M3, L8: Period of Persecution of the

Early Christians
 Period of Persecution of the Early Christians
(Time Line)
62 Martyrdom of James, "The Lord's Brother".
c.67-68 Apostles Peter and Paul* martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.
70 Jewish rebellion against the Roman empire ends. Destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
From
Centre of Christianity moves to Antioch, Alexandria and Rome.
70
c.90 Book of Revelation and Gospel of Saint John written.
Widespread persecution of Christians under Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.
161-80 (Severe persecutions also occurred under the emperors Decius (249-251) and Diocletian (284-
305)).

301 Armenia becomes the world's first country to officially adopt Christianity as the state religion.

Roman emperor Constantine receives a vision of a flaming cross with the words
312 'In hoc signo vinces' : 'By this sign conquer'.
Defeats rival Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.

Edict of Milan issued by Constantine - Christianity becomes a legal religion within the Roman
313 empire.
Video: Passion of the Saints
 Persecution of “The Way”

 In the early Church those Christians who refused to renounce the

Faith were martyred, often in public spectacles in places such as
the Coliseum.

 Because the death of the martyrs had occurred there, many of

the Roman circuses were held as sacred by Christians. When the
circuses were dismantled, their material was used in the
construction of Christian churches.

 The earliest Christians referred to the Faith as “the Way.”

 Living “the Way” required integrity and a strong commitment.

Although living the Faith is always difficult, it was especially so
for the early Christians.
 PART I
The First Roman Persecutions
 The earliest Christians suffered persecution at the
hands of the Jews.

 The Romans, at this time, simply saw them as a

Jewish sect and were not bothered by them.

 However, as Christianity distanced itself from

Judaism, the Roman Empire began to see them as
enemies of the Empire, and systematic
persecutions became a way of life for these early
Christians.
 After Jewish revolts of 66-70 AD and during
the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian,
Christians began to emphasize their
separateness.
Gulf between Jews and Christians had
become huge by this time
Christian leaders had decided that Gentiles
who converted to Christianity did not have to
become Jews (e.g. observe circumcision) in order to
become Christians.
 PART I
The First Roman Persecutions
 Many thousands of Christians lost their lives during the first
three hundred years of persecutions.

 Christianity is a religion born in the suffering and death of

its founder, Jesus Christ.

 In like manner, many of his early followers suffered and

died for their belief in him.

 The persecutions began with Nero AD 64 and climaxed

with Diocletian AD 303.

 However, throughout this period, regardless of the

persecutions, the Church continued to spread.
In this work Tertullian defends
Christianity, demanding legal
toleration and that Christians be
treated as all other sects of the Roman
Empire. It is in this treatise that
one finds the phrase: "the blood of
the martyrs is the seed of the Church"
(Apologeticus, Chapter 50).
 PART I
The First Roman Persecutions

 There were dangers to this

policy.
 Unapproved religion
 Roman government by the
time of Nero (67-68) or
Domitian (81-96 A.D.) had
decided that to be guilty of
just the name Christian
was punishable by death.
 THE FIRST PERSECUTION
UNDER EMPEROR NERO (AD 64-68)
 The Emperor Nero was a figure of immense cruelty,
psychological sickness, and paranoia.

 He murdered his mother, beheaded his wife, and forced his

advisor and tutor, Seneca, to commit suicide.

 AD 64 a fire destroyed the city of Rome.

 Because Nero had announced his intention to seize private

property in the center of Rome for his own use, a rumor began to
circulate that he began the fire.

 Nero quickly acted to remove suspicion from himself by falsely

accusing the Christians. Nero tortured many Christians, elicited
false confessions, and arrested many others.
 THE FIRST PERSECUTION
UNDER EMPEROR NERO
 St. Clement (the 4th Pope) relates that Christians were taken
across the Tiber to an arena on the Vatican Hill where they were
sewn into animal skins. Hungry dogs were released, which
hunted down and ate the trapped Christians. Other Christians
were martyred in the Circus Maximus.

