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YALE UNIVERSITY
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THE LIBRARY OF THE
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Vol. IV. No. ,.

Translations and Reprints

FROM THE

Original Sources of European History

THE EARLY CHRISTIAN PERSECUTIONS.
Third Edition.
EDITED BY DANA CARLETON MUNRO, A.M., and EDITH BRAMHALL, PH.D.

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Translations and Reprints
FROM THE
ORIGINAL, SOURCES OF EUROPEAN HISTORY.
Vol,. IV. The Early Christian Persecutions. No. i.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
I. Introduction,  2
Tertullian 's General Statement  2
II. Persecution under Nero.
Account by Tacitus,  4
Account by Suetonius,  5
Account by Clement  5
Account by Sulpicius Severus  6
III. Persecution under Domitian.
The Flavian Policy — Sulpicius Severns,  6
Account by Cassius Dio,  7
Account by Suetonius,  7
IV. Attitude of Trajan and Hadrian.
Pliny's Letter to Trajan  8
Trajan's Reply,  9
Hadrian's Rescript to Minucius Fundanus,  10
V. Persecution under Marcus Aurelius.
Martyrdoms at Lyons and Vienne,/  II
VI. Persecutions of the Third Century.
Persecution under Septimius Severus.
The Rescript,  20
Account by TertuUian,  20
Account by Eusebius,  21
Persecution under Maximinus Thrax.
Account by Eusebius,  21
Lactantius on the death of Decius,  21
Persecution under Valerian.
Cyprian's Letter  22
Martyrdom of Cyprian  23
Decree of Aurelian  26
VII. Triumph of Christianity.
Edicts of Diocletian,  26
Edict of Toleration by Galerius, ........... 28
Edict of Milan,  29
VIII. Select Bibliography  31

TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.

I. INTRODUCTION.
The tradition of the ten persecutions of the Christians is of no value, for, if
all are included the number is entirely too small ; if only the great persecutions,
it is too large. Gibbon suggests that the ingenious parallels of the ten plagues of
Egypt and the ten horns of the Apocalypse first suggested this calculation to the
ecclesiastical writers of the fifth century. The ten traditional persecutions were
those which occurred under Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius
Severus, Maximinus, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian and Galerius.
There was no general persecution until after the decree of Decius (250 A. D.).
Before this all persecutions were the results of administrative action, and conse
quently might occur at any time and at any place without affecting the rest of the
empire. They depended on local feeling and the character of the governor, not
on that of the emperor.
The Christians were outlaws and it was for the Name that they were perse-
1 cuted, not. because they held illegal assemblies : they were members of a body
essentially hostile to the organization of the State. Nero originated this policy,
when he seized upon the Christians as scapegoats to avert the suspicion which had
fallen on him of having set fire to Rome ; and he probably made it a permanent,
systematic measure of administration.
After the time of Nero persecutions, of greater or less intensity and extent,
occurred only occasionally ; but it is to be noted that they were always a possibi
lity. When consulted, Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius all followed the
accepted policy : Christians were not to be sought out, but were to be condemned
to death for the Name when an accusation was brought against them by a definite
person. The extract from Tertullian is noteworthy because he, in common with all the
early church fathers, insisted that only bad emperors persecuted ; modern scholars
are wont to say that a good emperor, who had the welfare of the State at heart,
was almost necessarily a persecutor. Tertullian's statement may have been biased,
to some extent, by the fact that it was made in an apology, which was intended
to influence official action.

tertullian's GENERAL STATEMENT.
Liber Apologeticus, ch. 5. Opera, ed. Oehler (Leipzig, 1853), vol. I, p. 130
sq. Latin. To reconsider the origin of such laws, there was an old decree that
no God should be consecrated by the emperor, unless sanctioned by the
senate. M. Aemilius knows how it was with his god, Alburnus. And
this is an argument for our cause that among you divinity is allotted at

TERTULLIAN'S STATEMENT. 3
the caprice of man. Unless the god has won the favor of man, he is
not a god ; presently man will have to be propitious to the god.
Tiberius, therefore, in whose time the Christian name was made
known to the world, sent to the senate, with the sanction of his favor,
the information which he had received from Syrian Palestine which had
revealed there the truth concerning the God himself. The senate, be
cause it had not recommended the measure, rejected it. Caesar kept to
his purpose and threatened those who accused the Christians. Consult
your annals ; there you will find that Nero was the first to rage with the
imperial sword against this sect, then rising rapidly in Rome. But we
even glory in such an author of our condemnation. For anyone who
knows him cannot but see that nothing but what was pre-eminently good
was condemned by Nero. And Domitian, a limb of Nero for cruelty,
essayed persecution; but, because he was human too, he soon checked it
and even restored those whom he had exiled. It is always such as
these who are our persecutors, men unjust, impious and base ; men whom
you yourselves are not only accustomed to condemn, but whose victims
you restore. From the whole number of princes, wise in affairs divine and hu
man, point out anyone, from that time to the present day, hostile to
the Christians. But we, on the other hand, show you a protector, if the
letters of the most venerable emperor, M. Aurelius, are examined which
testify that the prayers of the Christians, who happened to be soldiers,
secured a shower which put an end to that drought in Germany. As
he did not openly free this class of men from the penalty, yet by another
method he did openly make it of no avail, for he added a condemnation
for the informers, and that a more severe one.
What kind of laws are these which are enforced against us only
by the impious, the unjust, the base, the savage, the false, and the mad ;
which Trajan frustrated in part by forbidding Christians to be sought
out ; which no Hadrian, although a man who pried into all novelties,
no Vespasian, although a conqueror of the Jews, no Pius, no Verus,
ever executed ? It would certainly be more readily thought that the
worst would be eradicated by the best, by their enemies rather than by
their friends.

4 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
II. PERSECUTION UNDER NERO.
This took place in 64 A. D. The testimony of Tacitus is the best known and
the most important. As a boy, he may have witnessed the fire and the persecu
tion. An account of the fire immediately precedes the passage here quoted. This
is the earliest record of the crucifixion by a classical author and the only mention
of Pontius Pilate by a Roman historian (Bury). There is not, as used to be sup
posed, any opposition between the statements of Tacitus and of Suetonius. The
latter says very little about the persecution, but it is interesting to see by the con
text how he regarded it.
The passage from Clement, which Harnack dates 93-95 A. D., probably re
fers chiefly to the Neronian persecution. But Ramsay says : (p. 310) " Clement
is most naturally understood as referring to a continuous persecution throughout
his own generation, keener, perhaps, at one time than at others."
For this persecution compare Eusebius, Book II, ch. 25 ; Orosius, Book VII,
ch. 7. Juvenal, First Satire, verses 155 ff., and Revelations, passim, are often
cited. Sulpicius Severus adds the bit quoted from him, after an account of the fire at
Rome and the subsequent persecution of the Christians which he copied from
Tacitus.

ACCOUNT BY TACITUS.
Annales, XV, 44. ed. H. Furneaux, Oxford (1891), vol. Ill, p. 526. Latin.
Therefore to check this rumor, those, who where called Christians
by the mob and hated for their moral enormities, were substituted in
his place as culprits by Nero and afflicted with the most exquisite pun
ishments. Christ, from whom the name was given, was put to death
during the reign of Tiberius, by the procurator Pontius Pilate. Al
though checked for the time, this pernicious superstition broke out again
not only in Judea, where the evil originated, but throughout the City,
in which the atrocities and shame from all parts of the world center and
flourish. Therefore those who confessed were first seized, then on their
information a great multitude were convicted, not so much of the crime
of incendiarism, as of hatred of the human race. The victims who
perished also suffered insults, for some were covered with the skins of
wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs, while others were fixed to crosses
and burnt to light the night when daylight had failed. Nero had of
fered his gardens for the spectacle and was giving a circus show, ming
ling with the people in the dress of a driver, or speeding about in a
chariot. Although they were criminals who deserved the most severe
punishment, yet a feeling of pity arose, since they were put to death not
for the public good but to satisfy the rage of an individual.

