Edict of Milan

After nearly three centuries of periodic and brutal persecutions, the Church finally found peace through the Edict of Milan. Promulgated by Emperor Constantine the Great and his co-emperor Licinius, the edict declared religious toleration throughout the Roman Empire and restored confiscated property to Christians. This turning point allowed Christianity to emerge from the catacombs and integrate into public life. Churches were built openly, bishops gained public influence, and the faith began to shape Roman law and society, marking the transition from a persecuted minority to the dominant religion of the Empire.