To commemorate the upcoming 1700th anniversary of Constantine's signing of the Milan Edict - which proclaimed religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire - the city of Niš unveiled a new monument to its most revered son during the annual Days of Constantine and Empress Helena festival in June 2012, with even bigger plans for celebration in store for next year. The monument itself stands symbolically at the beginning of the bridge leading to the Fortress, and is engraved with the dates 312 - 2012, marking the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, which saw Constantine emerge victoriously as the unified ruler of the empire. Along with a portrait of the great emperor and the monogram of Christ, is the Latin phrase 'In hoc signo vinces'. Most often translated as 'In this sign, you shall have victory', legend has it that Constantine saw this in a vision the night before the decisive battle. The memorial was commissioned under the auspices of the Art Karnentum Foundation and executed by the sculptor Mile Kocev.