PERSECUTION UNDER NERO. 5
ACCOUNT BY SUETONIUS.
Vita Neronis, XVI ; ed. Carl Roth, Leipzig (1891), p. 176 sq. Latin.
In his reign many things were severely censured and suppressed
and many also instituted : a limit was set to lavish expenditure ; public
dinners were reduced to doles ; cook-shops were forbidden to sell any
prepared food except pulse or herbs, whereas formerly all kinds of rel
ishes had been offered ; Christians, a class of men of a new and vicious
superstition, were subjected to severe punishments ; the quadriga races
were forbidden, because the charioteers wandered about, and by long
license, assumed the right to make a jest of cheating and stealing ; the
partisans of the pantomimes were banished, together with the actors
themselves ; to prevent forgery, means were first devised by which no
document was to be sealed until it had been perforated and a thread
run through three times.

ACCOUNT BY CLEMENT.
First Epistle to the Corinthians, ch. V, VI, VII. (Patres Apostoli., ed. Cot-
elerius, Antwerp, 1700.) Greek.
V. But to leave ancient examples, let us come to the recent cham
pions, let us take the noble examples furnished by our own generation.
On account of emulation and envy, those who were faithful and most
righteous pillars of the Church have suffered persecution even unto
death. Let us set before our eyes the holy Apostles. Peter by unjust envy
endured not one or two, but many sufferings ; and so, made a martyr,
he departed to the place of glory due him. On account of envy Paul
obtained the reward of patience, after he had been seven times in bonds,
and had been whipped and stoned. He preached in the East and in
the West and received the glorious reward of his faith. He taught the
whole world righteousness, and coming to the extreme West he suffered
martyrdom under the governors, so that he departed from the world and
went to his holy place, a great example of patience.
VI. Unto these men of holy lives was joined a vast multitude of
the elect who, suffering much disgrace and many torments on account of
envy, were a most noble example for us. On account of envy, women
were tormented ; Danaides and Dirce, when they suffered severe and
unjust punishments, persevered in their constant faith, and though

6 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
weak in body received a glorious reward. Envy has alienated women
from their husbands and has changed that saying of our father Adam :
" This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh." Envy and strife
have overturned great cities and rooted out great nations.
VII. These things, beloved, we write not only for your instruc
tion, but also for your own remembrance ; for we are in the same lists
and the same contest is imposed upon us 
ACCOUNT BY SULPICIUS SEVERUS.
Chron. II. 29. Opera, ed. C. Halm, (1864). Corp. Script. Ecc. Lat. (Vienna),
I. p. 83. Latin.
Then he began to rage against the Christians. Afterwards he
even made laws forbidding the religion, and published edicts, ordering
that Christianity should not exist. At this time Paul and Peter were
condemned ; one of them was beheaded. Peter was crucified.
III. PERSECUTION UNDER DOMITIAN.
There is no mention of a persecution during this reign, until the middle of the
second century, and then there are only a few doubtful passages. Early traditions,
however, strenuously affirm that Domitian was a persecutor and, as Mommsen sug
gests, these few cases happen to have been recorded by profane writers because
people of note were involved.
The bit from Sulpicius Severus is probably a reproduction of a lost passage of
the Histories of Tacitus, and indicates the attitude of the Flavians to the
Christians. Allard and Ramsay are both of this opinion.
Cassius Dio wrote in the second century, much later than the time of this per
secution. Only a part of his History has been preserved* ; for the period of
Domitian we have only an Epitome by Xiphilinus. He did not mention Christians
by name, at all. This passage is the only one in which any pagan writer mentions
that Domitian punished any one for religious reasons.
Suetonius' use of the phrase " contemptible indolence " has seemed to some
scholars a proof that Clemens was a Christian ; see Lightfoot and Ramsay espec
ially. THE FLAVIAN POLICY.
Sulpicius Severus, Chron. II. 30, ed. C. Halm, I. p. 90. Latin.
It is reported that Titus previously summoned a council to deliber
ate as to whether a building of such wonderful workmanship as the
Temple should be destroyed. Some thought that this sacred edifice,

*See Gibbon, ed. by Bury, Vol. I, p. 423.

PERSECUTION UNDER DOMITIAN. 7
glorious beyond human construction, ought not to be destroyed, and
that, if it were preserved it would furnish evidence of Roman modera
tion, but if destroyed, it would be an everlasting proof of cruelty. On
the other hand, others, and even Titus himself, were of the opinion that
the Temple ought to be destroyed, particularly in order that the relig
ions of the Jews and Christians should be completely rooted out, for
granting that these religions are opposed to each other, yet they were
both originated by the same authors. The Christians sprang from the
Jews ; the root being destroyed, the branch would soon perish. Thus
the spirits of all were roused and by the will of God the Temple was
destroyed three hundred and thirty-one years ago.

ACCOUNT BY CASSIUS DIO.
Histor. Rom. (excerpt, per Xiphilinum) Bk. LXVII, ch. 14. ed. Leipzig,
1829, Vol. IV. p. 97. Greek.
At this time [95 A. D.] the road leading from Sinuessa to Puteoli
was paved with stones. And in the same year Domitian put to death,
besides many others, his cousin Flavius Clemens, who was then consul,
and the wife of Flavius, Flavia Domitilla, who was his own relative.
The crime charged against both was sacrilege. On the same charge
many others who had adopted Jewish customs were condemned. Some
were put to death, others had their property confiscated. Domitilla
was exiled alone on Pandataria.1

ACCOUNT BY SUETONIUS.
Vita Dom. XV, ed. Carl Roth, Leipzig (1891) p. 250. Latin.
Finally, on the very slightest suspicion, he suddenly slew, before
he was fairly out of his consulship his cousin, Flavius Clemens, a man
of most contemptible indolence, whose sons, when mere children, he had

1 Some scholars translate the next sentence in Cassius Dio as follows : "Domi
tian put to death Glabrio, who had been consul with Trajan, accused among other
things of the same crimes." See Allard: Histoire, I, 109. The text reads:
Tov Ai di) Tyaj3piava tov fiera tov Tpaiavoi apl-avra KaT7iyopr[&kvTa to, te aXXa Kal 61a
oi no'XUl Kal oti Kal dripioic ipaxtro, aweKTeivev.

TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.

publicly designated as his successors and had ordered, after having
dropped their own names, the one to take the name Vespasian, and the
other, Domitian.

IV. ATTITUDE OF TRAJAN AND HADRIAN.
Until recently it has been generally believed that this letter from Trajan to
Pliny changed the legal status of the Christians. In spite of the uniform tradition
of the early Church that Trajan had favored them (see above, p. 3), scholars assum
ed that he first made the Name a sufficient cause for condemnation. This perse
cution took place in III or 112.
The rescript of Hadrian is appended to the first Apology of Justin Martyr,
which was written probably 140 A. D. Formerly there was much doubt as to its
authenticity, but Lightfoot, Mommsen, Ramsay, and Allard have added the weight
of their authority in favor of its genuineness, and Harnack is inclined to accept it.

PLINY'S LETTER TO THE EMPEROR TRAJAN.
Epist. X, 96, 97, ed. H. Keil, Leipzig (1870), p. 307 sq. Latin.
It is my custom, my Lord, to refer to you all things concerning
which I am in doubt. For who can better guide my indecision or en
lighten my ignorance ?
I have never taken part in the trials of Christians : hence I do not
know for what crime nor to what extent it is customary to punish or in
vestigate. I have been in no little doubt as to whether any discrimina
tion is made for age, or whether the treatment of the weakest does not
differ from that of the stronger ; whether pardon is granted in case of
repentance, or whether he who has ever been a Christian gains nothing
by having ceased to be one ; whether the name, itself without the proof
of crimes, or the crimes, inseparably connected with the name, are pun
ished. Meanwhile, I have followed this procedure in the case of those
who have been brought before me as Christians. I asked them whether
they were Christians a second ahd a third time and with threats of pun
ishment ; I questioned those who confessed ; I ordered those who were
obstinate to be executed. For I did not doubt that, whatever it was
that they confessed, their stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy ought
certainly to be punished. There were others of similar madness, who
because they were Roman citizens, I have noted for sending to the City.
Soon, the crime speading, as is usual when attention is called to it,

