ChurchChurch HistoryHistory ChurchChurch HistoryHistory

IntroductionIntroduction toto ChurchChurch HistoryHistory st rd TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch AD 11st-3-3rd centuriescenturies th th TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom AD 44th-5-5th centuriescenturies th th TheThe EarlyEarly MiddleMiddle AgesAges AD 66th-10-10th centuriescenturies th th TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades AD 1111th-13-13th centuriescenturies th th TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance AD 1414th-15-15th centuriescenturies th ConquestConquest andand ReformationReformation AD 1616th centurycentury th th TheThe AgeAge ofof EnlightenmentEnlightenment AD 1717th-18-18th centuriescenturies th TheThe AgeAge ofof RevolutionRevolution AD 1919th centurycentury th TheThe ModernModern AgeAge AD 2020th centurycentury st TheThe PostmodernPostmodern AgeAge AD 2121st centurycentury TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor ToTo showshow hishis strengthstrength ofof charactercharacter comparedcompared toto hishis weakweak predecessor,predecessor, Gallus,Gallus, hehe diddid whatwhat emperorsemperors hadhad donedone forfor years—heyears—he persecutedpersecuted thethe ChristiansChristians InIn 257,257, hehe issuedissued anan edictedict thatthat calledcalled forfor thethe immediateimmediate executionexecution ofof allall ChristianChristian leadershipleadership ThisThis massmass purgepurge includedincluded CyprianCyprian asas wellwell asas PopePope Stephen,Stephen, andand eveneven thethe currentcurrent antianti-pope,-pope, Novatian,Novatian, whowho hadhad taughttaught thatthat therethere isis nono forgivenessforgiveness ofof sinssins exceptexcept throughthrough baptism,baptism, andand nono recourserecourse forfor aa subsequentsubsequent rere-baptism—thus,-baptism—thus, nono sinssins cancan bebe forgivenforgiven thatthat areare committedcommitted afterafter oneone isis baptisedbaptised UnderUnder Novatian,Novatian, thethe ritualritual ofof “last“last rites”rites” gainedgained moremore ofof aa followingfollowing TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa HeHe wentwent toto PersianPersian kingking ShapurShapur II toto negotiatenegotiate aa peacepeace treaty,treaty, butbut ShapurShapur simplysimply tooktook himhim captivecaptive insteadinstead ShapurShapur torturedtortured andand humiliatedhumiliated him,him, usingusing thethe RomanRoman emperoremperor asas hishis personalpersonal stepstool,stepstool, etc.etc. Eventually,Eventually, ShapurShapur hadhad himhim flayedflayed alivealive (Valerian's(Valerian's skinskin waswas stuffedstuffed withwith strawstraw andand keptkept onon displaydisplay inin thethe PersianPersian royalroyal courtcourt forfor years)years) OnOn hishis death,death, Valerian'sValerian's son,son, Gallienus,Gallienus, becamebecame thethe newnew emperoremperor TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa TheThe reignreign ofof GallienusGallienus waswas besetbeset byby revoltsrevolts andand secessionssecessions Ingenuus,Ingenuus, governorgovernor ofof PannoniaPannonia (later(later Hungary),Hungary), declareddeclared himselfhimself emperoremperor TheThe AlamanniAlamanni (later(later Germans)Germans) invadedinvaded Italy,Italy, makingmaking itit allall thethe wayway toto thethe outskirtsoutskirts ofof RomeRome itselfitself Regalianus,Regalianus, commandercommander ofof IllyricumIllyricum (later(later AlbaniaAlbania andand Bosnia),Bosnia), declareddeclared himselfhimself emperoremperor RomanRoman generalgeneral PostumusPostumus declareddeclared Germania,Germania, Britannia,Britannia, Hispania,Hispania, andand GaulGaul toto bebe hishis ownown empireempire (later(later knownknown asas thethe GallicGallic Empire)Empire) TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa TheThe reignreign ofof GallienusGallienus waswas besetbeset byby revoltsrevolts andand secessionssecessions AfterAfter thethe BattleBattle ofof Edessa,Edessa, FulviusFulvius MacrianusMacrianus keptkept KingKing ShapurShapur II fromfrom advancingadvancing anyany furtherfurther intointo