 Finally, Nero coated hundreds of live Christians with pitch and

resin and set them on fire to provide light for him as he passed
through the gardens and city streets at night.

 Nero was the first to declare Christianity illegal, and sought to

punish all Christians with death.

 His persecution included the martyrdom of St. Peter (67-68 AD).

PERSECUTION UNDER EMPEROR
DOMITIAN, “LORD AND GOD”

 Domitian served as emperor beginning AD 81.

 As the years passed he became pathologically suspicious of

conspirators against him.

 He was intent on stopping the spread of Christianity from the

lower classes into the aristocracy, and even into his own family.

 He murdered his cousin, an office-holding Christian.

 Despite heavy taxes placed on Christians and Jews, growing

numbers of Patricians began to convert to Christianity.
 THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
(Vox populi)
 The Roman people’s misunderstanding of Christian doctrine and
practice often led to violent hatred and fear.

 Christians were denounced as atheists for refusing to sacrifice to

the Roman gods.

 Christians were accused of sacrificing babies and drinking their

blood, and casting evil spells.

 Christians were also blamed for natural disasters.

 Angry crowds would loot and destroy churches, along with

Christian cemeteries and homes.

 Christians served as scapegoats and were collectively tortured

and killed to provide an outlet for people’s anger.
 PART II
“The Five Good Emperors” (AD 96-180)

 The five emperors that followed Domitian have been called

the “The five good Emperors” because they enjoyed the
support of the army, senate, and the people.

 They worked to secure the borders of the Roman Empire

and to expand them.

 Although they were more moderate than Nero in their

treatment of Christians, they by no means halted the
persecution of Christians, which continued throughout
their reigns.
 TRAJAN’S RESCRIPT (AD 112)

Trajan began to rule AD 98.

 Not only was Trajan an able military commander,
defeating the Dacians, but he also treated the poor and
abandoned children very humanely.
 He defeated the Parthians and extended the Empire to
the Persian Gulf, but died while leading his army
against a Jewish revolt AD 117.
 His expedition was the last major conquest made by
the Roman Empire, and its borders remained stable
and secure for the next 150 years.
 TRAJAN’S RESCRIPT (AD 112)

Trajan began to rule AD 98.

 With respect to Christians, as evidenced by
Trajan’s letter to his governor, Pliny, Christians
were to be allowed to live as long as they
renounced their faith and offered sacrifice to the
gods. Furthermore, anonymous denunciations
were not to be pursued.
 Trajan’s rescript /decree left Christians with an
awful choice: death or apostasy.
 ST. IGNATIUS,
BISHOP OF ANTIOCH
 St. Ignatius (AD 50–AD 107) was the third Bishop of Antioch and is
thought to have known St. John the Evangelist. Having direct contact with
the Apostles, he is considered an Apostolic Father.

 His letters are considered the most important documents linking the early
church with the Apostles.

 He was arrested during the reign of Trajan, and on his way to Rome for
trial, wrote Seven Epistles.

 His Epistles are explicit evidence of the development of the offices of

bishop, priest, and deacon in the early church, the role of the Bishop,
the belief of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the
primacy of the Bishop of Rome.

 He was the first to use the term “Catholic Church.”

