What event caused emperor constine to change to change to Christianity?

Answer 1

While he was marching against his rival in the Imperial Civil War, he saw a vision of the Chi (X) Rho (P) transposed over each other (☧).This was a Christian symbol which was formed from the first two Greek letters of the word for Christ, and symbolised the crucifixion of Christ. He ordered all his soldiers to paint the superimposed Chi Rho on their shields before engaging the enemy [His mother was a devoted Christian; so he was predisposed to accept Christianity]. His actual conversion, however did not occur--if, in fact, it did occur--until he was on his deathbed.

There are two traditions about events which preceded the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD in which Constantine the Great took the city of Rome from an usurper whose troops were twice as numerous. According to Lactantius, he was visited by a dream the night before which advised him "to mark the heavenly sign of God on the shields of his soldiers...by means of a slanted letter X with the top of its head bent round…" According to Eusebius, while marching at midday, Constantine " saw with his own eyes in the heavens a trophy of the cross arising from the light of the sun, carrying the message, with this sign, you will conquer". The following night he had a dream, in which Christ appeared with the same heavenly sign, and told him to make a standard, the labarum, for his army in that form. The labrarium a military standard with had the "Chi-Rho" symbol on it. This did not constitute a conversion and might have been a ploy to galvanise the Christians among his troops gain the support of the many Christians in the city of Rome. . Although after the battle Constantine ignored the sacrifices to the Roman gods which customarily followed a victory, he was careful to try to appease the Christian and pagan factions.

Constantine continued to observe Roman religion. He was keen on celebrating Apollo and the sun-god. He retained the title of Pontifex Maximus (the head of Roman state religion) throughout his life. The triumphal Arch of Constantine which celebrated his victory at the battle of the Milvian Bridge and which was dedicated in 315 AD bore pagan symbols and no Christian symbols. In 321 he instructed Christians and non-Christians to observe the venerable day of the sun, the day of the cult of sun-worship. Roman coins had pagan gods on them for 8 years after the battle. Even after that, Christian symbols appeared only as Constantine's personal attributes. The Chi Rho was between his hands or on his labarum but never on the coins themselves.

It is not certain whether Constantine converted to Christianity. It was said that he was lying dying in the city of Nicomedia he spoke of his hope to be baptised in the River Jordan, where Christ was said to have been baptized, requested the baptism straight away. According to Eusebius, the bishops performed the sacred ceremonies according to custom" in Nicomedia. However, it is not certain whether these words actually meant baptism or whether these events actually occurred.

Answer 2

After Constantine had given much thought and prayer to which God he could rely on to help him in battle, he and his men saw a cross in the sky and the words, "Conquer by this." He believed in the vision and placed the cross he had seen on his army's clothing and battle standards. He was victorious and converted to Christianity.

Answer 3

Constantine wanted to incorporate "state" and "church"When Emperor Dioclectian retired in A.D. 305, Constantine filled his position. Constantine then gave full,legal equality with every other religion in the empire.He wanted "favors" from the church. By doing this,he changed the day on which people worship in order to get all religions to unite.He was still a worshiper of Sol Invictus, (the invincible Sun)He believed this would make the empire stronger and better able to defend itself.

Answer 4

Constantine the First saw in the sky a cross of light with the words -"In this sign, you shall conquer" ; see related link below to additional information .

Answer 5

A vision of a Christian symbol promised him victory during a crucial battle.