Turkey...Turkey... soso hehe thusthus decideddecided toto declaredeclare hishis ownown sonssons jointjoint emperorsemperors ofof thethe regionregion EvenEven thethe prefectprefect ofof Egypt,Egypt, Aemilianus,Aemilianus, declareddeclared himselfhimself emperoremperor Note:Note: allall ofof thesethese eventsevents happenedhappened withinwithin thethe firstfirst yearyear ofof Gallienus'Gallienus' reignreign TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa TheThe reignreign ofof GallienusGallienus waswas besetbeset byby revoltsrevolts andand secessionssecessions AfterAfter thethe BattleBattle ofof Edessa,Edessa, FulviusFulvius MacrianusMacrianus keptkept KingKing ShapurShapur II fromfrom advancingadvancing anyany furtherfurther intointo Turkey...Turkey... soso hehe thusthus decideddecided toto declaredeclare hishis ownown sonssons jointjoint emperorsemperors ofof thethe regionregion EvenEven thethe prefectprefect ofof Egypt,Egypt, Aemilianus,Aemilianus, declareddeclared himselfhimself emperoremperor InIn 261,261, GallienusGallienus (who(who didn'tdidn't carecare muchmuch forfor religionreligion ofof anyany kind—orkind—or religiousreligious in-in- fighting)fighting) issuedissued aa decreedecree thatthat ChristiansChristians shouldshould bebe allowedallowed toto worshipworship inin peace,peace, andand thatthat theirtheir propertyproperty shouldshould bebe returnedreturned toto them,them, nevernever toto bebe confiscatedconfiscated againagain ForFor thethe firstfirst time,time, ChristianityChristianity waswas officiallyofficially legalizedlegalized inin RomeRome TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa TheThe reignreign ofof GallienusGallienus waswas besetbeset byby revoltsrevolts andand secessionssecessions TowardToward thethe endend ofof hishis reign,reign, hehe waswas besetbeset byby attacksattacks byby thethe GermanicGermanic HeruliHeruli tribetribe onon thethe northeast,northeast, RomanRoman cavalrycavalry commandercommander ClaudiusClaudius IIII inin thethe east,east, andand RomanRoman generalgeneral AureolusAureolus inin ItalyItaly itselfitself (who(who waswas technicallytechnically supposedsupposed toto bebe guardingguarding anan exiledexiled Postumus)Postumus) InIn thethe end,end, inin 268,268, GallienusGallienus waswas killedkilled byby conspiratorsconspirators withinwithin hishis ownown troops,troops, andand hishis entireentire familyfamily waswas immediatelyimmediately assassinatedassassinated byby thethe SenateSenate TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch TheyThey condemnedcondemned PaulPaul ofof Samosata,Samosata, thethe bishopbishop ofof Antioch,Antioch, rightlyrightly accusingaccusing himhim ofof preachingpreaching adoptionismadoptionism (the(the beliefbelief thatthat JesusJesus waswas aa goodgood humanhuman beingbeing whowho waswas onlyonly adoptedadopted byby GodGod atat HisHis baptismbaptism andand givengiven divinedivine power)power) InIn thethe process,process, theythey alsoalso condemnedcondemned thethe word,word, ““ὁὁμοούσιοςμοούσιος”” (“(“homooúsioshomooúsios”),”), meaningmeaning “same“same substance”substance” (i.e.;(i.e.; thatthat JesusJesus waswas ofof thethe samesame substancesubstance asas —and—and thusthus equalequal to—Godto—God thethe Father)Father) (not(not becausebecause theythey didn'tdidn't agreeagree thatthat HeHe was,was, butbut becausebecause thethe termterm itselfitself hadhad comecome outout ofof aa paganpagan GreekGreek philosophicalphilosophical context)context) TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch TheyThey condemnedcondemned PaulPaul ofof Samosata,Samosata, thethe bishopbishop ofof Antioch,Antioch, rightlyrightly accusingaccusing himhim ofof preachingpreaching adoptionismadoptionism (the(the beliefbelief thatthat JesusJesus waswas aa goodgood humanhuman beingbeing whowho waswas onlyonly adoptedadopted byby GodGod atat HisHis baptismbaptism andand givengiven divinedivine power)power) PaulPaul hadhad usedused thethe termterm thisthis way—way— ““TheThe SaviourSaviour becamebecame holyholy andand just;just; andand byby strugglestruggle andand hardhard workwork overcameovercame thethe sinssins ofof ourour forefatherforefather [Adam].