PLINY'S LETTER TO TRAJAN. 9
more cases arose. An anonymous accusation containing many names
was presented. Those who denied that they were or had been Christ
ians, ought, I thought, to be dismissed since they repeated after me a
prayer to the gods and made supplication with incense and wine to your
image, which I had ordered to be brought for the purpose together
with the statues of the gods, and since besides they cursed Christ, not
one of which things they say, those who are really Christians can be
compelled to do. Others, accused by the informer, said that they were
Christians and afterwards denied it ; in fact they had been but had
ceased to be, some many years ago, some even twenty years before. AU
both worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed
Christ. They continued to maintain that this was the amount of their
fault or error, that on a fixed day they were accustomed to come to
gether before daylight and to sing by turns a hymn to Christ as a god,
and that they bound themselves by oath, not for some crime but that
they would not commit robbery, theft, or adultery, that they would not
betray a trust nor deny a deposit when called upon. After this it was
their custom to disperse and to come together again to partake of food,
of an ordinary and harmless kind, however ; even this they had ceased
to do after the publication of my edict in which according to your com
mand I had forbidden associations. Hence I believed it the more
necessary to examine two female slaves, who were called deaconesses, in
order to find out what was true, and to do it by torture. I found noth
ing but a vicious, extravagant superstition. Consequently I have post
poned the examination and make haste to consult you. For it seemed
to me that the subject would justify consultation, especially on account
of the number of those in peril. For many of all ages, of every rank,
and even of both sexes are and will be called into danger. The infec
tion of this superstition has not only spread to the cities but even to the
villages and country districts. It seems possible to stay it and bring
about a reform. It is plain enough that the temples, which had been
almost deserted, have begun to be frequented again, that the sacred
rites, which had been neglected for a long time, have begun to be re
stored, and that fodder for victims, for which till now there was scarcely
a purchaser, is sold. From which one may readily judge what a num
ber of men can be reclaimed if repentance is permitted.
TRAJAN'S REPLY.
You have followed the correct procedure, my Secundus, in con-

IO TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
ducting the cases of those who were accused before you as Christians,
for no general rule can be laid down as a set form. They ought not to
be sought out ; if they are brought before you and convicted they ought
to be punished ; provided that he who denies that he is a Christian,
and proves this by making supplication to our gods, however much he
may have been under suspicion in the past, shall secure pardon on re
pentance. In the case of no crime should attention be paid to anony
mous charges, for they afford a bad precedent and are not worthy of
our age. RESCRIPT OF HADRIAN TO MINUCIUS FUNDANUS.
Justin Martyr, Opera, ed. Otto, Jena (1842), I, p. 273 sq. Greek.
I have received the letter written to me by your predecessor, Sere-
nus Granianus, a most excellent man ; and it does not seem well to pass
over this report in silence, lest both the innocent be confounded and an
occasion for robbery be given to false accusers. Accordingly, if the in
habitants are able to sustain their accusations openly against Christians,
so as to charge them with something before the tribunal, I do not forbid
them to do this. But I do not permit mere tumultuous cries and accla
mations to be used, for it is much more equitable that if anyone wishes
to make accusation, you should know the charges. If, therefore, any
one charges and proves that the men designated have done anything
contrary to the laws, you are to fix penalties in proportion to their
transgressions. By Hercules, you shall take special care, if, out of
calumny, anyone prosecutes one of them, to inflict on the accuser a
more severe punishment for his villainy.
V. PERSECUTION UNDER MARCUS AURELIUS.
Two points may well surprise us : first, that such a bitter persecution should
have taken place under " the best of emperors ;" and, secondly, that TertuUian,
in spite of this persecution of which he probably knew, should have spoken of Mar
cus Aurelius as being favorably inclined towards the Christians. The first point
may be explained in part by recalling that in the only passage of his Meditations,
in which the emperor speaks of the Christians, he styles their attitude " sheer ob
stinacy. ' '
The account of the persecution at Lyons and Vienne is especially valuable be
cause it is from a letter written by eye-witnesses. It is a subject of regret that Eu
sebius did not preserve the whole letter. The date of the persecution was about 1 78.

PERSECUTION AT LYONS AND VIENNE. II
THE PERSECUTION AT LYONS AND VIENNE.
Eusebius : Historia Ecclesiastica, Book V. ch. I, 3 ff. (ed. Dindorf, Vol. IV,
Leipzig, 1871, pp. 183-198). Greek.
" The servants of Christ, living at Vienne and Lyons in Gaul, to
the brethren throughout Asia and Phrygia who have the same faith
and hope of redemption that we have, peace, grace and glory from God
the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
Then after some other preliminary remarks they begin their ac
count in the following words : " The magnitude of the tribulation here,
the great fury of the heathen against the saints, and how much the
blessed martyrs endured, we cannot fully recount, nor indeed is it pos
sible to express these in writing. For with all his might the adversary
broke loose upon us, showing even now how unrestrained his future
coming would be. He tried every means of training and exercising
his followers against the servants of God, so that not only were we ex
cluded from houses, baths and markets, but also forbidden, every one
of us, to appear in any place whatsoever.
But the grace of God fought against the adversary, rescued the
weak, and arrayed firm pillars, able through patience to withstand
every attack of the Evil One. They engaged in conflict with him, suf
fering every kind of shame and inj ury, and, counting their great trials
as small, they hastened to Christ, showing that ' the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall
be revealed to us ward.'
First, indeed, they endured nobly the sufferings heaped upon them
by the general populace : clamors, blows, being dragged along, rob
beries, stonings, imprisonments, and all that an enraged mob loves to
inflict on opponents and enemies. Then they were taken to the forum
by the chiliarch and the ordained authorities of the city and were ex
amined in the presence of the whole multitude. Having confessed,
they were imprisoned until the arrival of the governor. When they
were afterwards brought before him and he treated us with all manner
of cruelty, Vettius Epagathus, one of the brethren, filled with love for
God and his neighbor, interfered. His daily life was so consistent that,
although young, he had a reputation like the elder Zacharias, for he
* walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blame
less ' and was untiring in every good office for his neighbor, filled with
zeal for God and fervent in spirit. Such a man could not endure the

I2 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
unrighteous judgment against us, but was filled with indignation and
demanded that he should be permitted to testify in ^ behalf of the
brethren, that there was uo atheism nor impiety in us. Those about the
tribunal cried out against him, and with reason, for he was a man of
mark; and the governor denied his just request, but asked only this
one question, if he also wns a Christiaii ; and on his confessing this
most distinctly, placed him also in the number of the martyrs. He
was called the advocate of the Christians, but he had the Advocate
\_UapdxXrjT„v'] in himself, the Spirit more fully than Zacharias. This
he manifested by the fulness of his love, counting himself happy to lay
down his own life in the defence of the brethren. For he was and is a
true disciple of Christ, 'following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.'
After that the others were divided and the proto-martyrs were
known and held in readiness. They with all eagerness finished the
confession of martyrdom. But some appeared unprepared and un
trained and still weak, unable to endure the strain of a great contest.
Of these about ten became apostates, who caused us great pain and ex
cessive sorrow, and weakened the zeal of the others who had not yet been
seized, and who, although suffering all kinds of evil, were constantly
with the martyrs and did not abandon them. Then indeed all were in
great fear on account of the uncertainty of the confession, not fearing
the sufferings to be endured, but looking to the end and fearing lest
some one should apostatize. Yet those who were worthy were seized
each day, filling up their number, so that all the zealous and those
through whom especially our affairs had been managed were gathered
together from the two churches. And some of our servants who were
heathens were seized because the governor had ordered that we should
all be examined in public.
These, by the wiles of Satan, fearing the tortures which they saw
the saints suffering and urged by the soldiers to do this, accused us
falsely of Thyestean banquets and Oedipodean incests and of deeds
which it is not lawful for us to speak or think of, and which we do
not believe men ever committed. When these accusations were reported
all raged like wild beasts against us, so that even those who had pre
viously restrained themselves on account of kinship, then beoame ex
ceedingly enraged and gnashed their teeth against us. And the saying
of our Lord was fulfilled that ' the time will come when whosoever
killeth you will think that he doeth God's service.' Then finally the
' holy martyrs endured sufferings beyond all description and Satan

