The Great Falling Away - Fourth Century Christians. In the fourth century something happens that changes the course of church history forever.
Christians seem to find a friend in the least likely of quarters.
Christianity had finally gained favor in high places. In 313 A.D. , Constantine issues the Edict of Milan which gives Christians the freedom to worship openly throughout the empire, putting the growing new religion on an equal plane with the popular pagan cults and practices that thrived there. Though he had declared Christianity the official religion of Rome 13 years earlier, he himself had not become a Christian. So he who first appeared to be the Christian's best friend, in actuality, turned out to be their worst enemy. Even worse they were now prohibited from practicing their faith by penalty of death.