 HADRIAN’S RESCRIPT
(AD 123/124)
 The Emperor Hadrian succeeded Trajan AD 117 and served until his
death AD 138.
 He traveled extensively and fortified the frontiers of the Empire. He
was responsible for building Hadrian’s wall in Scotland.
 He was a follower of Hellenism and interested in science, art,
and philosophy.
 He promoted the Roman gods, banned Jewish circumcision, and
planned to turn Jerusalem into a Roman colony called Aelia
Capitolina.
 The Jews revolted, and as a result were forbidden to enter Jerusalem.
 In regard to Christians, the Emperor decreed that Christians could
only be prosecuted for actually violating a law, not just for
professing to be a Christian. He also punished false accusers. Under
Hadrian, Christians enjoyed a relative amount of toleration.
 ST. POLYCARP,
BISHOP OF SMYRNA (Turkey)
 St. Polycarp (AD 69 - AD 155) suffered martyrdom during the
reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius.
 St. Polycarp spent much of his life defending orthodox Catholic
belief from various heresies.
 He is an important link between the Apostles and later second
century writers.
 His martyrdom was recorded by an eyewitness in the Church of
Smyrna.
 The governor wished to save St. Polycarp’s life, and asked him to
curse Christ.
 St. Polycarp refused and was burned alive.
 Unharmed by the flames, he was killed with a sword.
EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS

 Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) was an ardent stoic and philosophy was
the focus of his life.

 His book Meditations is a thoughtful and moving work that reflects the
profound discipline of a Stoic’s life, living free from passion, unmoved
by joy or grief, and submitting without complaint to unavoidable fate.

 Marcus Aurelius reinstated laws outlawing Christianity and persecuted

Christians.

 He did not hesitate to kill Christians if it served the Empire’s

interests, and permitted mob violence against Christians if it served as
an outlet of popular anger, which otherwise might turn against the
Empire itself.
 ST. JUSTIN MARTYR

 St. Justin Martyr (AD 100-165) was one of the most famous martyrs to
die under the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius.

 He had studied philosophy before converting to Christianity, and used his

background in philosophy to become an excellent apologist for the Faith.

 He worked hard against the pagans who falsely accused the Church.

 In his First Apology, addressed to the Emperor Antoninus Pius, Justin

provided important descriptions of the celebration of the Eucharist and
Baptism.

 His Second Apology was addressed to the Roman Senate. Shortly afterwards
he was arrested. Refusing to offer sacrifice to the gods, he was beheaded
with six other Christians.
 PART III
Later Persecutions and the Edict of Milan

 The reign of Emperor Septimus Severus (AD

193-211) was characterized by warfare in Britain
and Mesopotamia.

 The military played an increasingly important

role in selecting an Emperor.

 Severus passed a law prohibiting Baptism and

circumcision, and another round of persecutions
followed.
STS. PERPETUA AND FELICITY

 Two victims of Severus’ persecution were

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity.
 St. Perpetua was a noblewoman who sought
Christian instruction for herself and her
household, and St. Felicity was a slave in that
household.
 They, along with other catechumens, were
arrested, and Sts. Perpetua and Felicity were
forced to raise their children in prison.
STS. PERPETUA AND FELICITY

 Perpetua’s father, a Roman governor, begged her

to reject Christianity, but she refused.
 They were martyred in the main arena in
Carthage along with the other catechumens.
 They were first scourged, then attacked by wild
animals including leopards, bears, and wild boars.
Finally, not yet dead, they were stabbed to death.
ST. IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS

 St. Irenaeus (AD 130–200) was a disciple of St.

Polycarp.
 He served as bishop of Lyons and was a
prominent figure in the early Church in Gaul.
 He spent much time combating heresies,
especially Gnosticism.
 He defended key aspects of orthodoxy, including
the episcopacy, Sacred Scripture, and Tradition.
ST. IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS

His writings are of special interest as they

describe the origin of each heresy before
contrasting it with orthodox Catholic
teaching.
He was bishop of Lyons for twenty-five
years before being martyred during the
reign of Emperor Septimus Severus.
THE EDICT OF DECIUS (AD 250)

 After the reign of Septimus Severus (AD 193-211), Christians enjoyed a

fifty year period of relative peace.

 Emperor Alexander Severus (AD 222–235) allowed Christians to

own private property and to build churches.

 However, in the second half of the third century the empire suffered a
difficult period, and there were eighteen emperors in forty-six years.

