Christian Martyrs

  • During the first and second centuries CE, the Roman Government did not legislate against Christianity.
  • However, in the third century CE, a wave of edicts and persecutions followed which only ended when the Edict of Milan was passed in 313 CE by the Christian Emperor, Constantine I.

Notable Christian Martyrs under the Romans

Roman Emperors who conducted Persecutions

  • Nero (54-68 CE)
    • The First Persecution of the Christians (67 CE).
  • Domitian (81-96 CE)
    • The Second Persecution (81 CE).
  • Trajan (98-117 CE)
    • The Third Persecution (108 CE).
  • Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE)
    • The Christian Persecution in Gaul (177 CE).
  • Septimius Severus (193-211 CE)
    • The Severan Persecution (202-211CE).
    • Although no Edicts are recorded, there was a wave of persecutions against Christianity during Severus’ reign, notably in Africa.
  • Decius (249-251 CE)
    • The Decian Persecution (250 CE).
    • The Decian Persecution followed an Edict in 250 CE by the Roman Emperor Decius (249-251 CE) which obliged the population to sacrifice to the Roman Gods or be killed.
    • The Edict, although not specifically anti-Christian, was devastating in its effect on Christian communities.
    • It was the first time a legal threat was faced by practice of Christianity and many were martyred.
    • Some very famous Christians were executed, including Pope Fabian, who was executed on the 20th January 250 CE, and St. Denis the Bishop of Paris.
  • Valerian (253-260 CE)
    • The Valerian Persecution (257-260 CE).
    • In 257 CE, Valerian sent two Letters to the Roman Senate specifically targeting Christians for the first time.
    • All the Christian clergy were to be sent into Exile if they failed to sacrifice to the Roman Gods.
    • All Christian leaders were to be executed. This led to the execution of Pope Sixtus II, the Bishop Cyprian of Carthage, and seven Deacons.
    • Gallienus (253-268 CE) then reversed the Valerian Persecution by passing the Edict of Toleration (260 CE) which restored the freedom of worship to Christians.
  • Diocletian (284-305 CE)
    • The Diocletianic Persecution (303-313 CE)
    • The Diocletianic Persecution is also called ‘The Great Persecution’ when the Emperor Diocletian conducted a Purge of Christianity.
    • An attempt to erase Christianity resulted in a wave of Martyrdoms and Torture, particularly in the East, which ultimately failed and led to the acceptance of Christianity.
    • The Coptic Church starts its Calendar from 284 CE, the start of the rule of Diocletian.

The End of Christian Persecution (313 CE)

Martyrologium Romanum (1583 CE)

  • This is the official listing by the Catholic Church of all the martyrs and saints under the Roman Empire, arranged in date order.
  • The Roman Martyrology was first published in 1583 CE.

 

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