[Adam]. ByBy thesethese meansmeans hehe succeededsucceeded inin perfectingperfecting himself,himself, andand waswas throughthrough hishis moralmoral excellenceexcellence unitedunited withwith God;God; havinghaving attainedattained unityunity andand samenesssameness [homooúsios][homooúsios] ofof willwill andand energyenergy withwith HimHim throughthrough hishis advancesadvances inin thethe pathpath ofof goodgood deeds”deeds” TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch TheyThey condemnedcondemned PaulPaul ofof Samosata,Samosata, thethe bishopbishop ofof Antioch,Antioch, rightlyrightly accusingaccusing himhim ofof preachingpreaching adoptionismadoptionism (the(the beliefbelief thatthat JesusJesus waswas aa goodgood humanhuman beingbeing whowho waswas onlyonly adoptedadopted byby GodGod atat HisHis baptismbaptism andand givengiven divinedivine power)power) Ironically,Ironically, roughlyroughly sixtysixty yearsyears later,later, ““homooúsioshomooúsios”” becamebecame thethe wordword foughtfought forfor atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch 270-271270-271 AnthonyAnthony wentwent toto livelive inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian desertdesert InIn illiterateilliterate manman whowho grewgrew upup inin lowerlower Egypt,Egypt, AnthonyAnthony tooktook Christ'sChrist's wordswords inin MatthewMatthew 19:2119:21 toto heart,heart, andand gavegave awayaway allall ofof hishis possessionspossessions toto gogo livelive inin thethe NitrianNitrian Desert,Desert, toto thethe westwest ofof AlexandriaAlexandria AthanasiusAthanasius sayssays thatthat hehe waswas temptedtempted byby SatanSatan withwith “with“with boredom,boredom, laziness,laziness, andand thethe phantomsphantoms ofof women,”women,” butbut hehe waswas ableable toto resistresist thethe temptationstemptations throughthrough thethe powerpower ofof prayerprayer TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch 270-271270-271 AnthonyAnthony wentwent toto livelive inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian desertdesert AfterAfter severalseveral decadesdecades ofof livingliving alonealone inin thethe desertdesert (and,(and, later,later, inin thethe ruinsruins ofof aa RomanRoman fort),fort), hehe hadhad becomebecome aa famousfamous figurefigure inin thethe ChurchChurch forfor hishis asceticismasceticism InIn fact,fact, hehe onlyonly leftleft hishis forfor toto gogo intointo Alexandria,Alexandria, soso thatthat hehe couldcould pickpick aa fightfight withwith thethe RomanRoman governorgovernor therethere inin orderorder toto getget torturedtortured andand killedkilled asas aa martyr...martyr... which,which, ironically,ironically, didn'tdidn't endend upup working...working... TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch 270-271270-271 AnthonyAnthony wentwent toto livelive inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian desertdesert AfterAfter severalseveral decadesdecades ofof livingliving alonealone inin thethe desertdesert (and,(and, later,later, inin thethe ruinsruins ofof aa RomanRoman fort),fort), hehe hadhad becomebecome aa famousfamous figurefigure inin thethe ChurchChurch forfor hishis asceticismasceticism HeHe wentwent backback toto hishis fort,fort, dejecteddejected atat notnot havinghaving beenbeen torturedtortured andand killed,killed, onlyonly toto findfind thatthat peoplepeople flockedflocked toto himhim toto hearhear hishis teachingsteachings asas anan enlightenedenlightened mastermaster Soon,Soon, hundredshundreds ofof peoplepeople werewere livingliving withwith himhim inin thethe desertdesert (even(even thoughthough hehe triedtried repeatedlyrepeatedly toto ditchditch them),them), andand thethe firstfirst ChristianChristian monasterymonastery waswas formed—formed— nownow knownknown asas thethe MonasteryMonastery ofof SaintSaint AnthonyAnthony thethe GreatGreat TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch 270-271270-271 AnthonyAnthony wentwent toto livelive inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian desertdesert 276276 ManiMani preachedpreached inin PersiaPersia WhileWhile allall ofof thisthis waswas goinggoing on,on, ManiMani continuedcontinued toto preachpreach Manicheanism,Manicheanism, whichwhich nownow rivalledrivalled ChristianityChristianity inin scopescope WhereWhere ChristianityChristianity tendedtended toto drawdraw inin thethe masses,masses, ManicheanismManicheanism tendedtended toto attractattract thethe soldierssoldiers andand leaders—wholeaders—who werewere drawndrawn toto itsits “warrior”“warrior” messagemessage Nonetheless,Nonetheless, ManiMani failedfailed toto convertconvert PersianPersian kingking BahramBahram I,I, whowho hadhad himhim crucifiedcrucified forfor preachingpreaching againstagainst thethe nativenative religionsreligions ofof thethe regionregion TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch 270-271270-271 AnthonyAnthony wentwent toto livelive inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian desertdesert 276276 ManiMani preachedpreached inin PersiaPersia WhileWhile allall ofof thisthis waswas goinggoing on,on, ManiMani continuedcontinued toto preachpreach Manicheanism,Manicheanism, whichwhich nownow rivalledrivalled ChristianityChristianity inin scopescope WhereWhere ChristianityChristianity tendedtended toto drawdraw inin thethe masses,masses, ManicheanismManicheanism tendedtended toto attractattract thethe soldierssoldiers andand leaders—wholeaders—who werewere drawndrawn toto itsits “warrior”“warrior” messagemessage But,But, muchmuch likelike withwith Christianity,Christianity, thisthis didn'tdidn't stopstop thethe movement,movement, whichwhich continuedcontinued toto growgrow andand flourishflourish underunder persecutionpersecution TheyThey werewere eveneven includedincluded inin RomanRoman emperoremperor Diocletian'sDiocletian's persecutionpersecution ofof Christians,Christians, onceonce hehe camecame toto powerpower TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch 270-271270-271 AnthonyAnthony wentwent toto livelive inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian desertdesert 276276 ManiMani preachedpreached inin PersiaPersia 284284 DiocletianDiocletian becamebecame emperoremperor HisHis predecessor,predecessor, Aurelian,Aurelian, hadhad foughtfought offoff thethe GothsGoths andand Alamanni,Alamanni, tighteningtightening thethe RomanRoman bordersborders andand restoringrestoring theirtheir lostlost territories,territories, soso allall thatthat waswas leftleft waswas toto dealdeal withwith internalinternal conflictsconflicts TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch 270-271270-271 AnthonyAnthony wentwent toto livelive inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian desertdesert 276276 ManiMani preachedpreached inin PersiaPersia 284284 DiocletianDiocletian becamebecame emperoremperor HisHis predecessor,predecessor, Aurelian,Aurelian, hadhad foughtfought offoff thethe GothsGoths andand Alamanni,Alamanni, tighteningtightening thethe RomanRoman bordersborders InIn 285,285, DiocletianDiocletian splitsplit thethe administrativeadministrative dutiesduties ofof thethe EmpireEmpire intointo WestWest andand East—East— hehe ruledruled thethe EastEast fromfrom Nicomedia,Nicomedia, andand hishis friend,friend, Maximian,Maximian, rulingruling thethe WestWest fromfrom RomeRome TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch TheThe ThirdThird CenturyCentury waswas aa timetime ofof massivemassive crisiscrisis inin thethe worldworld 253253 ValerianValerian becamebecame emperoremperor 260260 ValerianValerian lostlost thethe BattleBattle ofof EdessaEdessa 264-269264-269 ThreeThree synodssynods werewere heldheld inin AntiochAntioch 270-271270-271 AnthonyAnthony wentwent toto livelive inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian desertdesert 276276 ManiMani preachedpreached inin PersiaPersia 284284 DiocletianDiocletian becamebecame emperoremperor HisHis predecessor,predecessor, Aurelian,Aurelian, hadhad foughtfought offoff thethe GothsGoths andand Alamanni,Alamanni, tighteningtightening thethe RomanRoman