the autumn of a.d. 312, as Constantine was preparing to fight his rival emperor Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge over the river Tiber, he looked to the heavens and saw a blazing cross above the sun, accompanied by the Greek words Εν Τούτω̣ Νίκα (In this sign, conquer). He took this to be a message from the god of the Christians, clearly a god who at that moment appeared to be more interested in battles and politics than in his son Jesus Christ’s program of charity, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
