The Rise and Fall of Christendom - Prologue

October 28, 312 A.D. Ponte Milvio, Rome - Constantine vs Maxentius, in the battle for control of the Roman Empire. 

As to exactly what happened on that day, there is variation in the accounts and skepticism about the details. But there is no question about the magnitude of the effects. Constantine was marching with his 25,000 man army. He looked up toward the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words “En Touto Nika” (“in this, conquer”). As a result of the vision, Constantine painted the Greek letters “chi-ro” – the first two letters of Christ’s name – on the shields of his legions. The next day, Constantine and his army won a decisive victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, giving Constantine undisputed control of the western half of the Roman Empire.

     This wasn’t the beginning of the Christian church. It wasn’t the beginning of the Christian faith. But it was the beginning of something new. It was the beginning of Christendom. It was the beginning of a movement that would dominate Western Civilization for more than 1500 years, and which is now falling apart.