PERSECUTIONS AT LYONS AND VIENNE. 1 3
strove earnestly that some blasphemies might be uttered by them also.
But the whole rage of the people, governor and soldiers was arous
ed exceedingly against Sanctus, deacon from Vienne, and against Mat-
urus, a recent convert but a noble combatant, and against Attalus, a
native of Pergamus, who had always been a pillar and a foundation in
that place, and against Blandina through whom Christ showed that
what appears mean, deformed and contemptible to men is of great glory
with God through love for Him, shown in power and not boasting in
appearance. For while we all, together with her mistress on earth, who
was herself also one of the combatants among the martyrs, feared lest
in the strife she should be unable to make her confession on account of
her bodily weakness, Blandina was filled with such power that she was
delivered and raised above those who took turns in torturing her in
every manner from dawn till evening ; and they confessed that they
were defeated and had nothing more which they could do to her. They
marvelled at her endurance, for her whole body was mangled and brok
en ; and they testified that one form of torture was sufficient to destroy
life, to say nothing of so many and so great tortures. But the blessed
one, like a noble athlete, renewed her strength in the confession ; and
her comfort, refreshment and relief from suffering was in saying, ' I am
a Christian ' and ' Nothing vile is done by us.'
Sanctus also himself, marvellously and beyond all men, endured
nobly all human outrages, while the wicked hoped by the duration and
severity of the tortures to wring from him something which he ought
not to utter, he withstood them with such firmness, that he did not even
tell his own name nor the nation nor the city whence be came, nor whether
he was a bondsman or free, but to all questions he replied in the Ro
man tongue, ' I am a Christian.' This he confessed instead of name
and city and race and everything else, and the people did not hear him
utter another word. Then the governor and those who were torturing
him became exceedingly obstinate against him, so that when they had
nothing else that they could do to him, they at last applied red-hot
brass plates to the most tender parts of his body. These indeed were
burned, but he remained unsubdued and unshaken, firm in his confes
sion, refreshed and strengthened by the celestial spring of the water of
life flowing from the bowels of Christ. But his body was a witness of
his sufferings, all one wound and scar, shriveled up and without hu
man appearance externally. Christ, suffering in him, showed great
wonders, defeating the adversary and exhibiting an example to the

14 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
others, that there is nothing fearful where the love of the Father exists,
nothing painful where the glory of Christ is. For when the lawless men
tortured the martyr again after some days and thought that, as his
body was swollen and inflamed, if they applied the same tortures, they
would overcome him, since he could not bear the touch of a hand ;
or that, if he died under the tortures, it would strike the others with
terror, not only no such thing happened to him, but even contrary to
all human expectations, his body rose and stood up straight during the
remaining tortures and took on its former appearance and recovered
the use of the limbs, so that through the grace of Christ the second tor
ture was not suffering but healing.
But the devil, thinking he had already consumed a certain Biblias,
one of those who had recanted, wishing also to condemn her on account
of blasphemy, led her to the torture to compel her, as she was already
feeble and weak, to utter impious things concerning us. But she re
covered herself in her suffering and, as if aroused from a deep sleep and
reminded by the present anguish of the eternal torture in hell, she con
tradicted the blasphemers, saying : ' How could they eat children for
whom it is not lawful even to taste the blood of irrational animals ?'
' And after that she confessed herself a Christian and was placed in the
order of the martyrs.
But as the tyrannical tortures were deprived of effect by Christ,
through the patience of the blessed, the devil invented other contriv
ances : confinement in the dark and in the most loathsome place in the
prison, stretching the feet in stocks extended to the fifth hole, and other
torments such as attendants when enraged and filled with the devil are
accustomed to inflict upon prisoners, so that very many were suffocated
in prison whom the Lord willed to depart thus, manifesting His glory.
For some who had been tortured cruelly, so that it seemed impossible
for them to live, even if every means should be applied to heal them,
remained in the prison, destitute of care from men, strengthened by the
Lord and invigorated in body and soul, exhorting and encouraging the
others. But the young and those recently arrested, whose bodies were
not inured to torture, could not endure the severity of the imprison
ment and died in prison.
The blessed Pothinus, who had been entrusted with the office of
bishop in Lyons, was dragged to the tribunal. He was over ninety
years of age and very weak in body, breathing with difficulty on account
of his physical weakness, but invigorated with spiritual zeal because of

PERSECUTION AT LYONS AND VIENNE. 1 5
his intense eagerness for martyrdom. His body was worn out by old
age and disease, but life was preserved in him in order that Christ
might triumph in him. When he was carried by the soldiers to the
tribunal and was accompanied by the magistrates of the city and the
whole multitude who uttered all kinds of outcries against him, as if he
were Christ Himself, he bore noble witness.
On being asked by the governor who was the god of the Christians,
he said, ' If you are worthy you shall know.' Then he was dragged off
harshly and endured many blows. Those near him struck him with
their hands and feet in every manner, regardless of his age ; those at a
distance threw at him whatever they had in their hands ; all thinking
that they would sin extremely and be guilty of great impiety if any in
sult to him was omitted, for they thought thus to avenge their own gods.
And scarcely breathing he was cast into prison and died after two days.
Then indeed a certain great interposition of God occurred and the
boundless mercy of Christ was shown in a manner that had rarely hap
pened among the brotherhood, but not at all beyond the power of
Christ. For those who had recanted when first arrested were impris
oned also and shared the sufferings. For their recantation was of no
profit to them, even in this present time. Those who had confessed^
what they were, were imprisoned as Christians, no other charge being
brought against them ; but the former were treated as murderers,
defiled with blood, and suffered twice as severely as the latter. For
the joy of martrydom and the hope of things promised and the love of
Christ and the Spirit of the Father encouraged the latter ; but their
consciences greatly terrified the former, so that their countenances were
distinguishable from all the rest when they were led forth. For the
latter went forth joyfully, great glory and grace joining together in
their countenances, so that their very bonds seemed to form beautiful
ornaments for them, like those of a bride adorned with variegated golden
fringes and perfumed with the sweet fragrance of Christ, so that some
thought them perfumed with earthly ointment. But those who had re
canted were downcast, humble, sad, and filled with all kinds of disgrace,
and in addition were reproached by the heathen as ignoble and coward
ly, under the accusation of murder, and having lost all the honorable,
glorious and life-giving Name. Others, when they saw this, were
strengthened, and when arrested they confessed at once, paying no heed
to the devil's suggestions."
After some other remarks they again continue : " Finally after this

L-

1 6 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
their martyrdom was divided into all kinds of forms. For plaiting a
crown of various colors and of all kinds of flowers they offered it to the
Father. It was fitting indeed that the noble athletes who had sus
tained a manifold conflict and had conquered grandly should obtain the
great crown of immortality. Maturus, Sanctus, Blandina and Attalus
were therefore led to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre and, in order
to give to the heathen public a spectacle of cruelty, a day was especially
appointed for our people to fight with the wild beasts. Accordingly
Maturus and Sanctus again passed through the whole torture in the
amphitheatre, not as if they had suffered nothing at all before, but
rather as if having overcome the adversary already in many kinds of
contests they were now striving for the crown itself. They endured
again the running the gauntlet customary in that place and the at
tacks from the wild beasts and everything that the raging multitude,
who cried out from one place or another, desired, and at last the
iron chair in which their bodies were roasted and tormented them
with the fumes. Not even with this did the tortures cease, but they
raged still more, desiring to overcome their patience, and they did
not hear a word from Sanctus except the confession which he had made
from the beginning. These, accordingly, after their life had continued
for a very long time through the great conflict, died at last, after hav
ing furnished a spectacle to the world throughout that day instead of
all the varieties of gladiatorial combats.
But Blandina suspended on a stake was exposed as food for the
wild beasts which should fall upon her. Because she seemed to be sus
pended in the manner of a cross and because of her earnest prayers, she
encouraged the contestants greatly. They looking upon her in her con
flict, beheld with their eyes, through their sister, Him who had suffered
for them in order to persuade those who trust in Him that everyone
who suffers for the glory of Christ has eternal fellowship with the living
God. And as none of the beasts touched her at that time, she was
taken down from the stake and led away again to the prison, to be pre
served for another contest, in order that, by conquering in more trials,
she might make the condemnation of the crooked serpent irrevocable,
and that she, small, weak and despicable, yet filled with Christ, the
great and victorious Athlete, might encourage the brethren, and that
she, after having overcome the antagonist in many contest, might ob
tain through the conflict the crown of immortality.
But when Attalus himself was loudly called for by the throng

