His Open Witness to the Sign of the Cross

When we consider that their crimes were without precedent, and that the atrocities they dared to commit against the church had never been heard of in any age of the world, it is no wonder that God himself should set before us something entirely new, and through it work results such as had never before been either recorded or seen. And what miracle was ever more marvelous than the virtues of this emperor of ours, whom the wisdom of God has granted as a gift to the human race? For truly he bore constant witness to the Christ of God with all boldness and before everyone. Far from shrinking from openly professing the Christian name, he wanted rather to make it plain to all that he counted this his highest honor, at one time marking his face with the saving sign, at another glorying in it as the trophy that had led him on to victory. [a]