A meteorite that changed the history of Christianity (9 photos)

For over two centuries, Christians suffered under the oppression of the Roman Empire. They were arrested, tortured, maimed, burned alive, and starved to death.





Christian churches and homes of believers were destroyed, and sacred books were set on fire. The persecution only ceased with the rise to power of Emperor Constantine. Unlike his predecessors, he became a generous patron of the Church: majestic basilicas were erected throughout the empire, the clergy received privileges, church lands and wealth increased, and property confiscated from Christians was returned.



16th century, "Conversion of Constantine" by Rubens

What made Constantine convert to Christianity? Theologians and historians have been arguing about this for centuries. Perhaps the emperor was familiar with the teachings of Christ from childhood thanks to his mother. However, many researchers believe that in 312, on the eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (on the banks of the Tiber, near modern Rome), something unusual happened to Constantine that forever changed his worldview.





Sirento Crater

Eusebius of Caesarea, one of the first Christian historians, describes a vision that visited the emperor before the battle:

Praying fervently, he saw in the sky a wondrous sign that would have been hard to believe if someone else had told him.

Around midday, when the day was already drawing to an end, he saw with his own eyes a luminous cross in the sky, shining higher than the sun, with the inscription: "By this you will conquer."

This sight shocked not only him, but also the entire army that followed him and witnessed the miracle.



At first, Constantine did not understand the meaning of the vision, but the next night Christ appeared to him in a dream, commanding him to use this sign against his enemies. Then the emperor ordered the Christian symbol, the Chi-Rho, which he had seen in the sky, to be applied to the shields of his soldiers. Constantine's army was victorious, and the new ruler dedicated the triumph to Christ, confident that it was He who had helped him.

But what kind of heavenly phenomenon had such an effect on Constantine?

The Space Impact That Changed History



Geologists suggest that the emperor was watching a meteorite fall. And the crater from that impact still exists in central Italy. The Sirento Crater, located in the mountainous area north of the Sirento Massif, is small and perfectly round. Although its origin has long remained a mystery, Swedish geologist Jens Ormö claims that it is the result of a meteorite impact:

Its shape matches the model of an impact crater, and smaller secondary craters formed by ejected debris are scattered around it, as predicted by calculations.



Radiocarbon dating showed that the crater formed around the same time as Constantine's vision. The meteorite that left such a mark would have been visible for many kilometers. Before colliding with the Earth, the celestial body turned into a blinding fireball that struck the emperor and his warriors. The force of the impact is comparable to a small nuclear explosion - about a kiloton.



Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Giulio Romano, 1520–24

The age of the crater also coincides with local historical events. In the 4th century, a nearby village suddenly became deserted, possibly due to a fire. Mass graves made in haste have been found in the catacombs of the same period. And oral traditions have preserved a vivid description of the catastrophe. Here is one version of the legend:



“The Vision of Constantine” by Jacob Pounel (c. 17th century)

The rumble shook the mountains, and mighty oaks split in half, heralding the angry appearance of the Goddess. The people were seized by an unbearable heat, and the air was torn apart by a deafening roar. And suddenly, in the distance, in the sky, a new star appeared - brighter than all the previous ones, larger than all. It approached, sometimes hiding behind the peaks of the eastern mountains, sometimes flaring up again...

Soon the star flared up like a second sun. A blinding light filled the sky. The oak leaves turned black and curled up. The forest froze, deprived of life.



Mulvian Bridge

The proximity of the meteorite impact site to the Milvian Bridge (only 100 kilometers) has forced scientists to reconsider the course of events. According to research, Constantine and his army could have seen a mushroom cloud rising after the impact. This sight shocked the emperor, influenced the outcome of the battle and, perhaps, the entire future fate of Christianity.