PERSECUTION AT LYONS AND VIENNE. 1 7
(for he was a distinguished man) he entered as a ready contestant on
account of his good conscience, as he was truly skilled in the Christian
discipline and had always been a witness of the truth among us. And
as he was led about in the ring of the amphitheatre, a tablet was borne
before him on which was written in the Roman, ' This is Attalus the
Christian,' and the people were exceedingly indignant against him.
But when the governor learned that this man was a Roman, he ordered
him to be led away to prison again and to remain with the others who
were there, concerning whom he had written to Caesar, from whom he
was now awaiting an answer.
But the time which intervened was not wasted nor profitless for
them, for by their patience the boundless mercy of Christ was shown.
For through the living the dead were restored to life and the witnesses
showed favor to those who were not witnesses, and there was great joy
for the virgin mother when she received back again living, those whom
she had brought forth as dead. For through these the greater part of
those who had been apostates retraced their steps, were again conceived,
again endowed with life, and learned to confess. And now living and
strengthened they went to the tribunal, while God, who desireth not
the death of a sinner, but mercifully inviteth to repentance, regarded
them kindly, in order that they might again be questioned by the gov
ernor. For Caesar had written that these should be put to death, but
if any should deny they should be dismissed. At the beginning of the
festival held there, which is attended by throngs of people from all na
tions, the governor had the blessed ones brought to the judgment-seat
to be a show and spectacle for the multitude. Therefore he examined
them again, and as many as seemed to be Roman citizens he had be
headed, the others he sent to the wild beasts.
Christ was glorified greatly in those who had previously denied
him, for contrary to the expectation of the heathen, they confessed.
For these were examined separately as about to be set free, and when
they confessed, they were added to the number of the martyrs. But
those who never had a particle of faith, nor any expectation of the wed
ding garment, nor any thought of the fear of God, remained without,
and as sons of perdition blasphemed the way through their apostacy.
All the others were added to the Church. While these were examined
a certain Alexander, a Phrygian by birth, and a physician by profes
sion, who had resided in Gaul for many years, and who was extremely
well-known to all by his love for God and boldness of speech, (for he

1 8 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
was not without a share of apostolic grace) stood by the tribunal. By
signs he encouraged them to confess and seemed to those who were stand
ing about the tribunal as if he were in travail. But the multitude were
enraged because those who had formerly apostatized now confessed, and
cried out against Alexander as if he were the cause of this. The gov
ernor stopped and asked him who he was ; he replied that he was a
Christian. Very angrily the governor condemned him to the wild
beasts and on the following day he entered along with Attalus. For to
please the mob the governor had again condemned Attalus to the wild
beasts. These having endured all the tortures which served as punishments
in the amphitheatre and having conquered in a great conflict, were fi
nally put io death. Alexander did not groan nor cry out at all, but
communed in his heart with God. Attalus, when he was set in the iron
chair and was burned so that the fumes rose from his body, said to the
multitude, in the Roman tongue : ' See this, which ye do, is devouring
men. But we do not devour men, nor do anything else which is evil.'
When he was asked what name God has, he replied : ' God does not
have a name like a man.'
After all of these, on the last day of the contests, Blandina was
again brought in together with Ponticus, a boy of about fifteen. These
had been brought every day to witness the sufferings of the others, and
had been urged to swear by the idols. But as they had remained firm
and had despised the idols, the multitude was furious against them, so
that they had no compassion for the youth of the boy nor the sex of the
woman. But they subjected them to all the sufferings and led them
through the whole round of torture, repeatedly urging them to swear,
but not being able to accomplish this. For Ponticus, supported by
his sister, so that even the heathen saw that she was encouraging and
strengthening him, gave up his life after having nobly endured every
torture. But the blessed Blandina last of all, like a noble mother hav
ing encouraged her children and having sent them before her victorious
to the King, herself endured all the conflicts in which the children had
suffered and hastened after them rejoicing and joyful in her departure,
as if summoned to a marriage feast, rather than thrown to the wild
beasts. After the scourgings, after the wild beasts, after the roasting,
at last, enclosed in the net she was thrown before a wild bull. She was
well tossed about by the animal, but she did not feel her sufferings on
account of her hope, trust and communion with Christ, and at last she

PERSECUTION AT LYONS AND VIENNE. 1 9
too died. And the heathen themselves confessed that no woman among
them had ever suffered so many and so great tortures.
But not even thus was their madness and cruelty against the saints
satisfied. For urged on by the wild beast, wild and barbarous tribes
are not easily appeased, and their rage found another peculiar opportu
nity in the dead bodies. For the fact that they were conquered did not
put them to shame, as they did not have any manly reason, but rather
increased their wrath like that of a wild beast, and incited the hatred
of the governor and people alike so that they treated us unjustly, that
the Scripture might be fulfilled, ' He that is lawless, let him be lawless
still, and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still.' For those
who had been suffocated in the prison they threw to the dogs, carefully
watching them night and day so that no one should be buried by us.
And then they exposed the remnants left by the wild beasts and the
fire, mangled and burnt. And the heads of the others together with
their bodies, they likewise guarded unburied with soldiers for many days.
Some raged and gnashed their teeth against these, desiring to find
some more severe vengeance against them. But others laughed and
mocked at them, magnifying at the same time their own idols and im
puting to the latter the punishment of the former. The more moderate,
and those who had seemed to have some sympathy for them, reproached
them frequently saying, ' Where is their God and what has their re
ligion which they have preferred to their own lives, profited them ?'
Such were the varied feelings among them, but we grieved greatly
because we were not able to bury the bodies in the ground. For
neither did night avail us for this purpose, nor bribes succeed, nor pray
ers move them. But they kept watch in every manner, as if it would
profit them greatly if these were not buried."
After these they say in addition other things : " The bodies of the
martyrs after having been exposed and exhibited in every manner for
six days, were afterwards burned and reduced to ashes by the lawless
men and thrown in the river Rhone which flows close by, so that no
remnants of them might still be seen on the earth. And they did this
as if they were able to overcome God and prevent their coming to life
again, in order, as some said, ' that they may have no hope of a resur
rection, trusting in which they bring to us a certain foreign and strange
religion, and despise awful punishments and are ready with joy to suf
fer death. Now let us see whether they will rise again, and if their
God is able to aid them and rescue them from our hands.' "

20 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
VI. PERSECUTIONS OF THE THIRD CENTURY.
The persecutions of the first half of the third century were merely local like
those of the first two centuries, but in the second half they became general.
Several of the emperors of this first period were friendly to the Christians, and
it is even said that Philip was a Christian ; nevertheless persecutions took place,
as the "Ada " of the martyrs prove. Septimius Severus tried to prevent pagans
from becoming Christians by his rescript of 202, and Maximinus ordered the rulers
of the churches to be put to death.
Although the text of the decree of Decius has not been preserved, we know
that he promulgated a decree against the Christians, in 250 A. D., which instituted
a general persecution. Of what the details were we can get some knowledge from
the letters and documents of the time. The persecution may have been severe,
but it was short, for Decius died in May, 251 A. D.
Decius attacked the whole body of the Christians, but Valerian adopted a dif
ferent policy, since he punished only the heads of the community and seized
the temporal possessions of the Church. He issued two decrees, the second con
demning bishops to death instead of merely to exile, as the first did.
The so-called "Ada " are official draughts which were made in all civil and
criminal cases, both at Rome and in the provinces, according to Roman law.
Some of these reports of the trials of Christians are very valuable, but so many of
them have been tampered with that they have to be used with caution.
The text of the decree by Aurelian has not been preserved in any official doc
ument, but the substance of it is probably given in the extract from the Passio
Syntphoriani. PERSECUTION UNDER SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS.
THE RESCRIPT.
Spartian, Vita Sept. Sev. Ch. 17 (Script. Hist. August., ed. Jordan et Es-
senhardt, I, p. 13). Latin.
Under threat of severe punishment he forbade men to become
Jews. Moreover, he decreed the same in the case of Christians.
ACCOUNT BY TERTULLIAN.
Ad Scapulam, 4 (I, p. 547 sq. ed. Oehler). Latin.
Even Severus himself, father of Antoninus, was mindful of the
Christians. For the Christian Proculus, who was called Torpacion, pro
curator of Euhodias, and who had once wrought a cure for him with
ointment, Severus sought out and kept in the palace until the time of his
death. Antoninus, who was nourished on Christian milk, was very well
acquainted with this man. The most noble women and men, whom Sev
erus knew belonged to this sect, he not only did not harm, but he even

PERSECUTION UNDER MAXIMINUS THRAX 21
set forth the truth by his own testimony and openly restored them to us
from the raging populace.

