EMPIRE’S PERSECUTIONS

-calumny of atheism. Christians repelled the empire idols, and totally rejected the emperor’s order to adore him as a divine god;
-roman paganism. The Empire looked at Christianity as a threat against its false idols. Christianity also made its immorality and decadence in old customs evident (bread and circus).

        Nero (54-68). The most difficult and most cruel was Nero’s pursuit. The reason for his fondness in persecuting Christians stemmed after the fire in Rome. Nero set the city of Rome on fire and publicly blamed the Christians for it. St. Peter and St. Paul died in this pursuit.

        Domitian (81-96). He prolonged Nero’s pursuit, and he exiled the main bishops to foreign countries. Domitian continued the blood’s shed around Asia Minor, and in places that were already outside Rome.

        Trajan (98-117). Spanish emperor, using the old law, he didn’t show compassion in Christians. Finding the persecutions of Christian fulfilling, he didn’t even try to stop or put a limit to it. Thousands of believers, including the bishops of Jerusalem and Antioch, were thrown to the lion’s den upon Trajan’s order.

        Septum Severe (193-211). After the Peace of Adriano which was relatively a period of peace and quiet, the new emperor, Septum, began hampering the growth of Christianity by persecuting the "disobedient" with serious punishments. He abolished many schools of catechism like the famous School of Alexandria and repeatedly and mercilessly persecuted the people in the provinces of Africa, Galias and Hispania.

        Decio (249-251). He was probably the emperor who had been the most refined in showing his hatred to Christians. Decio changed old tactics (e.g. persecution through force) in annihilating Christianity. He preferred persecuting using the law. In this way, Decio demanded people (in pain and in prison) to adore Roman idols and him as the new god on earth. Finally, he was able to divide the church into many divisions by finding its member’s weaknesses and by dispersing it in the society.

        Diocletian (303-311). This began with the Roman soldiers; those who did not offer sacrifice were killed. He ordered his men to destroy the churches, to burn the sacred books, to torture and execute all Christians. Thousands of martyrs, like St. Agnes…, endured terrible tortures.

c.1) The Milvian’s Battle-312

        Around 305-311, when Galerio was Rome’s emperor, the imperial army of Majencio begun to lose old and strong customs. Immorality pervaded soldiers and coronels. When the Empire was at death’s door, the young coronel, Constantine, decided to change the course of events and strike the bases of Rome. In the tough battle on Milvian Bridge, Constantine triumphed over Majencio. After his victory, he entered Rome.

c.2) The Milan’s Edict-313

        Constantine’s mother, the future St. Helena, taught her son to be strong but noble. So when he conquered the empire, he tried to consolidate and safeguard her frontiers. Constantine the Great propagated social and religious morality and developed a great treaty of peace. This way, in the year 313, he publicly gave thanks to God for his victory in Milvio, and opened the transcendental Edict of Milan. In this edict, the Empire:

-returned all of the objects robbed from the Church,
-proposed Christianity to be the State’s official religion.

c.3) State’s official religion

        After the Edict of Milan, Constantine I multiplied the schools of catechism and biblical studies. He built many churches and basilicas, increased charitable activities, and fought the old customs and norms. He taught his sons new customs by educating them the love of God, Christ and the Church. At last, Constantine divided the Roman Empire in four provinces under two capitals (Rome in the West and Constantinople in the East). He was baptized before succumbing to death.