Persecution 2nd Phase- Diocletian

What was the empire’s last major assault on the Christian church?

The great persecution

How long was the church free of imperial oppression prior to Diocletian?

40 years- as the previous emperor, Gallienus, issued his rescript of tolerance

What does N R Needham tell us about Diocletian?

‘he was a great political reformer and carried out a drastic reorganisation of the empire’

How did diocletian divide the empire?

fourfold- Divided in two, with a senior emperor (augustus) and junior colleague (caesar) put in charge of separate areas of each part, making it a tetrarchy

Who were the senior emperors and the junior colleagues?

West- Maximian (Augustus) and Constantius (Caesar)
East- Diocletian (Augustus) and Galerius (Caesar)

What else did Diocletian change within the empire?

The structure of the court, civil severe, and army

What did Diocletian’s reforms allow the Empire to do?

they were so successful that the empire was able to survive another thousand years in the East

How many years of his reign did Diocletian leave the church alone?

for the first 18 years

What does F F Bruce tell us about Diocletian’s family?

‘his own wife Prisca and daughter were admittedly Christians by faith if not by baptism’

What does N R Needham tell us about Diocletian’s reign (tolerance of religion)?

‘for most of his reign, Diocletian carried out a policy of religious toleration. However, his C Caesar, Galerius, was extremely hostile to Christianity’

What was the state of the Christian church in the closing decades of the third century?

the church grew and prospered and Christianity began holding positions within the govrngmtn and their refusal o worship was often overlooked.

What does F F Bruce tell us about the amount of Christians?

‘it is difficult to estimate the proportion which their numbers bore… but they were certainly a very powerful minority in the Empire, while in some parts they were probably the majority’

Where were large church buildings erected?

In Nicomedia, Diocletian’s capital

What was the state of the pagan religion in this time?

was in the decline in parts of the empire such as Numidia (temples not looked after, etc.)

What caused the old mindset about Christians to come back?

Imperial authorities were continuing to resist barbarian invasions. There was nervousness about possible disloyalty of the Christians in the Empire in the face of external threats

What were the first moves against Christians (in the army)?

Galerius instigated the requirement that all soldiers must sacrifice to the gods, and in 298AD, Diocletians commander began removing Christians from the army.
According to Eusebius, from hen on, persecution against the Church began little by little

According to Lacantius, why was Galerius opposed to the Christians?

Galerius’ mother urged him to act agains the Christians since they would not eat the meat that she had offered to idols

Why did Diocletian not want to persecute the Christians?

he realised the devastation that a universal persecution would cause and how eagerly Christians faced death, so advised Galerius that more limited action was preferable

What was Diocletian’s condition of yielding to Galerius’ demands?

Action against the church would be conducted without the bloodshed that Galerius favoured

What does FF Bruce tell us about how this was the last chance of christian persecution?

‘The rapid growth of Christianity in the last few decades meant that the opportunity for crushing would soon be gone. It was now or never.’

What day does Lanctantius tell us was the chosen day for imperial attack?

The feast of the Roman god Terminus

What happened at dawn on the day of the feast of Terminus?

the church building in Nicodemia was forced open and its scriptures burned. Diocletian ordered the the building should be demolished (rather that set on first as Galerius had wanted)

What did the first edict order?

Destruction of Church buildings, burning of scriptures and loss of civil rights by Christians holding office and loss of freedom by Christians in households. Forbade meeting of worship and required the surrender of church property.

What was the effect of the first edict?

Deprived Christians of all honours and dignities, subjecting them to torture regardless of position and status

Examples of Christians persecuted for turning down the first edict?

Peter (Diocletian’s butler) was flayed and burned
A Christian in Nicomedia was also burned alive for mutilating the edict, and the local church was destroyed

What did the second edict order?

Imprisonment of clergy- Prisons became overcrowded as a result and there was no room for criminals

What did the third edict order?

Required the release of clergy upon sacrifice- torture was used as a means to ensure compliance with the edict. Many clergy did sacrifice, but others refused.

Examples of clergy who refuses to sacrifice according to the 3rd edict?

Hossius, bishop of Cordoba in spain
Donalius who remained 6 years in prison and endured torture on many occasions.

What allowed Galerius to assume power after the 3rd edict?

Diocletian’s ill health.

What did edict 4 order?

a general sacrifice throughout the empire as decius had done over 50 years before.

What was the difference between Diocletian and Galerius’ approach?

Galerius wanted martyrs while Diocletian didnt

Example of where there was martyrdom after 4th edict

A martyrdom in Palestine to where many were sent to work in mines

What does Lanctantius tell us about pagan response to martyrdom?

Pagans were moved by martyrdom and became Christians

What did edict 5 order?

In easter of AD306, another general sacrifice was ordered by the military the checked citizens names on their lists.
Galerius’ deputy introduced a number of,ber of measures at reviving paganism and further repressing Christians- even babes were made to sacrifice.
Propaganda against the church- Pilates trail of jesus was a part of the curriculum

When did Galerius publish his edict of toleration?

30th April AD311

why did Galerius publish the Edict of toleration?

He was struck down by illness- he sought to appease the Christian God and admitted that attempts by imperial leaders to return Christians to the Roman religion had failed

What was a lasting effect of the Great Persecution on the Christian church?

The Donatist controversy causing a schism in the church

When did Constantine issue the edict of milan?

313 AD

How did the edict of Milan come about?

Constantine and Lincinius forged an allegiance and issued the edict of milan which granted religious liberty to all citizens