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Rome and the Christians
Nero’s Persecutions
Besides being put to death [the Christians] were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clad in the hides of beast and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed.
Nero had thrown open his grounds for the display, and was putting on a show in the circus, where he drove about in his chariot. All this gave rise to a feeling of pity, even toward men whose guilt merited the most exemplary punishment; for it was felt that they were being destroyed not for the public good but to satisfy the cruelty of an individual.
Nero’s Persecutions
Publius Cornelius TacitusRoman Historian
(AD 56 – 117)
Martyrdoms of Peter & Paul
Persecution during the Pax
Martyrdoms ofPerpetua & Felicity
Age of Confrontation
Diocletian(284-305)
Valerian(253-260)
Decius(249-251)
• All citizens must sacrifice to the emperor in the presence of a Roman official and receive a certificate as proof...
• Called a “libellus”…only 44 survive
• This is one in Greek to a woman and her daughter from a village in Egypt
Edict of Decius (250 AD)
Valerian the Footstool
Diocletian’s“Great Persecution”
Constantine the Great
Battle of Milvian Bridge
Edict of Milan
313 AD
Agreed by Constantine and Licinius (co-emperor)
Gave Christians and “others” the right to worship freely
Mandated the return of property that had been previously confiscated
Constantine’s Legacy
Theodosius I
St. Ambrose and Theodosius I