The Battle of Cibalae was fought this day in MLIX A.V.C. (316 AD). Flavius Valerius Constantinus “Constantine the Great” [27 Feb, perhaps 286 — 22 May 337], who had placed his army under the sign of Christianity, defeated his former ally and now rival Licinius, who trusted in the pagan gods of Rome. According to historian bishop Eusebius of Caesarea in his Life of Constantine:
[in 312, at the Milvian Bridge on the Via Aurelia, some 6 km north of the Gate of Rome (Piazza del Popolo)]:
“ . . . Accordingly he called on God with earnest prayer and supplications that He would reveal to him Who He was, and stretch forth his right hand to help him in his present difficulties. And while he was thus praying with fervent entreaty, a most marvelous sign appeared to him from heaven, the account of which it might have been hard to believe, had it been related by any other person. But since the Victorious Emperor himself long afterwards declared it to the wrtier of this History, when he was honored with his acquaintance and society, and confirmed his statement with an oath, who could not believe the account especially since subsequent events established its truth? He said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, bearing the inscription IN HOC SIGNO VINCES [“en toutoi nika” in Greek]. At this sight, he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army which was with him on this expedition too and which witnessed this miracle. ... He became disturbed: What could the vision mean? He continued to ponder ... and night came on him suddenly. When he was asleep, the Christ of God appeared to him, and He brought with Him the sign which had appeared in the sky. He ordered Constantine to make a replica of this sign and to use it as a protection against his enemies ... It was made the following way: There was a long spear, forming the shape of the cross with a transverse bar. Over it all was a wreath made of gold and precious stones. Within it was the symbol of the Savior's name, two letters to show the beginning of it ... copies of it were carried by his command at the head of all his armies.” [fresco painting]
      Thereupon Constantine won, against overwhelming odds, the battle of the Milvian Bridge (28 October 312) [fresco: left, right]. He ended the persecution of Christians, established religious tolerance, professed Christianity, but got baptized only on his deathbed [inaccurate painting by students of Raphael]. The Orthodox church venerates Constantine the Great as a saint.