constantine. Why?

“Because he does not want to persecute the Christians,” his father said in a solemn voice.

Was that so? Wouldn’t that be nice? Then he could go to school again with the other boys! And maybe they could listen to the sermons again! And that’s why Joseph also asked the Lord if He would help that other emperor, Constantine! Everyone was talking about him!

The next day the fighting started. All the soldiers fought for their emperor and did their best, but the soldiers from Maxentius were many, so many. Constantine, however, was a brave general. He pointed his soldiers to the banners with the cross. By that sign they would conquer. They fought even harder, and the soldiers of Maxentius had to flee. Maxentius himself drowned in a river.

Now the streets in Rome were not quiet anymore. A lot of people went outside to see the new emperor with his soldiers. Would he be a kind and nice emperor?

There he came! He looked strong and handsome! His pages walked behind him with the banners. The crosses shone in the sun.

Harold looked proudly to all sides. Here they were! Finally in Rome! The fighting had not been nice. From a distance he had seen the soldiers fall. Many were dead. But at last they had won! Yes, Constantine was now emperor in Rome.

At the end of the day Harold had some free time. He wanted to see the city. He walked through the busy streets and looked at the beautiful houses and other buildings.

Another boy of his age had just come out of a store. He had a package under his arm. He looked at Harold and at the little cross on his sleeve. “Hi!” he said with a wide grin. “You came with the soldiers?”

Harold nodded, feeling proud. “I am a page of the emperor.”

“Oh!” The boy looked at Harold with big eyes. “I am Joseph,” he said. “Do you want to come to my house for a while? Please tell us something about your trip and about the emperor.”

Harold went with him. He wanted to see the inside of one of those beautiful houses. Joseph’s mother was so nice to him, and she even invited him for the evening meal. Joseph’s father also came home and greeted him so kindly.

“I know a lot of people in the city who are not glad that your emperor won, but we are!” he said. “For years the Christians were persecuted, but they say that Constantine does not want to do that.”

Joseph’s father was right. Constantine gave all the property of the Christians back to them. Now the Christians could start to rebuild their destroyed churches. In the East where Lucinius was emperor, there still was persecution. Later Constantine fought also with this emperor and won. Now he was emperor of the entire Roman empire! Harold was so proud of him! It was too bad they had to move now. Constantine did not like the big city of Rome. No, he built a new city with a new palace, and he gave it his own name: Constantinople, which meant “the city of Constantine.”

Harold had to say farewell to Joseph. They were friends now, and maybe when the emperor had to go back to Rome, Harold could come along. Joseph’s father also got a very important job. The new emperor liked the Christians and helped them as much as he could. Oh yes, now Harold too was convinced that the God of the Christians was a very mighty God. But still he was troubled. What about his father and mother? They did not know about this God at all! Joseph’s father saw that Harold was troubled. He asked what was wrong. Harold told him everything.

“First of all, you need to know this God yourself,” Joseph’s father said. “It is not enough that you now know He is a mighty God who can help you. He has to come into your life, into your heart. You need a new heart. Later on when the emperor doesn’t need you anymore, maybe you can go back to see your parents. Then you can tell them about this God.”

Harold looked at him. His eyes were shining. Wasn’t that a great idea!

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