Tag Archives: 27 October

27 October 312

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Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.

Constantine the Great’s Vision of the Cross is a famous episode that reportedly occurred in 312 CE, just before the decisive Battle of the Milvian Bridge. According to historical accounts, Constantine I, who would later become the first Christian emperor of Rome, experienced a vision or dream in which he saw a symbol of the cross along with a message. This vision played a crucial role in his conversion to Christianity and influenced his support for the religion throughout the Roman Empire.

The Vision of the Cross
There are two main accounts of Constantine’s vision, provided by two early Christian writers: Lactantius and Eusebius of Caesarea.

Lactantius’s Account:
Lactantius, an early Christian author, recorded a version of the vision in his work, On the Deaths of the Persecutors, written a few years after the event:

Dream Before the Battle: According to Lactantius, Constantine had a dream on the night before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. In this dream, he was instructed to paint the Chi-Rho symbol (?) on his soldiers’ shields. This symbol, formed by the superimposed Greek letters ? (Chi) and ? (Rho), represents the first two letters of “Christ” (???????) in Greek.
In hoc signo vinces: Lactantius wrote that Constantine received a message in his dream: “In hoc signo vinces” (“In this sign, you will conquer”). This phrase indicated that victory in battle would come through the protection of the Christian God if Constantine adopted this symbol.

Eusebius’s Account:
Eusebius of Caesarea, a bishop and historian, provided a more elaborate version of the vision in his Life of Constantine, which was written later and based on Constantine’s own account of the event:

Daytime Vision of the Cross: Eusebius claimed that Constantine saw a vision in the sky while marching with his army. This vision appeared in broad daylight, with a cross of light appearing above the sun, accompanied by the words “?? ????? ????” (Greek for “In this sign, conquer”).
Interpretation of the Vision: Constantine was reportedly puzzled by this sight, and he sought further guidance. Later that night, he had a dream in which Christ appeared to him, explaining the significance of the cross symbol and instructing him to use it as a protective sign in battle.
Labarum Standard: Following this vision, Constantine ordered the creation of a military standard known as the Labarum, featuring the Chi-Rho symbol. This symbol became associated with Constantine’s army and, eventually, with Christianity itself as a military and spiritual emblem.

27 October 1924

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The Uzbek SSR is founded in the Soviet Union.

The Uzbek SSR, or Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. It existed from 1924 until 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved. The Uzbek SSR was located in Central Asia, and its capital was Tashkent.

The establishment of the Uzbek SSR was part of the Soviet government’s policy of creating ethnically defined republics within the larger Soviet Union. It was formed as a result of the Soviet reorganization of Central Asia, which included the drawing of new administrative borders and the establishment of republics to represent the various ethnic groups in the region.

During its existence, the Uzbek SSR was under the control of the Soviet government and followed a socialist economic and political system. The economy was largely centralized and focused on agriculture and industry. Uzbekistan was an important cotton-producing region for the Soviet Union.

In 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Uzbek SSR declared independence and became the Republic of Uzbekistan, which continues to exist as an independent country to this day. Since gaining independence, Uzbekistan has undergone significant political, economic, and social changes.

27 October 1971

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo is renamed Zaire.

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The Republic of Zaire was the name for the Democratic Republic of the Congo that existed between 1971 and 1997 in Central Africa. The country was a one-party dictatorship, run by Mobutu Sese Seko and his ruling Popular Movement of the Revolution party. Zaire was established following Mobutu’s seizure of power in a military coup in 1965, following five years of political upheaval following independence known as the Congo Crisis. Zaire had a strongly centralist constitution and foreign assets were nationalised. The period is sometimes referred to as the Second Congolese Republic.

A wider campaign of Authenticité, ridding the country of the influences from the colonial era of the Belgian Congo, was also launched under Mobutu’s direction. Weakened by the end of American support after the end of the Cold War, Mobutu was forced to declare a new republic in 1990 to cope with demands for change. By the time of its downfall, Mobutu’s rule was characterised by widespread cronyism, corruption and economic mismanagement.

Zaire collapsed in the 1990s, amid the destabilisation of the eastern parts of the state in the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide and growing ethnic violence. In 1996, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, the head of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) militia, led a popular rebellion against Mobutu. With rebel forces successfully making gains beyond the east, Mobutu fled the country, leaving Kabila’s forces in charge as the country restored its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo the following year. Mobutu died within four months after he fled into exile in Morocco.

27 October 1988

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Ronald Reagan stops construction of the new US Embassy in Moscow after Soviet listening devices are found in the building structure.

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United States President Ronald Reagan has decided to tear down its new Moscow embassy building, which is heavily penetrated by Soviet listening devices and build a replacement. The Administration has been trying to decide what to do about the building since the existence of the listening devices was disclosed last year.

Government intelligence experts would be reluctant to certify that the American embassy structures are protected against Soviet spying unless an entirely new structure is built. Because Congress has adjourned, Mr. Reagan’s decision to consult lawmakers apparently postpones final action on demolishing the building to his successor and the 101st Congress, which will be asked to provide the money, possibly hundreds of millions of dollars, for the job.

Construction of the chancery was halted in 1985 because of suspicions that the Soviets had planted listening devices. American intelligence specialists have been examining the structure to try to determine how the Soviet spying techniques work. If the chancery is saved, the building would be used for unclassified activities, while the old embassy building next door would be refurbished and used for classified activities. Soviet officials will not be able to occupy a new Soviet Embassy office building until the American chancery is demolished and replaced.