Constantine Wamkulu​—Kodi Anali Ngwazi ya Chikristu?

Mfumu yachiroma Constantine ndi mmodzi wa anthu ochepa amene maina awo akongoletsedwa m’mbiri ndi mawu akuti “Wamkulu.” Dziko Lachikristu lawonjezerapo kuti “woyera mtima,” “mtumwi wa khumi ndi chitatu,” “woyera mtima ngati atumwi,” ndi ‘wosankhidwa ndi Mulungu kuti abweretse kusintha kwakukulu padziko lonse.’ Kumbali ina, ena amati Constantine anali “wambanda, wodziŵika pa kuswa malamulo ndi wachinyengo kwabasi, . . . wolamulira wopondereza, wamlandu wa maupandu ochititsa mantha.”

ANTHU ambiri odzitcha Akristu aphunzitsidwa kuti Constantine Wamkulu anali mmodzi wa anthu otchuka kwambiri omwe anatukula Chikristu. Amati ndiye analanditsa Akristu kuchinzunzo cha Aroma ndi kuwapatsa ufulu wa chipembedzo. Ndiponsotu, anthu ochuluka amakhulupirira kuti iye anali kutsatira mokhulupirika mapazi a Yesu Kristu ndipo anali wofunitsitsa kupititsa patsogolo Chikristu. Matchalitchi a Eastern Orthodox ndi Coptic anena kuti onse aŵiri Constantine ndi mayi ake a Helena ndi “oyera mtima.” Phwando lowakumbukira limachitika pa June 3 kapena pa May 21, malinga ndi kalenda ya tchalitchicho.

Kodi Constantine Wamkulu anali ndani kwenikweni? Kodi anachitaponji pakutukuka kwa Chikristu atafa atumwi? Nkopindulitsa kwambiri kulola kuti mbiri ndi anthu ophunzira ayankhe mafunso ameneŵa.

Constantine m’Mbiri

Constantine, mwana wa Constantius Chlorus, anabadwa pafupifupi m’chaka cha 275 C.E. m’Naissus ku Serbia. Pamene atate ake anayamba kulamulira madera a kumadzulo kwa Roma mu 293 C.E., iye anali kumenya nkhondo ku mtsinje wa Danube m’gulu la Mfumu Galerius. Mu 306 C.E. Constantine anakakhala ndi atate ake omwe anali pafupi kufa ku Britain. Mwamsanga atate ake atafa, gulu la nkhondo linamuveka ufumu.

Panthaŵiyo, anthu enanso asanu ankati ndi a Augusti. Kuchokera mu 306 mpaka 324 C.E., pamene Constantine anadzakhala wolamulira yekhayo, kunali nkhondo yapachiweniweni yosalekeza. Constantine atapambana nkhondo ziŵiri anamveka m’mbiri ya Roma, nayamba kulamulira yekha mu Ufumu wa Romawo.

Mu 312 C.E., Constantine anagonjetsa mdani wake Maxentius m’nkhondo yomwe inamenyedwera pa Milvian Bridge kunja kwa Roma. Ochirikiza Chikristu anati nkhondoyo ili mkati pambali pa dzuŵa panaoneka mtanda woyaka moto wokhala ndi mawu a Chilatini akuti In hoc signo vinces, ndiko kuti “M’chizindikiro ichi, gonjetsa.” Kumanenedwanso kuti Constantine analota akumuuza kuti alembe zilembo ziŵiri zoyambirira za dzina la Kristu m’Chigiriki pa zishango za ankhondo ake. Komabe, nkhaniyi ilibe tsatanetsatane wa mmene zinachitikira. Buku lakuti A History of Christianity likuti: “Pali kusiyana kwa umboni ponena za nthaŵi yeniyeni, malo ndi maonekedwe ake a masomphenyaŵa.” Pomlandira Constantine m’Roma, Nyumba ya Malamulo yachikunja inamlengeza kuti ndi mfumu Augustus ndiponso Pontifex Maximus, ndiko kuti mkulu wa ansembe wachipembedzo chachikunja cha ufumuwo.

Mu 313 C.E., Constantine anagwirizana ndi Mfumu Licinius, yemwe ankalamulira madera a kummaŵa. Mwa lamulo lolembedwa m’chikalata chotchedwa Edict of Milan, iwo anapatsa magulu onse achipembedzo ufulu wakulambira ndi ufulu wachibadwidwe. Komabe, olemba mbiri ochuluka saona kufunika kwa chikalatachi. Iwo amati inali chabe kalata yachifumu yanthaŵi zonse osati kalata yapadera yosonyeza kusintha kwa mfundo zokhudza Chikristu.

