10/27/2026
Marching toward Rome on Oct. 27, 312 A.D., Constantine’s forces were pursuing the armies of Maxentius, a challenger to the crown. Constantine, on the eve of battle, restless of sleep, left camp to ponder his thoughts, where when he looked heavenward, saw a cross in the sky with the Greek words “en toutoi nika,” derived from the Latin translation, “In Hoc Signo Vinces” and is interpreted into English as “In this Sign, you shall conquer.” Returning to camp, and very early the next morning, Constantine finally fell asleep. And in his sleep, the Christ of God appeared to him in a dream with the same sign which Constantine had seen in the heavens and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies. At daybreak, Constantine ordered his soldiers to mark the letter “X” upon their shields with a line drawn through it and a mark across the top (The Chi Rho Sign). Because this was the symbol of Christ, the battle took on the significance of a Holy Cause, and because Constantine was victorious, is considered a significant event in establishing Christianity in the Western world.