bordersborders InIn 285,285, DiocletianDiocletian splitsplit thethe administrativeadministrative dutiesduties ofof thethe EmpireEmpire intointo WestWest andand EastEast AfterAfter 5050 yearsyears ofof “Crisis“Crisis ofof thethe ThirdThird Century,”Century,” withwith insurgencies,insurgencies, multiplemultiple competingcompeting emperors,emperors, etc.,etc., DiocletianDiocletian wantedwanted toto showshow thatthat hehe waswas aa strong,strong, conservativeconservative emperor,emperor, soso hehe persecutedpersecuted thethe Christians—theChristians—the worst,worst, mostmost comprehensivecomprehensive persecutionpersecution soso farfar TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods Porphyry—onePorphyry—one ofof hishis advisors—wroteadvisors—wrote aa 15-15- volumevolume bookbook calledcalled AgainstAgainst thethe Christians,Christians, wherewhere hehe complainedcomplained aboutabout theirtheir rapidrapid growthgrowth (roughly(roughly 10%10% ofof thethe RomanRoman EmpireEmpire waswas nownow Christian),Christian), aboutabout Christ'sChrist's disdaindisdain towardtoward thethe richrich andand powerful,powerful, andand aboutabout howhow blasphemousblasphemous itit waswas toto worshipworship aa humanhuman beingbeing insteadinstead ofof thethe godsgods TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods Porphyry—onePorphyry—one ofof hishis advisors—wroteadvisors—wrote aa 15-15- volumevolume bookbook calledcalled AgainstAgainst thethe ChristiansChristians TheThe omen-readersomen-readers inin Diocletian'sDiocletian's armyarmy saidsaid thatthat thethe reasonreason theythey werewere havinghaving troubletrouble readingreading omensomens aboutabout battlesbattles waswas thatthat therethere werewere tootoo manymany “profane“profane Christians”Christians” amongstamongst thethe soldiersoldier whowho werewere crossingcrossing themselvesthemselves duringduring thethe ceremonyceremony andand thusthus disrespectingdisrespecting thethe godsgods DiocletianDiocletian thereforetherefore demandeddemanded thatthat allall soldierssoldiers makemake sacrificessacrifices toto thethe gods,gods, oror elseelse faceface aa dishonorabledishonorable dischargedischarge TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods ByBy 301,301, DiocletianDiocletian beganbegan aa campaigncampaign ofof arrestingarresting allall ManicheansManicheans andand publiclypublicly burningburning theirtheir leadersleaders alive,alive, arguingarguing thatthat “Ancient“Ancient religionreligion oughtought notnot toto bebe criticizedcriticized byby aa new-fanglednew-fangled one”one” TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods ByBy 301,301, DiocletianDiocletian beganbegan aa campaigncampaign ofof arrestingarresting allall ManicheansManicheans AtAt thethe FeastFeast ofof TerminusTerminus inin 303,303, hehe orderedordered thatthat ChristianityChristianity bebe terminatedterminated inin thethe RomanRoman EmpireEmpire WholesaleWholesale legallegal actionaction waswas takentaken againstagainst thethe church—church— AllAll ChristianChristian propertyproperty waswas toto bebe seized,seized, allall ScripturesScriptures werewere toto bebe burned,burned, andand allall placesplaces ofof worshipworship werewere toto bebe razedrazed TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods ByBy 301,301, DiocletianDiocletian beganbegan aa campaigncampaign ofof arrestingarresting allall ManicheansManicheans AtAt thethe FeastFeast ofof TerminusTerminus inin 303,303, hehe orderedordered thatthat ChristianityChristianity bebe terminatedterminated inin thethe RomanRoman EmpireEmpire WholesaleWholesale legallegal actionaction waswas takentaken againstagainst thethe churchchurch ChristiansChristians werewere forbiddenforbidden toto congregatecongregate ChristiansChristians werewere removedremoved fromfrom publicpublic officeoffice andand strippedstripped ofof rankrank (even(even veteransveterans nono longerlonger servingserving inin thethe military)military) ChristiansChristians werewere notnot allowedallowed toto petitionpetition courts,courts, nornor toto respondrespond toto claimsclaims