The wife of Emperor Constantine was Fausta, but neither she nor Constantine himself had the authority to change God’s Sabbath. Historically, Constantine supported the state exaltation of Sunday, yet from a biblical perspective the seventh day, sanctified by God, remained unchanged.
The question about Constantine’s wife often comes up alongside the claim that the emperor himself “transferred” holiness from Sabbath to Sunday. Historically, this is inaccurate. Constantine the Great’s wife was Fausta, the daughter of Emperor Maximian. Before that he had a relationship with Minervina, by whom Crispus was born. But when it comes to Sabbath and Sunday, the decisive issue is not the emperor’s family life, but this question: can human authority change God’s Law?
God established the Sabbath at the creation of the world
The Bible shows that the Sabbath did not come from Rome, emperors, or church councils. It was established by God Himself at the very beginning of human history.
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Gen 2:2–3
Later this same truth was included in the Ten Commandments. The Sabbath commandment is not a human regulation, but part of God’s moral Law.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy! Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” Exod 20:8–10
From the perspective of Seventh-day Adventists, this means that no emperor, bishop, or church tradition can abolish or rewrite what God has sanctified.
What Constantine actually did
In 321, Constantine issued a civil decree for rest on the “venerable Day of the Sun.” This law concerned primarily state and urban life. It was not a new biblical commandment and did not change the text of Holy Scripture. It was a state act that supported an already existing tendency to honor Sunday in part of the Christian world.
In other words, Constantine did not “change Sabbath to Sunday” in the sense that he could alter God’s ordinance. He merely helped establish Sunday practice in the empire. The transition from the biblical Sabbath to Sunday happened gradually: through distancing from Jewish roots, the desire to differ from the Jews, the growth of church tradition regarding the first day of the week, and the support of state power.
For the Adventist understanding, this is important: history explains how Sunday gained influence, but it does not give it the biblical authority that belongs only to God’s word.
Jesus and the apostles kept the Sabbath
If we are looking for a model for Christian life, it is Christ and the apostolic church. The Gospel shows that Jesus kept the Sabbath.
“And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.” Luke 4:16
After Christ’s resurrection, the apostles also continued their ministry on the Sabbath day. Paul did not regard the Sabbath as an abolished institution.
“Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” Acts 17:2
Another important text emphasizes the unchangeableness of Christ, and therefore the reliability of His word.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!” Heb. 13:8
Therefore, from a biblical perspective, the question is not what an emperor decreed, but what the Lord teaches.
Human tradition and God’s commandment
In the New Testament, Christ warned against replacing God’s commands with human regulations. This principle is very important in the subject of Sabbath and Sunday.
“Laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men.” Mark 7:8
That is why Seventh-day Adventists believe that a Christian should test every tradition by Scripture. If a certain custom appeared later and has no direct biblical basis, it cannot take the place of God’s commandment.
Ellen White repeatedly wrote that in the last days the question of faithfulness to God’s Law would become especially important. Her writings emphasize that true reformation always brings people back to the Bible, not to human authorities. For Adventists, this is not merely a historical dispute, but a matter of faithfulness to the Creator.
So who was Fausta and why is this secondary?
Historically, it is correct to say that Constantine’s wife was Fausta. But there is no basis for believing that she carried out some theological “change of the day of worship.” Even if she had political influence at court, that would not change the essence of the issue. The holiness of the Sabbath comes not from the Roman court or from church policy, but from God.
Therefore, the main conclusion is this: Fausta was the emperor’s wife, but she does not determine Christian doctrine. Faith is built not on the names of rulers, but on the word of God.
Conclusion.
So, Emperor Constantine’s wife was Fausta. However, the claim that Constantine “changed Sabbath to Sunday” is overly simplified. He may have influenced state laws and social customs, but he could not change God’s commandment. The Bible teaches that the Sabbath is the seventh day, blessed and sanctified by God.
The practical conclusion for us is simple: do not build your convictions solely on church history or human authorities, but personally study Scripture, pray, and faithfully follow what the Lord has revealed. If you want to live according to God’s will, begin with a simple step: reread the texts about the Sabbath in Genesis 2, Exodus 20, and the Gospels, and ask yourself which day God actually sanctified.
