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Flashcards in the persecuted church Deck (74)
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1
Q

what’s up w the moral degeneration of the roman empire

A

it confronted the christian ideals of love, purity and supernatural faith (romans)

2
Q

what were the immoral acts that were prevalent in rome?

A
  1. irreligious
  2. lust
  3. lies
  4. worshipping creatures/creations
  5. homeosexuals (whatever)
  6. perversity
  7. greed
  8. envy
  9. murder
  10. bickering
  11. deceit
  12. craftiness
  13. gossipers
  14. slanderers
  15. insolent
  16. haughty
  17. ingenious in their wrong doings
  18. rebellious toward their parents
  19. w/o conscience, loyalty, affection & pity
  20. boastful
3
Q

so, when rome met the christians, what was the consequence?

A

the message of christianity was attractive and appealing to the romans

4
Q

4 consequences of the message of christianity being appealing to the romans:

A

1) human + worth dignity were given importance
2) dignity of women was exalted
3) spirit of christian compassion for the poor, sick and abandoned made a deep impression
4) thirst for power + wealth was opposed, in favor for the rights of others + for the good of the earth

5
Q

the basis of christian persecutions

A
  1. they were a threat to rome’s power and rule
    » wanted to unite all people in God
  2. some christian beliefs and practices conflicted w rome’s worldview
    » christians supposedly had cannibalistic practices during Eucharistic rites
    » they condemned the public spectacle of bloody matches, such as the gladiatorial contests > natural disasters were attributed to them bc they refused to worship the gods
    » they wouldn’t pay the imposed temple tax: disloyalty to the state
6
Q

what year did nero rule?

A

54-60 AD

7
Q

what were nero’s nature + reasons for persecution?

A
  • blamed the christians for 6 DAYS OF FIRE that destroyed three fourths of the city of rome
  • historian tacitus: nero was responsible for the fire so that he could have the glory of rebuilding the city (wtf nero’s so weird but ok)
  • Garden of Nero: many christians were turned into living torches
8
Q

famous martyrs in Nero’s time

A

St. Peter & St. Paul

9
Q

he blamed the christians for the six days of fire that destroyed 3/4 of the city of rome

A

nero

10
Q

historian tacitus said thaat he was responsible for rebuilding he city

A

nero

11
Q

in his garden, many christians were turned into living torches

A

nero

12
Q

famous martyrs in his time include st. paul & peter

A

nero

13
Q

when did domitian rule?

A

81-96 AD

14
Q

what was domitian’s nature + reason for persecution

A

murderous act of a tyrant (dont even know wt this means but)

15
Q

who was attributed to the murderous act of a tyrant?

A

domitian

16
Q

who was the famous martyr during domitian’s time?

A

st. john was exiled to the island of patmos where he wrote the book of revelation

17
Q

whose era was it when st. john was exiled?

A

domitian

18
Q

when did trajan rule?

A

98-100AD

19
Q

what was trajan’s nature + reason for persecution?

A
  • decree: TO BE CHRISTIAN IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH
    » christianity was an illegal religion then
  • hired informers to report to authorities those engaged in christian worship
20
Q

who issued the decree that to be a christian was punishable by death?

A

trajan

21
Q

whose time was it when christianity was an illega religion in the roman empire?

A

trajan

22
Q

who hired informers to report to authorities those who were engaged in christian worship?

A

trajan

23
Q

famous martyr during trajan’s time

A

st. ignatius of antioch

24
Q

who’s time was it when st. ignatius of antioch was a martyr?

A

trajan

25
Q

when did hadrian rule?

A

117-138

26
Q

what was hadrian’s nature + reason for persecution?

A

decree that governors shouldn’t follow the desire of the mob

christians accused of crimes must be judged according to the nature of the crimes

gave some relief to suffering christians

27
Q

who gave the decree that governors shouldn’t follow the desire of the mob?

A

hadrian

28
Q

who said that christians should be judged according to the nature of their crimes?

A

hadrian

29
Q

who gave some relief to suffering christians?

A

hADRIAN

30
Q

when did antonius pius rule?

A

138 - 161 AD

31
Q

what was antonius pius’ nature and reason for perseuction

A
  • accused christians of being atheists for not worshipping the emperor
32
Q

who accused the christians of being athesists for not worshipping the emperor?

A

antonius pius

33
Q

when did marcus aurelius rule?

A

161 - 180 AD

34
Q

what was marcus aurelius’ nature + reasons for persecution?

A

decreed the legalization of persecution

35
Q

who were the famous martyrs during marcus aurelius’ time?

A

justin the philosopher

st. polycarp of smyrna

36
Q

justin the philosopher + st. polycarp of smyrna were martyrs famous during whose time?

A

marcus aurelius

37
Q

who decreed the legalization of persecution?

