Complex sentence: The earliest recorded removal of saintly remains was that of Saint Babylas at Antioch in 354, but, partly perhaps because Constantinople lacked the many saintly graves of Rome, they soon became common in the Eastern Empire, though still prohibited in the West.
Split into simpler sentences: The earliest recorded removal of saintly remains was that of Saint Babylas at Antioch in 354. However, partly perhaps because Constantinople lacked the many saintly graves of Rome, translations soon became common in the Eastern Empire, even though it was still prohibited in the West.