M’zaka khumi zotsatira, Constantine anagonjetsa mdani wake wotsiriza, Licinius, ndipo analibe wopikisana naye paudindo m’madera onse olamuliridwa ndi Roma. Mu 325 C.E., asanabatizidwebe, anali wapampando wa msonkhano waukulu woyamba wa matchalitchi “achikristu,” umene unatsutsa Chiariani ndi kulemba zikhulupiriro zoyenera m’chikalata chotchedwa Nicene Creed.

Mu 337 C.E., Constantine anadwala mwakayakaya. Panthaŵi yothera imeneyo ya moyo wake, iye anabatizidwa, kenako nkufa. Atafa, Nyumba ya Malamulo inamuika kukhala m’modzi wa milungu ya Roma.

Chipembedzo m’Zochita za Constantine

Ponenapo za khalidwe lofala la mafumu achiroma a m’zaka za zana lachitatu ndi lachinayi kulinga ku chipembedzo, buku lakuti Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous (Mbiri ya Dziko la Greece) linati: “Ngakhale pamene mafumu analibe malingaliro amphamvu m’chipembedzo, pofuna kukhutiritsa maganizo a anthu a m’nthaŵiyo, anaona kuti nkwabwino kuti m’zochita zawo zandale chipembedzo chikhale choyamba, kuti zochita zawozo zioneke ngati zachipembedzo.”

Inde, Constantine anali munthu yemwe ankasintha molingana ndi zochitika za m’nthaŵi yake. Poyamba ntchito yake iye anafunikira chichirikizo “chaumulungu,” chimene sichikanaperekedwa ndi milungu yachiroma yomwe inali kutha mphamvu. Ufumuwo, kuphatikizapo chipembedzo chake ndi mabungwe ena, unali kutha mphamvu, chotero unafunikira kanthu kena katsopano ndiponso kolimbikitsa kuti ukhalenso wamphamvu. Insaikulopediya yotchedwa Hidria inati: “Constantine anali wosangalatsidwa kwambiri ndi Chikristu chifukwa chakuti sichinamthandize kupambana nkhondo kokha komanso chinamthandiza kukonzanso ufumu wake. Matchalitchi achikristu omwe anali paliponse anakhala omchirikiza pandale. . . . Anadziika pakati pa alaliki otchuka a panthaŵiyo . . . , ndipo anawapempha kuti asaswe umodzi wawo.”

Constantine anazindikira kuti chipembedzo “chachikristu”​—ngakhale kuti munali mpatuko komanso chodzala ndi chinyengo panthaŵiyo​—chikanagwiritsiridwa ntchito kupereka mphamvu ndi mgwirizano kuti cholinga chake chachikulu cha kukhala mfumu chikwaniritsidwe. Potengera chiyambi cha Chikristu cha mpatuko kuti apeze anthu omthandiza kukwaniritsa zolinga zake za ndale, anaganiza zogwirizanitsa anthu onse ndi chipembedzo “chachikatolika” kapena kuti chopezeka paliponse. Miyambo ndi mapwando achikunja anapatsidwa maina “achikristu.” Atsogoleri “achikristu” anapatsidwa maudindo, malipiro ndi mphamvu za ansembe achikunja.

Pofuna kuyanjanitsa chipembedzo pazifukwa za ndale, Constantine ankathana mofululumira ndi aliyense yemwe anali ndi maganizo otsutsa, osati pamaziko a chiphunzitso choona, koma potengera kuchuluka kwa anthu osangalatsidwa nazo. Kusiyana kwakukulu pachiphunzitso komwe kunali m’tchalitchi “chachikristu” chogaŵanika kwambiricho kunampatsa mwaŵi woloŵererapo ngati mkhala pakati “wotumidwa ndi Mulungu”. Mwa zochita zake ndi otsatira chiphunzitso cha Chidonati ku North Africa ndi otsatira Arius kumbali yakummaŵa kwa ufumuwo, mofulumira anazindikira kuti kukopa anthu sikunali kokwanira kuti anthu akhale ndi chikhulupiriro cholimba ndi chogwirizana.a Ankayesa kuthetsa kusiyana maganizo pachiphunzitso chachiariani pakuchititsa msonkhano waukulu woyamba m’mbiri ya tchalitchi.​—Onani bokosi lakuti “Constantine pa Msonkhano wa Nicaea.”

Wolemba mbiri Paul Johnson anati za Constantine: “Chifukwa china chachikulu chomwe analolera Chikristu chingakhale chakuti iye mwini ndi Boma ankatha kulamulira mfundo za Tchalitchi pa chiphunzitso ndi pa otsutsa chiphunzitsocho.”

Kodi Anakhalapo Mkristu?

