The Great Persecution

1. Persecution under Decius.2. The Great Persecution.3. How to read historical accounts.

Emperor Decius (249-251)

Started the first empire-wide persecution of Christians

-- Decius ordered everybody to sacrifice to Jupiter and to obtain a certificate

--Decius went after Christian leaders

--problem of the lapsed

Emperor Diocletian (284-305)

• Instigated the second Empire-wide persecution of Christians (303-311)

• Went after church leaders and property

• Installed tetrarchy

Diocletian’s tetrarchy

André Thevet

The Tetrarchs. Corner of San Marco, Venice.

How to Read Historical Accounts

• All histories are written from a particular point of view

• All historical accounts are selective

• History is not a mere time-line or chronicle

• Historians at times distort facts