I guessing that this wasn't on most of our calendars, but yesterday marked the 1700th anniversary of Constantine's rise to the rank of Emperor in AD 306. Church leaders celebrated his ascension to the throne in a large public service yesterday in York, and there's a recent British art exhibit commemorating Constantine's accomplishments. Both the exhibit and the festivities focused on the religious tolerance Constantine decreed with the Edict of Milan, which ended the persecution of the early Christian church. The Edict reads in part:

When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I, Licinius Augustus, fortunately met near Mediolanurn (Milan), and were considering everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many, those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity ought certainly to be made first, so that we might grant to the Christians and others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred; whence any Divinity whatsoever in the seat of the heavens may be propitious and kindly disposed to us and all who are placed under our rule.

It's almost impossible to overstate the importance of this edict--and Constantine's conversion to Christianity--for church history. Much good and evil can be traced back through history to the decisions and events of Constantine's reign. Take a few minutes today to dive into some early church history, and read up on Constantine and the Edict of Milan!