Johnson anati: “Constantine sanaleke kulambira dzuŵa ndipo pandalama zake pankadindidwabe dzuŵa.” Catholic Encyclopedia ikuti: “Constantine sankakondera chipembedzo chilichonse. Ndipo monga pontifex maximus (mkulu wa zachipembedzo) ankayang’anira kalambiridwe ka akunja ndi kutetezera ufulu wawo.” Insaikulopediya ya Hidria inati: “Constantine sanakhalepo Mkristu . . . Eusebius wa ku Kaisareya, amene analemba mbiri ya moyo wake, anati anakhala Mkristu cha kumapeto kwa moyo wake. Izi nzosamveka, chifukwa tsiku lotsatizana ndi laubatizo wake, [Constantine] anapereka nsembe kwa Zeu popeza analinso Pontifex Maximus.”

Mpaka tsiku la kufa kwake mu 337 C.E., Constantine anatchedwabe dzina lachikunjalo Pontifex Maximus, mkulu wa zachipembedzo. Pa zaubatizo wake, nkoyenerera kufunsa kuti, Kodi unachitika atalapadi ndi kusiya zakale, monga Malemba amanenera? (Machitidwe 2:38, 40, 41) Kodi unali kumizidwa m’madzi kotheratu monga chisonyezero cha kudzipatulira kwake Constantine kwa Yehova Mulungu?​—Yerekezerani ndi Machitidwe 8:36-39.

“Woyera mtima”?

Encyclopædia Britannica ikuti: “Constantine anatchedwa kuti Wamkulu chifukwa cha zimene anachita osati chifukwa cha umunthu wake. Kupimidwa mwa makhalidwe, alidi kothera kwa onse omwe anapatsidwa dzina lakuti [Wamkulu], m’nthaŵi za kale ngakhalenso m’masiku ano.” Ndipo buku lakuti A History of Christianity limati: “Poyambirira zinali kumveka kuti anali ndi mtima wapachala ndiponso wankhanza atakalipa. . . . Sanali kulemekeza moyo wa munthu . . . Pamene anali kukalamba anakhala wankhalwe koopsa.”

Nzoonekeratu kuti umunthu wa Constantine unali wovuta. Wofufuza mbiri wina anati “kaŵirikaŵiri anali kuchita zaupandu chifukwa cholephera kulamulira mkwiyo wake.” (Onani bokosi lakuti “Kuphana m’Banja Lachifumu.”) Constantine sanali “Mkristu,” anatsutsa motero wolemba mbiri H. Fisher m’buku lake lakuti History of Europe. Umboni umasonyeza kuti sanali Mkristu woona amene anavala ‘munthu watsopano’ amene akanakhala ndi chipatso cha mzimu woyera wa Mulungu​—chikondi, chimwemwe, mtendere, kuleza mtima, chifundo, kukoma mtima, chikhulupiriro, chifatso, ndi chiletso.​—Akolose 3:9, 10; Agalatiya 5:22, 23.

Zotsatirapo za Zochita Zake

Monga Pontifex Maximus wachikunja​—ndipo motero mkulu wachipembedzo mu Ufumu wa Roma​—Constantine anayesa kunyengerera mabishopo a tchalitchi champatukocho. Anawaika kukhala akuluakulu a chipembedzo cha Boma la Roma, maudindo amene anawapatsa ulamuliro pa ena, kutchuka ndi chuma. Catholic Encyclopedia imavomereza kuti: “Mabishopu ena, pochita khungu ndi ulemerero wa olamulira, anafika ponena kuti mfumuyi inali mngelo wa Mulungu, munthu wopatulika, ndipo ananenera kuti, mofanana ndi Mwana wa Mulungu, iye adzalamulira kumwamba.”

Pamene Chikristu champatuko chinayanjana ndi boma la ndale, chinakhala mbali ya dzikoli kwambiri, mbali ya dongosolo ladzikoli, ndi kutalikirana ndi ziphunzitso za Yesu Kristu. (Yohane 15:19; 17:14, 16; Chivumbulutso 17:1, 2) Chomwe chinatulukapo chinali kusakanikirana kwa “Chikristu” ndi ziphunzitso ndi machitachita onyenga​—Utatu, kusafa kwa mzimu, moto wa helo, puligatoliyo, kupempherera akufa, kugwiritsira ntchito kolona, zojambulidwa, mafano, ndi zina.​—Yerekezerani ndi 2 Akorinto 6:14-18.

Kwa Constantine, Tchalitchicho chinatengeranso kuchititsa anthu kutsatira atsogoleri m’chimbulimbuli. Akatswiri a zamaphunziro Henderson ndi Buck anati: “Anasokoneza kumveka mosavuta kwa Uthenga Wabwino, anayambitsa miyambo ndi zikondwerero zodzionetsera, ulemu ndi malipiro achikunja anaperekedwa kwa aphunzitsi a Chikristu, ndipo Ufumu wa Kristu unasandutsidwiratu kukhala ufumu wa dzikoli.”

Nkuti Kuli Chikristu Choona?

