Peace of the Church

Roman Catholicism

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The "Peace of the Church" refers to a period of religious tolerance for Christianity within the Roman Empire, primarily established by the Edict of Milan in 313 CE. This proclamation, agreed upon by emperors Constantine I and Licinius, granted Christians legal rights, including the freedom to worship and the return of confiscated property. It ended systematic imperial persecution of Christians, though it did not make Christianity the official religion of the empire. This edict was a pivotal moment, setting the stage for Christianity's eventual rise to dominance in the region and significantly shaping Western civilization.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

6 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Port-Royal
…period of calm, called the Peace of the Church, prevailed. The houses of Paris and Les Champs were separated, the latter enjoying the protection of the Duchess de Longueville, a cousin of King Louis XIV. After her death in 1679, persecution was renewed, and the community was forbidden to receive…
Read More
…period of calm, called the Peace of the Church, prevailed. The houses of Paris and Les Champs were separated, the latter enjoying the protection of the Duchess de Longueville, a cousin of King Louis XIV. After her death in 1679, persecution was renewed, and the community was forbidden to receive…
Read More