mademade againstagainst themthem inin anyany courtscourts TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods ByBy 301,301, DiocletianDiocletian beganbegan aa campaigncampaign ofof arrestingarresting allall ManicheansManicheans AtAt thethe FeastFeast ofof TerminusTerminus inin 303,303, hehe orderedordered thatthat ChristianityChristianity bebe terminatedterminated inin thethe RomanRoman EmpireEmpire WhenWhen aa NicomedianNicomedian manman namednamed EutiusEutius protestedprotested thethe edictedict asas beingbeing tootoo harsh,harsh, hehe waswas arrestedarrested forfor treason,treason, tortured,tortured, andand burnedburned alivealive ThisThis becamebecame thethe commoncommon methodmethod ofof dealingdealing withwith Christians,Christians, especiallyespecially inin thethe EasternEastern EmpireEmpire TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods ByBy 301,301, DiocletianDiocletian beganbegan aa campaigncampaign ofof arrestingarresting allall ManicheansManicheans AtAt thethe FeastFeast ofof TerminusTerminus inin 303,303, hehe orderedordered thatthat ChristianityChristianity bebe terminatedterminated inin thethe RomanRoman EmpireEmpire InIn aa secondsecond edict,edict, DiocletianDiocletian demandeddemanded thatthat allall ChristianChristian leadersleaders bebe arrestedarrested RomanRoman prisonsprisons quicklyquickly filledfilled toto over-over- capacity,capacity, andand conditionsconditions werewere foulfoul TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods ByBy 301,301, DiocletianDiocletian beganbegan aa campaigncampaign ofof arrestingarresting allall ManicheansManicheans AtAt thethe FeastFeast ofof TerminusTerminus inin 303,303, hehe orderedordered thatthat ChristianityChristianity bebe terminatedterminated inin thethe RomanRoman EmpireEmpire InIn aa secondsecond edict,edict, DiocletianDiocletian demandeddemanded thatthat allall ChristianChristian leadersleaders bebe arrestedarrested AA thirdthird edictedict offeredoffered freedomfreedom toto anyany ChristianChristian leaderleader whowho wouldwould performperform publicpublic sacrificessacrifices toto thethe godsgods TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods ByBy 301,301, DiocletianDiocletian beganbegan aa campaigncampaign ofof arrestingarresting allall ManicheansManicheans AtAt thethe FeastFeast ofof TerminusTerminus inin 303,303, hehe orderedordered thatthat ChristianityChristianity bebe terminatedterminated inin thethe RomanRoman EmpireEmpire InIn aa secondsecond edict,edict, DiocletianDiocletian demandeddemanded thatthat allall ChristianChristian leadersleaders bebe arrestedarrested AA thirdthird edictedict offeredoffered freedomfreedom toto anyany ChristianChristian leaderleader whowho wouldwould performperform publicpublic sacrificessacrifices AA fourthfourth edictedict demandeddemanded thatthat allall Romans—Romans— men,men, women,women, andand children—assemblechildren—assemble inin theirtheir publicpublic squaressquares andand performperform sacrificessacrifices toto thethe RomanRoman godsgods AnyoneAnyone whowho refusedrefused waswas executedexecuted TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods TwoTwo casecase studiesstudies standstand outout thatthat year—year— TheThe PopePope atat thethe time—Marcellinus—time—Marcellinus— cavedcaved inin underunder thethe pressurepressure andand actuallyactually surrenderedsurrendered allall ofof Rome'sRome's holyholy books,books, andand thenthen hehe himselfhimself offeredoffered incenseincense toto thethe RomanRoman godsgods (To(To hishis credit,credit, hehe diddid laterlater recantrecant hishis earlierearlier recanting,recanting, andand hehe waswas thusthus executedexecuted thethe nextnext year)year) TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods TwoTwo casecase studiesstudies standstand outout thatthat year—year— TheThe PopePope atat thethe time—Marcellinus—didtime—Marcellinus—did cavecave inin underunder thethe pressurepressure AA soldiersoldier namednamed GeorgiusGeorgius fromfrom SyriaSyria Palestine,Palestine, onon thethe otherother hand,hand, stoodstood fastfast