Questions such as, “Why is Rome the center of the Catholic church today?” will be answered at a multi-media presentation this weekend.

History professor Baily Young will give a slide presentation and lecture on Sunday titled “The Church Triumphant in the Christian Roman Empire.”

The presentation, sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church, Episcopal Campus Ministry and the Newman Catholic Center, will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Newman Center.

“I’m going to be talking about the moment when the Christian church goes from being a persecuted minority to the triumphant religion of the Roman Empire,” Young said.

This transition occured in the 300s A.D. under the rule of Constantine, he said.

Roy Lanham, campus minister at the Newman Center, said one of the reasons for holding the event is to take a look at the church from an academic standpoint.

The purpose is “to learn more about what we believe about the church and how we got to where we are,” Lanham said.

Young said the presentation is part of a series that looks at the early history of the Christian church and pictures on the slides will show the story reflected in art.

“I will show the Emporer Constantine’s Ark of Triumph in Rome,” Young said. “I will show slides of illustrated Bibles with jeweled covers. We also have carved scenes which show Christ or the Virgin, which were on elaborate carved tombs.”

Young, who has done many archeological excavations on early Christian churches in France, said knowing church history is important to understanding the way Western society has evolved.

He said his presentation will cover part of the long and in many ways wonderful story of the church. “It’s got deep roots,” he said.

Anyone interested in Christian traditions or beautiful works of art should come to the presentation, Young said.

Lanham said the presentation will be very laid-back, and refreshments will be served afterwards. The event is free and open to the public.