(…) Therefore the doctrines of Christianity were fallen on a good ground: the oppressed and the poor saw their own thoughts and goals expressed in them.  Christianity was rapidly becoming popular among the inhabitants of the Empire, even the Empire itself helped to spread the new religion.  All the different social classes with different language, different origins and of different races had one thing in common: they were all filled with the desire to live a better and more human life.  The new doctrine was originally born in the land of Israel but it went beyond the bounds of one nation: it spread the prophets foretelling of the coming Messiah. Their message was addressed to all nations –including Romans, Greeks and Jews equally-, to both the free and the enslaved; to both whites and blacks.  It professed that neither the institution of slavery, nor suffering and misery were everlasting.  All these temporary-transitory phenomena would be replaced by a new and just order.

Obviously the privileged of the old regime did not like the new doctrine, the supporters of which claimed that the old slavery was destined for destruction.  They also disliked the new doctrine because the adherents of Christianity were mostly from the oppressed and the poor.  They were frightened by the thought that the poor classes could become strong enough to put their rule in jeopardy.  So the Christians were cruelly persecuted and many of them died as martyrs for their beliefs. 

In spite of all the persecution, the Christian doctrines were becoming more and more popular among the subjugated and the poor of the Empire.  New Christian communities were being formed one after another, and with the end of persecution the communities raised their voice in strength unity.  (…).  By the 4th century AD the communities united in the church had become so powerful that even the Emperor had to reckon with them.  For this reason Emperor Constantine had no choice but to form an alliance with the Church.  He made the Christian religion the religion of the state, and he also empowered the Church with the right of inheritance.  (AD 313) 
Not everyone supported the alliance between Church and Emperor, especially since the right of inheritance would help to rapidly increase the fortune of the Church.  There were many who were afraid that the agreement with the Emperor and the growth of church property would overshadow the original ideas of Christianity.