During this month, in 313, emperors in the East and West issued the Edict of Milan.

Before 313, depending on the tolerance of each passing Roman emperor, different religious sects were occasionally persecuted or protected.

Only the definitive statement of the Edict of Milan, issued jointly by Licinius and Constantine, the emperors of the East and West, firmly established religious toleration throughout the Roman Empire.

It's considered the "birth certificate for religious freedom."

Its particular focus was to support Christians, who were assured of their legal rights, the return of their confiscated property, and the ability to organize.

In fewer than one thousand words, the emperors issued one of the most monumental changes in global history, with obvious ramifications for architecture, too, since it was only after the Edict of Milan that Christians could build in a big public way.

Read the Edict of Milan in an English translation here;
If you are fancy, read it in the original Latin here.​

​Constantine was one of the first to emerge, directing the construction of shrines, baptisteries, mausoleums, and churches in Rome and throughout the Empire. This paved the way for amazing churches almost everywhere.

Explore 50 of the world’s most extraordinary churches with this fascinating guide from Bored Panda. Tired of ordinary architecture, they’ve scoured the globe (and the internet) to uncover some impressive and unique structures.

While a few might leave you scratching your head, the collection is sure to inspire and amaze.

Have a triumphant rest of your week,
The A-Team