Located in Ravenna, Italy the Church of San Vitale is a 6th-century church that houses original mosaics surviving from the early medieval period. The history of this church begins in the 400s when Ravenna was under the control of a Goth named Theodoric. Theodoric was the Ostrogoth king who ruled Italy from 493-526. He was also an Arian Christian that didn’t follow Orthodoxy. In the early 500s, Constantinople sent his general to conquer Italy, reconquer the city of Ravenna, and establish the Orthodox Christian religion.

Later on, Emperor Justinian reclaimed Italy from the Ostrogoths. Under his rule, the Church was constructed reflected in the mosaic of Emperor Justinian l and his court members.