 Emperor Decius, who reigned for three years, beginning AD 249,

began an empire-wide persecution of Christians.

 Seeking to strengthen the empire, he sought to destroy Christianity,

which called for ultimate allegiance to Christ, not to the state.
THE EDICT OF DECIUS (AD 250)

 All suspected Christians had to offer sacrifice to the gods or produce a

certificate saying that they had done so.

 Christians who offered sacrifice to the gods were known as

sacrificanti.
 Christians who burnt incense to the gods were known as thurificati.
 Christians who bought a certificate saying that they had offered
sacrifice were called libellatici.

 Those refusing to renounce the Faith were exiled or executed, and their
property confiscated.
 APOSTASY

 St. Thomas Aquinas defined apostasy of perfidity

as when a person withdraws from or gives up the
Faith.
 This is different from heresy, in which a person
denies one or more doctrines of the faith.
 The persecutions of Decius resulted in many
apostates called lapsi, and the leaders of the
Church had the difficult decision as to what to do
with those who had renounced the Faith and then
wished readmittance to the Church after the
persecution had passed.
 APOSTASY

The Roman presbyter Novatian taught

that the lapsi could never be readmitted.
This view eventually led to a schism.
The Popes decided that the lapsi could be
readmitted after undergoing a long
penance.
 ORIGEN: THEOLOGIAN AND
BIBLICAL EXEGETE
 Origen (AD 185–254) was one of the most important theologians
in the eastern part of the empire.

 He was Egyptian and spent much time working and teaching in

Alexandria.

 Later, he became the head of the first Catechetical School in

Alexandria.

 He came into conflict with his own bishop in Alexandria when as a

layman, he preached a homily during a visit to Palestine, and was later
ordained to the priesthood during a second visit to Palestine.

 His bishop stripped him of all teaching power as well as his

faculties to exercise his priesthood.
 ORIGEN: THEOLOGIAN AND
BIBLICAL EXEGETE

 Origen moved to Caesarea where he founded a new

Catechetical School.

 Arrested during the persecutions of Decius, he was

brutally tortured, but refused to renounce the Faith and
was eventually released.

 It is estimated that he wrote between two to five

thousand tracts and is considered to have initiated the
concept of the homily.
 POPE ST. SIXTUS II AND
DEACON ST. LAWRENCE
 Emperor Valerian issued a rescript AD 257
forbidding Christians from meeting in public
places and from celebrating the Eucharist in the
catacombs; and another in AD 258 calling for
the arrest of all bishops, priests, and deacons.
 During this persecution, Pope St. Sixtus II was
arrested while celebrating Mass, along with seven
of his deacons.
 Pope St. Sixtus and six of his deacons were
beheaded soon after, but St. Lawrence was
spared for some time.
 POPE ST. SIXTUS II AND
DEACON ST. LAWRENCE

 When his captors demanded that he bring the

Church’s treasure, St. Lawrence brought him a
group of poor people and declared them to be
the treasure of the Church.
 In response, he was sentenced to be roasted
alive.
 Tradition holds that St. Lawrence told his
executioners, “I am roasted enough on this side;
turn me around.”
 PERSECUTIONS UNDER
DIOCLETIAN
 When the Roman emperor was murdered, the army made Diocletian
the new emperor.

 Spending much of his early reign battling the barbarians, he was too
busy to concern himself with the Christians.

 However, AD 303, with the barbarians defeated, he issued an edict

beginning a great persecution.

 Churches were destroyed, books were burned, and Christians

imprisoned, tortured, and martyred.

 These persecutions continued until the Edict of Milan AD 312.

 THE TETRARCHY (AD 293)
 Diocletian divided the Empire into four administrative districts, each with
its own Caesar.

 While retaining the ultimate authority for himself, he granted each Caesar
considerable power in their own sphere.

 This effectively split the Roman Empire into two halves, Eastern
and Western, and in doing so reduced the status of Rome and the
Senate.