ACCOUNT BY EUSEBIUS.
Hist. Ecc, Bk. VI, ch. I, ed. Dindorf, Vol. IV, p. 239-40. Greek.
When Severus set in motion a persecution against the churches,
brilliant testimonies were given everywhere by the athletes of religion.
Especially did these abound in Alexandria, whither athletes of God were
sent in accordance with their worth, from Egypt and all Thebais, as if
to a very great contest, and where they obtained their crowns from God
through their most patient endurance of various tortures and kinds of
death. Among these was Leonides, who was called the father of Origen,
and who was beheaded, leaving his son still a young boy 

PERSECUTION UNDER MAXIMINUS THRAX.
ACCOUNT BY EUSEBIUS.
Hist. Ecc, Bk. VI, ch. 28, ed. Dindorf, Vol. IV, p. 273. Greek.
Maximinus Caesar succeeded to Alexander, Emperor of the Ro-
mans7 who had ruled thirteen years. On account of his hatred for the
household of Alexander, which contained many believers, he began a
persecution, but commanded that the rulers of the churches alone should
be put to death, on the ground that they were the authors of the teach
ing of the Gospels. Then Origen composed his work "On Martyrdom,"
and dedicated the book to Ambrose and Protoctetus, who was presbyter
of the parish in Caesarea, because both had incurred unusual peril in
this persecution. The report is that in this peril these men were prom
inent in confession. Maximinus did not survive more than three years.
Origen has marked this as the time of the persecution in the twenty-
second book of his Commentaries on John and in different letters.
LACTANTIUS ON THE DEATH OF DECIUS.
De Mort. Persecut. ch. 4. Opera, ed. O. F. Fritzsche (Bibl. Patr. Ecc. Lat.
XI, Leipzig, 1844), II, p. 250 sq. Latin.
For after many years the accursed beast, Decius, arose who har-
rassed the Church, — for who but an evil man can persecute righteous
ness ?  And as if he had been raised to that high position for this pur-

22 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
pose, he began at once to rage against God so that he immediately fell.
For having proceeded against the Carpi, who had then occupied Dacia
and Moesia, he was immediately surrounded by the barbarians and de
stroyed with a great part of his army. Nor could he be honored by
burial, but, stripped and naked, he lay exposed as food to wild beasts
and birds, as was becoming to an enemy of God.
PERSECUTION UNDER VALERIAN.
CYPRIAN'S LETTER.
Epist. 80. Opera, ed. G. Hartel, II, p. 839 sq. (Corp. Script. Ecc. Lat. Ill,
1871.) Latin.
The reason why I did not write to you immediately, dearest brother,
was that the whole body of the clergy were detained by the stress of the
conflict, and could not depart thence at all, being prepared by the de
votion of their spirits for everlasting and heavenly glory. Be it known
to you that those have returned whom I had sent to the City to dis
cover and report to us as to the nature of the truth of the rescript con
cerning us. For many, various and uncertain were the rumors
circulated. But the truth of the matter is this : Valerian had sent a
rescript to the senate, that bishops, presbyters and deacons should be
punished immediately, but that senators, nobles, and Roman knights
should be degraded from their dignity, and furthermore despoiled of
their goods, and if, after they had been deprived of their property, they
should persist in being Christians, they too should be beheaded. ^Ma
trons should be deprived of their goods and sent into exile. Those
of Caesar's household, whoever had confessed formerly or should con
fess now, should have their property confiscated and should be sent in
chains by assignment to Caesar's estates. To his discourse, moreover,
the Emperor Valerian added a copy of the letter which he sent to the
governors of the provinces concerning us. This letter we hope daily
will arrive, prepared according to the strength of the faith, ready to
endure martyrdom, and expecting by the might and grace of God the
crown of eternal life. Be it known to you, moreover, that Xistus was
executed in the cemetery on the eighth before the Ides of August, and
together with him four deacons. Indeed, the prefects in the city insist
daily on this persecution. If any are brought before them, they are
punished and their goods confiscated to the treasury.
I beg that this may be made known through you to the rest of our

MARTYRDOM OF CYPRIAN. 23
associates, so that everywhere by their encouragement the brotherhood
may be strengthened and prepared for the spiritual conflict, that each
of us may not think more of death than of immortality, and that, con
secrated to the Lord, in full faith and all virtue, they may rejoice
rather than fear in this confession in which they know that, as soldiers
of God and Christ, they will not be destroyed but be crowned. I hope
that you, dearest brother, will ever be strong in the Lord.

THE MARTYRDOM OF CYPRIAN.
Acta Proconsularia Cypriani. Opera, ed. G. Hartel, III, p. ex sqq. (Corp.
Script. Ecc. Lat. Ill, 1871.) Latin.
In the fourth consulship of the Emperor Valerian and the third of
Gallienus, on the third before the Kalends of September, in the council
chamber of Carthage, Paternus, the proconsul, said to Bishop Cyprian:
" The most sacred Emperors, Valerian and Gallienus, have thought fit
to give me a letter according to which they have ordered that those, who
do not practice the Roman religion, should recognize the Roman rites.
I have asked, therefore, concerning your name ; what do you answer
me ?" Bishop Cyprian said : " I am a Christian and a bishop. I have
known no other gods except the true and only God, who made heaven
and earth, the sea, and all that in them is. To this God we Christians
yield ourselves ; to Him we pray by day and night for you, for all men,
and for the safety of the Emperors themselves." Paternus, the proconsul,
said : " Do you, then, persist in this purpose ?" Bishop Cyprian replied:
" A good purpose, which has known God, cannot be changed." Pater
nus, the proconsul, said : " Will you be able to depart into exile, then,
to the city of Curubitana (Curubis) according to the decree of Valerian
and Gallienus ?" Bishop Cyprian said : " I depart." Paternus, the pro
consul, said : " They have thought fit to write to me concerning not only
bishops, but also presbyters. I wish, therefore, to learn from you who
the presbyters are who abide in the city." Bishop Cyprian replied :
" By your laws you have rightly and profitably decreed that there
should be no informers ; and hence they cannot be betrayed and de
nounced by me. But in their own cities they will be found." Pater
nus, the proconsul, said : " To-day, in this place, I am going to seek
them." Cyprian said : " Since custom forbids that any one offer him
self voluntarily, and this is displeasing to your judgment, they cannot
give themselves up ; but. if yon seek them, you shall find them." Pater-

U

24 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
nus, the proconsul, said : " They will be found by me ;" and added :
" It has also been ordered that they should not hold assemblies in any
place nor enter the cemeteries. If any one does not observe this so
wholesome ordinance he is to be beheaded." Bishop Cyprian replied :
" Do as you are ordered."
Then Paternus, the proconsul, ordered the blessed bishop Cyprian
to be led into exile. When he had remain there for a long time, the
proconsul Galerius Maximus succeeded the proconsul Aspasius Paternus
and ordered the holy bishop Cyprian to be recalled from exile and
brought before him. When the holy martyr Cyprian, chosen by God,
had returned from the city of Curubitana, where he had been sent into
exile by the order of Aspasius Paternus, proconsul at that time, he
remained in his gardens according to holy inj unction, and thence daily
hoped that it would happen to him as had been revealed. While
he was waiting here, there suddenly came to him, on the Ides of Sep
tember in the consulship of Tuscus and Bassus, two men of high rank,
one the curator of the official Galerius Maximus, the proconsul, who
had succeeded Aspasius Paternus, and the other the groom from the
guards of this same official. And they put him between them, and
brought him to Sexti, where Galerius Maximus, the proconsul, had
retired for the sake of recovering his health. And so the proconsul
Galerius Maximus ordered Cyprian to be reserved for him until the
next day. And at the same time, the blessed Cyprian retired, led
away to the chief and curator of this same official, Galerius Maximus,
the proconsul, a most illustrious man ; and he stayed with this man, en
joying his hospitality in the village, called Saturni, which is between
Venerea and Salutaria. Thither the whole company of brethren came ¦
and, when the holy Cyprian learned this, he ordered the maidens to be
protected, since all had remained in the village before the gate of the
hospitable officer.
And thus on the next day, the eighteenth before the Kalends of
October, early in the morning, a great crowd came to Sexti according
to the order of Galerius Maximus, the proconsul. And accordingly
Galerius Maximus, the proconsul, ordered Cyprian to be brought before
him that day, while he was sitting "u the Sauciolian court. And when
he had been brought, Galerius Maximus, the proconsul, said to Bishop
Cyprian : " You are Thascius Cyprian ?" Bishop Cyprian replied : " I
am." Galerius Maximus, the proconsul, said : " The most sacred Em
perors have commanded you to sacrifice." Bishop Cyprian said : " I

