Complex sentence: For the first part of his rule, Theodosius seems to have ignored the semi-official standing of the Christian bishops; in fact he had voiced his support for the preservation of temples or pagan statues as useful public buildings.
Split into simpler sentences: For the first part of his rule, Theodosius seems to have ignored the semi-official standing of the Christian bishops. In fact, he had voiced his support for the preservation of temples or pagan statues as useful public buildings.