what’s up w the moral degeneration of the roman empire
it confronted the christian ideals of love, purity and supernatural faith (romans)
what were the immoral acts that were prevalent in rome?
- irreligious
- lust
- lies
- worshipping creatures/creations
- homeosexuals (whatever)
- perversity
- greed
- envy
- murder
- bickering
- deceit
- craftiness
- gossipers
- slanderers
- insolent
- haughty
- ingenious in their wrong doings
- rebellious toward their parents
- w/o conscience, loyalty, affection & pity
- boastful
so, when rome met the christians, what was the consequence?
the message of christianity was attractive and appealing to the romans
4 consequences of the message of christianity being appealing to the romans:
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
the basis of christian persecutions
- they were a threat to rome’s power and rule
» wanted to unite all people in God - 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
what year did nero rule?
54-60 AD
what were nero’s nature + reasons for persecution?
- 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
famous martyrs in Nero’s time
St. Peter & St. Paul
he blamed the christians for the six days of fire that destroyed 3/4 of the city of rome
nero
historian tacitus said thaat he was responsible for rebuilding he city
nero
in his garden, many christians were turned into living torches
nero
famous martyrs in his time include st. paul & peter
nero
when did domitian rule?
81-96 AD
what was domitian’s nature + reason for persecution
murderous act of a tyrant (dont even know wt this means but)
who was attributed to the murderous act of a tyrant?
domitian
who was the famous martyr during domitian’s time?
st. john was exiled to the island of patmos where he wrote the book of revelation
whose era was it when st. john was exiled?
domitian
when did trajan rule?
98-100AD
what was trajan’s nature + reason for persecution?
- 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
who issued the decree that to be a christian was punishable by death?
trajan
whose time was it when christianity was an illega religion in the roman empire?
trajan
who hired informers to report to authorities those who were engaged in christian worship?
trajan
famous martyr during trajan’s time
st. ignatius of antioch
who’s time was it when st. ignatius of antioch was a martyr?
trajan
when did hadrian rule?
117-138
what was hadrian’s nature + reason for persecution?
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
who gave the decree that governors shouldn’t follow the desire of the mob?
hadrian
who said that christians should be judged according to the nature of their crimes?
hadrian
who gave some relief to suffering christians?
hADRIAN
when did antonius pius rule?
138 - 161 AD
what was antonius pius’ nature and reason for perseuction
- accused christians of being atheists for not worshipping the emperor
who accused the christians of being athesists for not worshipping the emperor?
antonius pius
when did marcus aurelius rule?
161 - 180 AD
what was marcus aurelius’ nature + reasons for persecution?
decreed the legalization of persecution
who were the famous martyrs during marcus aurelius’ time?
justin the philosopher
st. polycarp of smyrna
justin the philosopher + st. polycarp of smyrna were martyrs famous during whose time?
marcus aurelius
who decreed the legalization of persecution?
marcus aurelius
when did septimus severus rule?
193 - 211 AD
what was septimus severus’ nature and reason for persecution?
fed christians to the lions whenever there was disaster or famine
who fed christians to the lions whenever there was disaster or famine?
septimus severus
who was a tyrannic emperor?
marcus aurelius
which persecutor- emperors were in the first stage/period?
nero & domitian
nero and domitian were part of which stage/period?
first
which persecutor-emperors were part of the second stage/period?
trajan hadrian antonius pius marcus aurelius septimus severus
what stage/period were these emperors part of?: trajan hadrian antonius pius marcus aurelius septimus severus
second
when did decius rule?
249 - 251 AD
what was decius’ nature + reason of persecution?
- 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
who considered christianity to be a terrible poison?
decius
who ordered the christians to do a public act of homage to the roman gods?
decius
who issued a decree stating that all citizens have to return to the state religion to eradicate christianity?
decius
when did valerian rule?
257 - 284 AD
what was valerian’s nature and reason for persecution?
- 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
who were the martyrs famous during valerian’s time?
st. cyprian of carthage
pope sixtus II
who created a methodical approach to the persecution of christians?
valerian
who decreed that all bishops, preists and deacons were to offer sacrifices to the roman gods + ordered immediate arrest for those who opposed?
valerian
who made it punishable by death if someone was caught conducting secret meetings?
valerian
who demoted christian senators and members of the mobility + confiscated their states if they refuesed to worship roman gods?
valerian
who executed, tortured, and sent christian senators and members of the nobility to hard labor?
valerian
st. cyrpian of carthage and pope sixtus II were famous martyrs of whose time?
valerian
when did diocletian rule?
284 - 305 AD
what was diocletian’s nature and reasons for persecution?
- 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
persecutor-emperors that required christians to offer to the gods
diocletian, valerian, decius
who divided rome into a tetrarchy?
diocletian
who decreed that all christian churches and bibles to be burned?
diocletian
who banned all christian meetings?
diocletian and valerian
who ordered for bloody executions of the christians as spectacles to the crowds?
diocletian
when did galerius rule?
306 - 313 AD
what was galerius’ nature and reason for persecution?
- 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
who realized that christian persecution was useless?
galerius
who issued the decree of tolerance?
galerius
who continued the methods of diocletian?
galerius
when did maximinus daia rule?
306 - 313 AD
what was maximinus daia’s nature + reason for persecution
- he demanded christian blood when he assumed the throne
- ordered the persecutions to cease, after pressure from the new conqueror of italy and africa
the 4 characteristics of the church during and after the period of persecution
- martyrdom for christ was a driving force
> total self-giving
> theology of suffering was developed - liturgy + creed developed
- eucharist celebrate the eucharist beside their tombs
- ask fr their intercession for divine aid and deliverance
* saints are 4 inspiration - use of arts + symbols
- christian signs and symbols were carved on the walls and tombs of the martyrs
- conduit, not idolotry