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The '''Labarum''' (Greek: λάβαρον / láboron) was a Christian imperial standard employing the '''"[[w:Chi Rho|Chi-Rho]]"''' [[w:Christogram|Christogram]].
It was designed by the Roman emperor Saint [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] from his celestial vision and dream, on the eve of his victory at the [[w:Battle of the Milvian Bridge|Milvian Bridge]] in 313 AD. It was a [[w:Vexillum|vexillum]] (military standard/flag/banner) that displayed the "[[w:Chi Rho|Chi-Rho]]" [[w:Christogram|Christogram]], which was formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "[[Jesus Christ|Christ]]" (Greek: '''ΧΡ'''ΙΣΤΟΣ, or '''Χρ'''ιστός) — [[w:Chi (letter)|Chi]] (χ) and [[w:Rho (letter)|Rho]] (ρ), being one of the earliest forms of christogram used by Christians.
From 324 it was the official standard of the Roman Empire. Fashioned after legionary standards, it substituted the from of a [[cross]] for the old pagan symbols, surmounted by a jewelled wreath containing the monogram of Christ, intersecting '''Chi''' (χ) and '''Rho''' (ρ), on which hung a purple banner inscribed with ''' ''"Εν Τουτω Νικα"'' (''in hoc signo vinces'') — "In this sign, conquer." ''' As a new focal point for Roman unity, the monogram appeared on coins, shields, and later public buildings and churches.<ref>-----. ''"Labarum."'' In: J.D. Douglas and Earle E. Cairns (Eds.). '''The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church'''. 2nd ed.. Zondervan Publishing House, 1996. p.575.</ref>