 He also created administrative units called dioceses.

 When Diocletian resigned AD 305, the tetrarchy failed to function

effectively with each competing for absolute supremacy.
 FOUR EDICTS

 The Four Edicts issued by Diocletian resulted in the worst persecutions

that Christians had suffered under the Romans.

 The First Edict: Commanded the destruction of churches, the

burning of the Scriptures, and the banning of all Christian
gatherings.
 The Second Edict: Sanctioned the imprisonment of the clergy.
 The Third Edict: Demanded pagan sacrifice from the clergy.
 The Fourth Edict: Demanded pagan sacrifice from all Christians.

 The Fourth Edict resulted in the deaths of thousands of Christians

who refused to offer pagan sacrifice.
 ST. AGNES:
A CHILD MARTYR FOR CHRIST

 St. Agnes was martyred during the persecutions of

Diocletian when she was only twelve or thirteen years
old.

 She was a beautiful young woman who had many young

men desiring her hand in marriage, but she decided to
consecrate herself to Christ as a virgin. This so enraged
her would be suitors that she was denounced before the
Magistrate. She refused to renounce the Faith, even
when tortured by fire, and eventually she was beheaded.
 THE CHURCH TRIUMPHS

 AD 307 Constantine, upon the death of his father, took over control
of the Western Roman Empire.

 He was friendly to Christians, although not one himself.

 Galerius, who ruled in the East, was stricken with leprosy. Believing it
to be a punishment from God for his persecution of Christians, he
allowed Christians the free exercise of religion as long as they prayed
for him and obeyed the laws.

 This edict was also adopted in the West and finally, the last great
persecution of Christians gave way to peace.
 THE CHURCH TRIUMPHS

 With the death of Galerius, there ensued a struggle for the control of the
Empire, and the two armies, those of Constantine and Maxentius, met at
the Milvian Bridge.

 Before the battle Constantine claimed to have had a vision of a cross in the
sky with the words “In this sign you shall conquer.”

 Believing this to be a sign from God, Constantine had his soldiers put this
sign on their shields.

 Winning the battle against great odds, Constantine effectively secured his
rule in the West.

 Declaring that the Christian God had favored him, he restored the property
of the Church and began aiding in the construction of new churches.
THE EDICT OF MILAN (AD 313)

 The Edict of Milan restored all property taken from the

Church and granted Christians the freedom to practice
their religion. It finally legitimized a religion that had
been outlawed since the time of Nero.

 Although there might have been some political motives

for his support of Christianity, Constantine is known to
have prayed daily and received instruction in the Faith.
He received the Sacrament of Baptism on his deathbed.
 ST. HELEN IN JERUSALEM

 Although converting later in life, St. Helen, mother

of Constantine, was deeply devout and inspired
many others. After her son became emperor, she
made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

 She was determined to find artifacts from Jesus’

life, and consulted locals about the legends and
traditions regarding the sites relating to Christ.
Legend has her finding Mount Calvary, Christ’s
sepulcher, and the true Cross.
 CONCLUSION

 The Church suffered through nearly three

hundred years of persecution until emerging as
an imperially sanctioned religion of the Roman
Empire in AD 313.
This period of the Church’s history has many
lessons that are applicable for us today.
The martyrs continue to inspire Christians,
especially those who are undergoing
persecution.
 CONCLUSION

 The troubling relationship between Church and state

is one that continues today.
 The structure of the episcopacy and the importance
of Tradition for resolving theological disputes found
expression in the teachings of the early Christian
writers.
 An understanding of the early Christian theologians is
essential for an adequately informed conception of
the structure and doctrines of Christianity.
Reflection:
 What is the impact of the faith of the early
Christians to our Christian faith today? Are
their struggles in professing their faith has
relevance to our present –life situation? What
sort of persecutions are we facing nowadays?
How are you going to defend the seed of faith
you received from the Lord as the real witness
of Christ?