A

marcus aurelius

38
Q

when did septimus severus rule?

A

193 - 211 AD

39
Q

what was septimus severus’ nature and reason for persecution?

A

fed christians to the lions whenever there was disaster or famine

40
Q

who fed christians to the lions whenever there was disaster or famine?

A

septimus severus

41
Q

who was a tyrannic emperor?

A

marcus aurelius

42
Q

which persecutor- emperors were in the first stage/period?

A

nero & domitian

43
Q

nero and domitian were part of which stage/period?

A

first

44
Q

which persecutor-emperors were part of the second stage/period?

A
trajan
hadrian 
antonius pius 
marcus aurelius 
septimus severus
45
Q
what stage/period were these emperors part of?: trajan
hadrian 
antonius pius 
marcus aurelius 
septimus severus
A

second

46
Q

when did decius rule?

A

249 - 251 AD

47
Q

what was decius’ nature + reason of persecution?

A
  • he considered christianity to be a TERRIBLE POISON
  • he ordered christians to make a PUBLIC ACT OF HOMAGE to the roman gods
  • he issued a decree which required the return of all citizens to WORSHIP THE STATE RELIGION to ERADICATE CHRISTIANITY
48
Q

who considered christianity to be a terrible poison?

A

decius

49
Q

who ordered the christians to do a public act of homage to the roman gods?

A

decius

50
Q

who issued a decree stating that all citizens have to return to the state religion to eradicate christianity?

A

decius

51
Q

when did valerian rule?

A

257 - 284 AD

52
Q

what was valerian’s nature and reason for persecution?

A
  • methodical persecution
  • decreed that all bishops, priests and deacons were to offer sacrifices to the roman gods + immediate arrest to those who opposed
  • conducting secret meetings was punishable by death
  • christian senators and members of the nobility were demoted and their states were confiscated if they refused to worship roman gods. refusal denotes execution, torture + labor
53
Q

who were the martyrs famous during valerian’s time?

A

st. cyprian of carthage

pope sixtus II

54
Q

who created a methodical approach to the persecution of christians?

A

valerian

55
Q

who decreed that all bishops, preists and deacons were to offer sacrifices to the roman gods + ordered immediate arrest for those who opposed?

A

valerian

56
Q

who made it punishable by death if someone was caught conducting secret meetings?

A

valerian

57
Q

who demoted christian senators and members of the mobility + confiscated their states if they refuesed to worship roman gods?

A

valerian

58
Q

who executed, tortured, and sent christian senators and members of the nobility to hard labor?

A

valerian

59
Q

st. cyrpian of carthage and pope sixtus II were famous martyrs of whose time?

A

valerian

60
Q

when did diocletian rule?

A

284 - 305 AD

61
Q

what was diocletian’s nature and reasons for persecution?

A
  • divided the roman empire into a tetrarchy (4 divisions)
  • decreed all christian churches and bibles burned
  • christian meetings were banned
  • immediate arrest and execution of priests and deacons
  • forced christians to offer to gods
  • ordered the bloody executions of Christians as a spectacle to crowds: eyes + tongues extracted, feet stitched, thrown into prison
62
Q

persecutor-emperors that required christians to offer to the gods

A

diocletian, valerian, decius

63
Q

who divided rome into a tetrarchy?

A

diocletian

64
Q

who decreed that all christian churches and bibles to be burned?

A

diocletian

65
Q

who banned all christian meetings?

A

diocletian and valerian

66
Q

who ordered for bloody executions of the christians as spectacles to the crowds?

A

diocletian

67
Q

when did galerius rule?

A

306 - 313 AD

68
Q

what was galerius’ nature and reason for persecution?

A
  • continued the methods of diocletian
  • galerius realized that their persecution was useless, because it made them more firm in their faith + attracted pagans to convert
  • when he was stricken w serious illness, he issued the Decree of Tolerance, granting Christians the right 2 exist
69
Q

who realized that christian persecution was useless?

A

galerius

70
Q

who issued the decree of tolerance?

A

galerius

71
Q

who continued the methods of diocletian?

A

galerius

72
Q

when did maximinus daia rule?

A

306 - 313 AD

73
Q

what was maximinus daia’s nature + reason for persecution

A
  • he demanded christian blood when he assumed the throne

- ordered the persecutions to cease, after pressure from the new conqueror of italy and africa

74
Q

the 4 characteristics of the church during and after the period of persecution

A
  1. martyrdom for christ was a driving force
    > total self-giving
    > theology of suffering was developed
  2. liturgy + creed developed
    - eucharist celebrate the eucharist beside their tombs
    - ask fr their intercession for divine aid and deliverance
    * saints are 4 inspiration
  3. use of arts + symbols
    - christian signs and symbols were carved on the walls and tombs of the martyrs
    - conduit, not idolotry