By Knight Companion Gabriel Comia Jr 12.8.2025

The Celestial Vision

The foundation of our Order rests upon an event of profound historical and spiritual significance.

In the year A.D. 312, as Constantine prepared for the fateful Battle of the Milvian Bridge, he perceived in the heavens a Cross of Light, brighter than the sun.
Encircling this radiant symbol were the immortal words:

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES
“By this Sign, thou shalt conquer.”

This vision, witnessed in the sky and later confirmed in a dream, was not merely an omen of military victory but a divine revelation that transformed an empire and changed the course of civilization.

IHSV in the Asoka Conclave, Order of the Red Cross of Constantine

Within the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine, the sacred acronym IHSV represents the 16-letter motto revealed to Emperor Constantine in A.D. 312:

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES

“By this Sign, Thou Shalt Conquer.”

This phrase is the spiritual foundation of the Order and its knighthood.

Why the Order Calls It the “16-Letter Motto.”

The phrase contains exactly 16 letters:

IN (2)
HOC (3)
SIGNO (5)
VINCES (6)
= 16 letters

These 16 letters summarize the entire Constantinian vision and the mission of every Knight.

Thus, the Order uses the four-letter cipher IHSV.

Meaning of IHSV in the Red Cross of Constantine

✔ I – In

"In" the service and obedience to the Divine Will.

✔ H – Hoc

"This": referring specifically to the heavenly Sign revealed to Constantine—the Cross of Light.

✔ S – Signo

"In this Sign": the Labarum, bearing the Chi-Rho monogram of Christ.

✔ V – Vinces

"Thou shalt conquer":
Victory through Faith, Virtue, Duty, and Moral Courage, not warfare.

This is the inner knightly meaning:
Moral conquest, through the Cross.

The Vision of Constantine

The Asoka Conclave follows the mainstream RCC tradition:

Constantine sees a Cross of Light in the sky.
Around it are the words In Hoc Signo Vinces.
Christ instructs him to adopt this sign as his standard.
Constantine’s army wins under the Labarum.
Christianity emerges from persecution into triumph.

This event is the origin of the Order—
and the reason every Knight bears IHSV on jewels, banners, and rituals.

The Deeper Knightly Interpretation

The RCC teaches that the true conquest is:

conquering prejudice and falsehood
conquering corruption and injustice
conquering one’s lower nature
conquering darkness by the Light of the Cross

Thus, IHSV is not triumphant by the sword,
But triumph by character.

This is why RCC emphasizes:

Duty
Honor
Faith
Leadership
Christian virtue

“IHSV is the vow of every Knight of the Red Cross of Constantine: that by the Light of the Cross, we conquer not men, but falsehood; not nations, but our own passions; not by force, but by faith, duty, and righteousness.”

—------------------------------------------------------------

December 8, 2025, Conclave

Conferral of Two Knight Masons

Knight Companion Herbert Jay Dael

Knight Companion Ronald Asuncion

Present:

Sonny Leviste - Recorder

Jomel Maranan - Piussant Sovereign (Conferral)

Pravin Sharma - Eminent Viceroy

JP Abergas - Senior General

Alvan Balazo -Prefect

Arlen De Guzman - Prelate