Turan Kışlakçı

Constantine, Arius, and Istanbul

Arius’s views gained widespread support, particularly in Anatolia and North Africa. These communities continued to regard Jesus as the servant and messenger of Allah. This belief closely aligned with Islam’s concept of Tawhid (monotheism). However, church authorities increasingly reinforced the doctrine of the Trinity and declared the views of Arius and those like him to be “heretical.” As a result, the Christian world was shaken by religious divisions for many years. Churches that embraced the Trinity fabricated numerous letters to prove that Constantine did not convert to Arius’s sect in the final years of his life.