MARTYRDOM OF CYPRIAN. 25
will not." Galerius Maximus said : " Reflect on it." Bishop Cyprian
replied : "Do what you are ordered to do. In such a just case there
is no need of reflection."
Galerius Maximus, having spoken with the council, pronounced
the sentence weakly and reluctantly in the following words : " For a
long time you have lived in sacrilege, you have gathered about you
many associates in your impious conspiracy, you have put yourself in
hostility to the Roman gods and to the sacred rites, nor could the pious
and most sacred princes, Valerian and Gallienus, Emperors, and Valer
ian, the most noble Caesar, bring you back to the practice of their
worship. And therefore, since you are found to be the author of the
vilest crimes, and the standard bearer, you shall be a warning to those
whom you have gathered about you in your crime ; by your blood, dis
cipline shall be established." And having said this he read out the
decree from his tablet : " We command that Thascius Cyprian be ex
ecuted by the sword." Bishop Cyprian said : " Thank God."
After this sentence the crowd of brethren kept saying : " And we
will be beheaded with him." On account of this a commotion arose
among the brethren and a great crowd followed him. And thus Cy
prian was brought in to the country near Sexti ; here he laid aside his red
cloak, kneeled on the ground, and prostrated himself before the Lord in
prayer. And when he had laid aside his priestly robe and given it to the
deacons, he stood in his linen under-garments,1 and waited for the exe
cutioner. Moreover, when the executioner had come, he ordered his
followers to give this executioner twenty-five pieces of gold. Indeedi
linen cloths and handkerchiefs were being sent before him by the
brethren. After this the blessed Cyprian covered his eyes with his
hand. When he could not bind the handkerchiefs to himself, Julian,
the presbyter, and Julian, the subdeacon, bound them. Thus the
blessed Cyprian died, and his body was placed near at hand on account
of the curiosity of the heathen. Hence, being borne away in the night
with tapers and torches, it was brought with prayers and great triumph
to the courts of the procurator Macrobius Candidianus, which are on
the Via Mappaliensis, near the fish ponds. Moreover, after a few days,
Galerius Maximus, the proconsul, died.
The blessed martyr Cyprian suffered on the eighteenth before the
Gibbon translates, he stood on a piece of linen (which the brethren had
spread to catch his blood.)

26 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
Kalends of October under the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus, Jesus
Christ, the true God, reigning, to whom be honor and glory for ever
and ever. Amen. DECREE OF AURELIAN.
Passio S. Symphoriani Martyris, ch. 2 (Ruinart, Acta Martyrum Sincera, Am
sterdam, 1713), p. 80. Reprinted in Preuschen, Analecta.) Latin.
The Emperor Aurelian to all his administrators and governors.
We have learned that the precepts of the laws are violated by those
who in our times call themselves Christians. Punish those who are ar
rested with divers tortures, unless they sacrifice to our gods, until the
difficulty mentioned may be righted, and vengeance, satisfied by the
extirpation of the crime, may have an end.
VII. THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY.
This last persecution was the longest and the most severe. It covered approx
imately a period of ten years, which, however, was interrupted by civil wars,
brought on by the establishment of the tetrarchy, and by the edict of toleration,
granted by Galerius on his death bed. It was in Syria and Egypt that the perse
cution took its worst form. In the west the force of the decrees was mitigated,
especially in the dominion of Constans.
We have two authorities for the period, Eusebius and Lactantius, both con
temporaries and eye-witnesses, the one in Phoenicia and Egypt, and the other in
Nicomedia itself. From the two we get many details of the events leading up to
the promulgation of the decrees, as well as of the horrors and cruelty attending
their execution.
Eusebius says (Book VIII, 10) that the calamaties of the times were brought
on the Church as a judgment from God, since hypocrisy, rivalry and dissension had
grown up in the Church as a result of excessive liberty and great wealth.
Both in the case of the edict' of toleration by Galerius and that by Constantine
and Licinius, the original Latin text is to be found in Lactantius, and merely a
Greek translation in Eusebius, (H. E., Bk. VIII, 17, and X, 5). Both Mason and
Allard take this view. (For discussion of the authorship of the De mort. pers.
and the genuineness of the Edict of Milan see appendix to Vol. II of Gibbon
ed. by Bury 1896.)

EDICTS OF DIOCLETIAN AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS.
Jusebius : Hist. Ecc, Book VIII, ch. 2, ch. 6 at end, and De Mart. Palest.
ch. 4, andch. 9 (ed. Dindorf, Vol. IV, p. 351, 357. 386. 390, 402). Greek.
(Hist. Ecc. viii 2.) This was the nineteenth year of the reign of

EDICTS OF DIOCLETIAN. 27
Diocletian, in Dystrus (which the Romans call March), when the feast
of the Saviour's passion was near at hand, and royal edicts were pub
lished everywhere, commanding that the churches should be razed to
the ground, the Scriptures destroyed by fire, those who held positions of
honor degraded, and the household servants, if they persisted in the
Christian profession, be deprived of their liberty.
And such was the first decree against us. But issuing other de
crees not long after, the Emperor commanded that all the rulers of the
churches in every place should be first put in prison and afterwards
compelled by every device to offer sacrifice.
(Hist. Ecc. viii 6.) Then as the first decrees were followed by
others commanding that those in prison should be set free, if they would
offer sacrifice, but that those who refused should be tormented with
countless tortures ; who could again at that time count the multitude of
martyrs throughout each province, and especially throughout Africa
and among the race of the Moors, in Thebais and throughout Egypt,
from which having already gone into other cities and provinces, they
became illustrious in their martyrdoms !
(De Mart. Pal. ch. 3.) During the second year the war against
us increased greatly. Urbanus was then governor of the province and
imperial edicts were first issued to him, in which it was commanded that
all the people throughout the city should sacrifice and pour out libations
to the idols 
(De Mart. Pal. ch. 4.)  For in the second attack upon
us by Maximinus, in the third year of the persecution against us, edicts
of the tyrant were issued for the first time, that all the people should of
fer sacrifice and that the rulers of the city should see to this diligently
and zealously.1 Heralds went through the whole city of Caesarea, by
the orders of the governor, summoning men, women and children to the
temples of the idols, and in addition the chiliarchs were calling upon
each one by name from a roll.
(De Mart. Pal. ch. 9)  All at once decrees of Maxi
minus again got abroad against us everywhere throughout the province.
The governors, and in addition the military prefects, incited by edicts,
letters and public ordinances the magistrates, together with the generals
and the city clerks in all the cities, to fulfill the imperial edicts which

extract.

