Persecution

Introduction

  • The study session focuses on a deep exploration of church history, specifically the period of persecution faced by early Christians.

  • A prayer that reflects gratitude for the church and a request for divine guidance to emulate the martyrs' witness during trials is presented.

Recap of Previous Session

  • The previous session addressed the initial persecution periods, focusing on the pagan attacks against Christians.

  • Main Attacks on Christians:

    • Attack 1: Poor and Ignorant Followers

    • Christians regarded as a sect comprising only the poor, women, children, and slaves, leading to societal rejection by the Roman elite.

    • Attack 2: Bad Citizenship

    • Christians viewed as disloyal citizens for refusing to worship state gods or the emperor, seen as a direct threat to Roman identity.

    • Attack 3: Unreasonable Doctrine

    • Core Christian beliefs considered absurd and nonsensical (e.g., belief in the Incarnation).

    • Attack 4: Cannibalism Allegations

    • Misinterpretations of the Eucharist, along with unfounded accusations of infant sacrifice and cannibalism, contributing to persecution.

  • Famous Martyrs discussed:

    • Saint Ignatius and his correspondence with various Christian communities.

    • Saint Polycarp's steadfast faith during his martyrdom.

Development of Early Heresies

  • Discussion of the heresy of Gnosticism, countered by the writings of Saint Irenaeus.

  • Saint Hippolytus's rigorous stance against heretics and the subsequent schism he led by becoming an anti-pope.

Apologists of the Faith

  • Emergence of apologists helping defend the faith against pagan accusations:

    • Role of apologists was to articulate faith in ways compatible with Greco-Roman culture.

    • They explained aspects like the existence of one God and the concept of a unified faith.

  • Key Apologist: Saint Justin Martyr

    • Prior philosopher who argued for Christian beliefs in accessible terms:

    • Explains the significance of Baptism and the Eucharist in his apologetic writings.

    • Provided definitions regarding the Eucharist:

      • "This food we call Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake, except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ handed down to us."

  • Saint Tertullian

    • From Carthage, became a priest and wrote works defending Christianity.

    • Articulated responses to accusations of ignorance and bad citizenship, emphasizing the integration of Christians into Roman life:

    • "We are a body knit together by its the sense of one belief, united in discipline, bound together by a common hope."

    • Important theological contributions including early use of the terms 'Trinity' and 'person'.

The Great Persecutions

  • Decius' Persecution

    • Occurred due to Decius’ desire for unity, culminating in widespread celebrity of Christians. The edict mandated:

    • Public sacrifice to pagan gods, with penalties of death for non-conformity.

    • Notable martyrdoms, such as Pope Fabian.

  • Internal schism led by Novatian, advocating rigorism after persecution periods.

  • Valerian's Persecution

    • Focused on Christian leadership, targeting bishops and deacons for execution.

    • Exemplified through the stories of Saint Sixtus II and Saint Lawrence.

  • The Response of Christians

    • Martyrdom by refusing to sacrifice highlighted strong faith (including accounts of torturous executions).

    • Many Christians also suffered but survived, known as confessors, who endured tortures without death.

  • Copious tales of heroism circulate around martyrdom stories, showcasing the intense and varied suffering:

    • Saint Agatha burned and protectively untouched by flames.

    • Saint Lawrence, who humorously triumphs over painful execution.

The Great Persecution Under Diocletian

  • Historical context around Diocletian’s reign, with the systematic governmental brutality against Christians:

    • Four Edicts of Persecution issued by Diocletian:

    • Closing churches and confiscating scriptures.

    • Imprisoning clergy.

    • Torturing clergy and executing them.

    • Mandating public sacrifices to the pagan gods.

  • Responses to Persecution by Christians

    • Martyrdom: Christians chose to die for faith.

    • Confessors: Christians who suffered for their faith but did not die.

    • Traditores: those who renounced faith.

    • Lapsi: Christians who sacrificed but later sought penance for their actions.

Church's Response to Lapsi and Rigorism vs. Mercy

  • The church’s ongoing struggle with accepting back those who lapsed, questioning if mercy or rigorism should prevail.

    • Canonical disciplinary measures were introduced for lapsi, leading to debates on permissible types of penance.

    • Ongoing theological implications and solutions during subsequent church councils (prominent figures include Peter of Alexandria).

The End of Persecution and Its Impact

  • Diocletian’s abdication led to a shift in the empire’s leadership as Constantine rose to power.

  • Galerius’ last acts included an edict of toleration, though it did not confer legal recognition to Christianity.

  • The church emerged from severe persecution, and though the suffering was intense, it was seen as redemptive, fulfilling the prophecy of growth through trials.

Reflection on Modern Relevance

  • Discussion encouraging contemporary Christians to reflect on attitudes towards those who stray from faith with mercy, mirroring the church's historical struggles.

  • Reminder that acknowledging historical persecution aids understanding and compassion towards modern issues of faith and community divisiveness.