The Emperor Constantine

A brief 'Prologue' by the 'Church' introduces the career of Constantine (from AD 305-337) with scenes from the empires of both west and east, concentrating on Constantine's progress to imperial power and inevitably in religious belief. He discovers Christ to be the God who has made him his earthly vice-regent as single Emperor. Summoning the Council of Nicaea in 325, an invigorating debate results in the acceptance of Constantine's formula that Christ is 'of one substance with God.' The implications of the Creed of Nicaea are revealed in the last part of the play in which it is Constantine's mother, Helena, who brings him to the realization that he needs redemption by Christ for his political and military life as well as for the domestic tragedy which has resulted in the death of his son. ""I am delighted at the long overdue re-publication of Dorothy L. Sayers' religious plays, which will help make these valuable texts available to the current generation. Let us hope that some theatre enthusiasts will be encouraged to re-stage them!"" Suzanne Bray, Lille Catholic University ""As Ann Loades makes clear in her extremely informative introduction, Dorothy L. Sayers' plays are arguably the place where she did her best theological work. The re-publication of these plays makes it possible again for this remarkable writer to have the readers she so richly deserves."" Stanley Hauerwas, Duke Divinity School Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957), born and educated in Oxford, was an accomplished novelist, poet, playwright, scholar, and Christian apologist. Along with her religious drama, her numerous writings include translations of Dante, detective stories, theological works, and studies of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.