16.

 What event in 312 AD resulted in some major developments in the administrative structure of the visible facet of the Church?

312 AD was the year that St. Constantine had his famous vision of the Cross in front of the sun, along with the inscription in this sign conquer emblazoned in the sky. With this vision, Constantine placed the Christian symbol of the chi rho (XP) on the weapons and tunics of his troops and went on to win a battle. This vision and his victory in battle led         to Constantine's becoming the first Roman emperor to embrace the Christian religion, and to his putting an end to the persecution of the Church. These events marked the end of the first main period of Christianity and marked the Church's coming of age.

            Because the pious monarchs Constantine and his mother Helen spread the Christian faith like the Apostles, the Church gives both saints the title Holy Rulers, Equal-to-the-Apostles. The title Equal-to-the-Apostles was given as well to saints who spread the Christian faith in various places: Mary Magdalene, the first woman martyr Thecla, the pious Russian prince Vladimir, St. Nina, who was the Enlightener of Georgia, and others.