Probably this was merely a republication of the edict given in the preceding

28 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
commanded that the altars of the idols should be rebuilt with all zeal ;
and that all the men, together with the women and children, even in
fants at the breast, should offer sacrifice and pour out libations ; and
these urged them anxiously, carefully to make the people taste of the
sacrifices ; and that the viands in the market should be polluted by the
libations of the sacrifices ; and that watches should be stationed before
the baths, so as to defile those who washed in these with the all-abomi
nable sacrifices 

EDICT OF TOLERATION BY GALERIUS. 3II A. D.
Lactantius, De Mort. Pers. ch. 34, 35. Opera, ed. O. F. Fritzsche, II, p. 273.
(Bibl. Patr. Ecc. Lat. XI, Leipzig, 1844.)
(Ch. 34.) Among other arrangements which we are always accus
tomed to make for the prosperity and welfare of the republic, we had
desired formerly to bring all things into harmony with the ancient laws
and public order of the Romans, and to provide that even the Christians
who had left the religion of their fathers should come back to reason ;
since, indeed, the Christians themselves, for some reason, had followed
such a caprice and had fallen into such a folly that they would not obey
the institutes of antiquity, which perchance their own ancestors had first
established ; but at their own will and pleasure, they would thus make
laws unto themselves which they should observe and would collect var
ious peoples in divers places in congregations. Finally, when our law
had been promulgated to the effect that they should conform to the in
stitutes of antiquity, many were subdued by the fear of danger, many
even suffered death. And yet since most of them persevered in their
determination, and we saw that they neither paid the reverence and awe
due to the gods nor worshipped the God of the Christians, in view of
our most mild clemency and the constant habit by which we are accus
tomed to grant indulgence to all, we thought that we ought to grant
our most prompt indulgence also to these, so that they may again be
Christians and may hold their conventicles, provided they do nothing
contrary to good order. But we shall tell the magistrates in another
letter what they ought to do.
Wherefore, for this our indulgence, they ought to pray to their
God for our safety, for that of the republic, and for their own, that the
republic may continue uninjured on every side, and that they may be
able to live securely in their homes.

DECREE OF MILAN. 29
(ch. 35). This edict is published at Nicomedia on the day before the
Kalends of May, in our eighth consulship and the second of Maximinus.

EDICT OF MILAN (3 1 3 A. D.)
Lactantius, De Mort. Pers., ch. 48. Opera, ed. O. F. Fritzsche, II, p. 288 sq.
(Bibl. Patr. Ecc. Lat. XI). Latin.
When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I, Licinius Augustus,
had fortunately met near Mediolanum (Milan), and were considering
everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought
that, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many,
those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity ought
certainly to be made first, so that we might grant to the Christians and
to all others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred;
whence any Divinity whatsoever in the seat of the heavens may be
propitious and kindly disposed to us and all who are placed under our
rule. And thus by this wholesome counsel and most upright provision
we thought to arrange that no one whatsoever should be denied the op
portunity to give his heart to the observance of the Christian religion,
or of that religion which he should think best for himself, so that the
supreme Deity, to whose worship we freely yield our hearts, may show
in all things His usual favor and benevolence. Therefore, your Worship
should know that it has pleased us to remove all conditions whatsoever,
which were in the rescripts formerly given to you officially, concerning
the Christians, and now any one of these who wishes to observe the
Christian religion may do so freely and openly, without any disturbance
or molestation. We thought it fit to commend these things most fully
to your care that you may know that we have given to those Christians
free and unrestricted opportunity of religious worship. When you see
that this has been granted to them by us, your Worship will know thai
we have also conceded to other religions the right of open and free oi
servance of their worship for the sake of the peace of our times, that
each one may have the free opportunity to worship as he pleases ; this
regulation is made that we may not seem to detract aught from any
dignity or any religion. Moreover, in the case of the Christians espe
cially, we esteemed it best to order that if it happens that anyone hereto
fore has bought from our treasury or from anyone whatsoever, those
places where they were previously accustomed to assemble, concerning
which a certain decree had been made and a letter sent to you officially,

30 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
the same shall be restored to the Christians without payment or any
claim of recompense and without any kind of fraud or deception.
Those, moreover, who have obtained the same by gift, are likewise to
return them at once to the Christians. Besides, both those who have
purchased and those who have secured them by gift, are to appeal to
the vicar if they seek any recompense from our bounty, that they
may be cared for through our clemency. All this property ought
to be delivered at once to the community of the Christians through
your intercession, and without delay. And since these Christians
are known to have possessed not only those places in which they
were accustomed to assemble, but also other property, namely the
churches, belonging to them as a corporation and not as individuals, all
these things which we have included under the above law, you will or
der to be restored, without any hesitation or controversy at all, to these
Christians, that is to say to the corporations and their conventicles : —
providing, of course, that the above arrangements be followed so that
those who return the same without payment, as we have said, may hope
for an indemnity from our bounty. In all these circumstances you
ought to tender your most efficacious intervention to the community of
the Christians, that our command may be carried into effect as quickly
as possible, whereby, moreover, through our clemency, public order may
be secured. Let this be done so that, as we have said above, Divine
favor towards us, which, under the most important circumstances we
have already experienced, may, for all time, preserve and prosper our
successes together with the good of the state. Moreover, in order that
the statement of this decree of our good will may come to the notice of
all, this rescript, published by your decree, shall be announced every
where and brought to the knowledge of all, so that the decree of this,
our benevolence, cannot be concealed.

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY. 3 1
VIII. SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Allard : Histoire des Persecutions. 5 Vols. Paris, 1884-1S94. (Second editions
of Vols. I and II, Paris, 1892-1894.)
These volumes form the most important work on the whole period.

Allard : Le Christianisme et PEmpire Romain. Paris, 1897.
This is a brief and more popular statement of the conclusions reached by this
author in the preparation of his larger work. It is useful to the student because it
contains a valuable bibliography of original sources and secondary works. The
price is only three francs and fifty centimes.

Friedlander : Darstellungen aus der Sittengeschichte Roms. 3 Vols. Leipzig,
1888- 1890.
This work is a valuable portrayal of the habits and daily life of the Romans.
It should be studied in order to understand to what extent the Christians deviated
from the customs of their fellow-citizens and why they antagonized the government.

Gibbon : Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Ed. Bury, Vols. I-III,
London and New York, 1896-1897.
Gibbon's "impartial" account in the "infamous" fifteenth and sixteenth
chapters is the most famous discussion of this subject in English. Anyone who
wishes to get an epitome of the history of the course of thought concerning this
subject during the last century can do so by consulting Milman's and Smith's ed
itions with the notes. Bury's edition, the most scholarly of all, omits all criticisms
of Gibbon's attitude and merely corrects mistakes as to matters of fact.

Hardy: Christianity and the Roman Government. London,
A brief and scholarly discussion of the early persecutions. It covers practi
cally the same period as Ramsay's book and was written partly as a criticism of the
latter.

Lightfoot : Saint Clement of Rome. London, 1870.
In this and in his other works, on "Saints Ignatius and Polycarp " and
" The Apostolic Fathers," Lightfoot gives most scholarly and exhaustive discus
sions of each question treated by him. His bibliographical references and citations
of authorities, "pro and con," are extremely full.
Mason : Persecution of Diocletian. Cambridge, 1876.
Popular, but useful because in English.

32 TRANSLATIONS AND REPRINTS.
Mommsen : Der Religionsfrevel nach romischen Recht, in the Historische
Zeitschrift. Vol. LXIV, 1890, p. 389-424.
Among the many contributions by Mommsen to the study of early church
history this is possibly the most valuable. By his profound knowledge of Roman
history and law he disproved many theories currently held and laid the foundation
on which Ramsay, Hardy, and others have built. •¦

Preuschen : Analecta. Freiburg and Leipzig, 1893.
This is a collection of original documents illustrating the history of the early
Church. Most of the documents in this pamphlet, as well as many others, are
given in the original text. The editing is carefully done and there is a good biblio
graphy for each section.
Ramsay : The Church in the Roman Empire before 170 A. D. London,
1894.
A very careful and scholarly discussion, original in treatment, although based
upon Mommsen's articles. The notes furnish excellent bibliographical references
to the work of o#ther scholars, such as Overbe.ck, Arnold, Neumann, Lightfoot,
and others.

Renan : Les Originesvdu Christianisrrle. 6 Vols. Paris, 1863-1882.
By far the most exhaustive discussion of the period to the death of Marcus
Aurelius. Every scrap of evidence available for the author was gathered and laid
under contribution. His views may not be accepted, but his work is invaluable as
a store-house of material.

The editors have consulted such translations as were accessible. In particu
lar, indebtedness must be acknowledged to the series of " Nicene and Post-
Nicene Fathers " for suggestions as to doubtful passages from Eusebius.

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