LABARUM

the name applied to the sacred military standard of the early Christian Roman emperors, Const an tine the Great was the first to use it to commemorate his miraculous vision in 312. It had the form of a long gilded spear or staff, with a bar cro ed at the top, with a square purple cloth, richly jeweled, depending from it. On the point of the spear. was the sacred monogram formed of the first two letters of the name of Christ, encircled by a golden wreath. The cro was substituted for the Roman eagle.