Maumboni a m’mbiri amasonyeza choonadi pa “ukulu” wa Constantine. M’malo moyambitsidwa ndi Yesu Kristu, Mutu wa mpingo woona wachikristu, Dziko Lachikristu pamlingo wina linayamba mwa kufunafuna kukwaniritsa zolinga zandale ndi machitachita amachenjera a mfumu yachikunja. Nkoyenereradi kuti wolemba mbiri Paul Johnson afunse kuti: “Kodi ufumu unagonjera ku Chikristu, kapena Chikristu chinadziipitsa ndi ufumu?”

Onse amene akufuna kumamatira ku Chikristu chenicheni angathandizidwe kuchizindikira ndi kugwirizana ndi mpingo wachikristu woona lerolino. Padziko lonse lapansi, Mboni za Yehova ndi zofunitsitsa kuthandiza anthu oona mtima kuzindikira Chikristu choona ndi kuti azilambira Mulungu m’njira yomwe iye amavomereza.​—Yohane 4:23, 24.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Bokosi patsamba 28]

Constantine pa Msonkhano wa Nicaea

Kodi Mfumu Constantine wosabatizidwayo anali ndi mbali yanji pa Msonkhano wa Nicaea? Encyclopædia Britannica ikuti: “Constantine iye mwini anali wapampando, akumatsogolera zokambiranazo mokangalika . . . Potengeka maganizo ndi mfumuyo, mabishopu, kungopatulako aŵiri, anasaina chikalata chomwe analembamo zikhulupiriro za tchalitchi, ochuluka a iwo mosemphana ndi zolinga zawo.”

Pambuyo pakutsutsana kwabasi pa zachipembedzo kwa miyezi iŵiri, mkunja wandaleyu analoŵererapo ndipo anagamula mokomera amene ankati Yesu ndi Mulungu. Koma nchifukwa chiyani? Buku lakuti A Short History of Christian Doctrine likuti: “Mafunso omwe ankafunsidwa pamaphunziro a zaumulungu a Chigiriki, Constantine sankawadziŵa nkomwe.” Zomwe ankadziŵa zinali zakuti kugaŵanika kwa chipembedzo kukanatha kuwononga ufumu wake, ndipo anali wofunitsitsa kulimbitsa ufumu wake.

Za chikalata cholembedwa pakutha kwa msonkhano ku Nicaea moyang’aniridwa ndi Constantine, buku lakuti Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous (Mbiri ya Dziko la Greece) linati: “Chimasonyeza kuti [Constantine] analibe nazo ntchito ziphunzitso, . . . anali waliuma kotheratu poyesa kubwezeretsa umodzi m’tchalitchi, ndiponso anali kukhulupirira kuti popeza ‘iye anali bishopu wa awo amene sanali m’tchalitchimo’ ndiye anali wogamulapo pankhani iliyonse ya chipembedzo.” Kodi mzimu wa Mulungu ukanatsogolera zosankha zomwe zinapangidwa pamsonkhano ngati umenewo?​—Yerekezerani ndi Machitidwe 15:28, 29.

[Bokosi patsamba 29]

Kuphana m’Banja Lachifumu

M’mutu umenewu, buku lakuti Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous (Mbiri ya Dziko la Greece) likulongosola zimene likutcha kuti “maupandu apachiweniweni onyansa amene Constantine anachita.” Mwamsanga atapeza ufumu wake, anaiŵala mmene ayenera kusangalalira ndi zinthu zozipeza mosayembekezera ndipo anayamba kuona zovuta zimene zinali pafupi naye. Pokhala munthu wokayikira ena ndipo mwinamwake posonkhezeredwa ndi anthu osyasyalika, anayamba kukayikira kuti mwana wa mlongo wake Licinianus​—mwana wa Augustus mnzake amene anali atamupha kale​—anali mdani wake. Kuphedwa kwake kunatsatiridwa ndi kuphedwa kwa mwana wa Constantine woyamba, Crispus, amene anaphedwa ndi mayi ake womulera, Fausta, chifukwa ankati adzalepheretsa mwana wake kukhala ndi ulamuliro wonse.

Fausta anafa mwadzidzidzi chifukwa cha zochita zakezi. Zikuoneka kuti Augusta Helena, amene ankalamulira zochita za mwana wake Constantine mpaka kufa kwake, anapha nawo Fausta. Malingaliro osakhazikika a Constantine anachititsanso kuphedwa kwa mabwenzi ndi anzake ochuluka. Buku lakuti History of the Middle Ages likumalizitsa ndi kuti: “Kunyonga​—tisanena kuti kupha​—mwana ndi mkazi wake kumasonyeza kuti mtima wake sunakhudzidwe konse ndi Chikristu.”

[Chithunzi patsamba 30]

Chipiralachi mu Roma chagwiritsiridwa ntchito kulemekeza Constantine

[Mawu a Chithunzi patsamba 26]

Musée du Louvre, Paris