There was Emperor of a vast empire, who ruled and sat on top of golden throne. He was praised and given divine praises by those his subjects in his Imperial Court. No one was permitted to look at him in the face as it was fobidden to do so; by the law.
Wherever he walked, whereever he trodded, his entourage would sprinkle flowers before each path, and his Imperial Robe stetched 40 feet--requiring 10 servants to carry his cape.
Then one day, the Emperor traveled to a distant battle field to defeat rebels in the north. His conoy passed by a small abbey, that was occupied by 7 simple monks. Christian Monks. The emperor, tired form a long day's travel, bequethed that they should stop in the abbey and rest. For a while.
When told of his arrival, the monks courted the Emperor. Gave him food when asked, offered him lodging when requested. And as the Emperor finished his simple meal, composed of porridge, lentils and a few scraps of meat (that was all that the monks could offer--to which was already considered 'a heavy meal' for them), the Emperor saw an old monk kneeling by a window.
Seeing this, the emperor rose from his chair and asked the old monk, "Who do you pray to, old man?" "do you knot know that your Lord and Emperor sits behind you?" "why do you not address my imperial presence, old man?" "do you know that i have the power to erase kingdoms from the face of the earth, and the power over life and death?"
The monk turned his head and said, "Yes, majesty, you have such power. You have my fear. But my Lord and God has my love."
The comment the old windbag said to the emperor was odd. Unfrequent. Such piety in an old man.
The emperor, stricken with fond interest, lowered himself and said to the old man, "Who do you pray to, old man?"
The monk, in calm and serenity, with soothing voice said, "To the One and Only God. His name is Jesus."
The emperor asked, "Who is this Jesus?"
The monk explained to the emperor. Everything.
Days passed, and the emperor was interested, growing interest. The monk showed him the Septuagint, the Greek Bible. The emperor, being wise and academic, read it. Word for word.
And oddly enough time passed by. Days turned to weeks.
And the convey commander asked his emperor, "Majesty, we must leave this place, the war continues. Your presence is needed."
The call of duty was unavoidable. And he prepared to leave, but before he left, the old monk came to the emperor's quarters and gave him a copy of the Septuagint. "Take this and read it often, your majesty."
The emperor smiled, "Thank you, my friend."
The emperor read of the bible, and dreamed frequently. And became the First Christian Emperor of the Roman Empire.
He was Constantine The Great.
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