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