DiocletianDiocletian respectedrespected himhim soso muchmuch thatthat he'dhe'd personallypersonally mademade himhim oneone ofof hishis imperialimperial guardsguards inin Nicomedia—aNicomedia—a tribunetribune,, inin factfact ButBut GeorgiusGeorgius publiclypublicly denounceddenounced thethe edictedict (publicly(publicly askingasking DiocletionDiocletion toto rescindrescind it),it), publiclypublicly declareddeclared himselfhimself aa Christian,Christian, andand calledcalled otherother soldierssoldiers toto acceptaccept ChristChrist asas wellwell TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods TwoTwo casecase studiesstudies standstand outout thatthat year—year— TheThe PopePope atat thethe time—Marcellinus—didtime—Marcellinus—did cavecave inin underunder thethe pressurepressure AA soldiersoldier namednamed GeorgiusGeorgius fromfrom SyriaSyria Palestine,Palestine, onon thethe otherother hand,hand, stoodstood fastfast DiocletianDiocletian personallypersonally beggedbegged himhim toto recant—herecant—he eveneven offeredoffered himhim bribesbribes toto recant—butrecant—but GeorgiusGeorgius stillstill refusedrefused DiocletianDiocletian hadhad GeorgiusGeorgius slowlyslowly torturedtortured toto death—includingdeath—including beingbeing slicedsliced toto ribbonsribbons onon aa wheelwheel ofof swordsswords HeHe eventuallyeventually dieddied byby beheadingbeheading TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods TwoTwo casecase studiesstudies standstand outout thatthat year—year— TheThe PopePope atat thethe time—Marcellinus—didtime—Marcellinus—did cavecave inin underunder thethe pressurepressure AA soldiersoldier namednamed GeorgiusGeorgius fromfrom SyriaSyria Palestine,Palestine, onon thethe otherother hand,hand, stoodstood fastfast EventuallyEventually knownknown asas St.St. George,George, hehe becamebecame veneratedvenerated asas aa soldiersoldier saintsaint acrossacross Europe,Europe, includingincluding eveneven far-offfar-off England—whereEngland—where thethe legendlegend ofof hishis slayingslaying aa dragondragon inin thethe HolyHoly LandLand becamebecame partpart ofof classicalclassical BritishBritish folklorefolklore Note:Note: hehe absolutelyabsolutely diddid notnot looklook likelike thisthis TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods TwoTwo casecase studiesstudies standstand outout thatthat year—year— TheThe PopePope atat thethe time—Marcellinus—didtime—Marcellinus—did cavecave inin underunder thethe pressurepressure AA soldiersoldier namednamed GeorgiusGeorgius fromfrom SyriaSyria Palestine,Palestine, onon thethe otherother hand,hand, stoodstood fastfast EventuallyEventually knownknown asas St.St. George,George, hehe becamebecame veneratedvenerated asas aa soldiersoldier saintsaint CrusadersCrusaders laterlater worewore St.St. George'sGeorge's crosscross onon theirtheir surcoats,surcoats, wantingwanting toto bothboth honorhonor andand emulateemulate himhim (it(it wasn'twasn't reallyreally George'sGeorge's cross—itcross—it waswas thethe flagflag ofof AmbroseAmbrose,, bishopbishop ofof Milan...Milan... butbut sincesince Milan'sMilan's patronpatron saintsaint waswas eventuallyeventually St.St. George,George, crusaderscrusaders mademade thethe associationassociation withwith himhim)) TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch DiocletianDiocletian andand thethe GreatGreat PersecutionPersecution UnlikeUnlike Aurelian,Aurelian, DiocletianDiocletian didn'tdidn't trytry toto buildbuild aa cultcult aroundaround himself—hehimself—he sawsaw himselfhimself asas aa reformerreformer (or(or betterbetter yet,yet, aa “restorer”)“restorer”) SoSo hehe wantedwanted toto restorerestore RomeRome backback toto anan earlier,earlier, strongerstronger time,time, whenwhen theythey allall worshippedworshipped thethe samesame pantheonpantheon ofof godsgods TwoTwo casecase studiesstudies standstand outout thatthat year—year— SoSo here'shere's thethe questionquestion forfor thethe day:day: howhow wouldwould youyou havehave respondedresponded toto thethe GreatGreat Persecution—likePersecution—like Georgius,Georgius, oror likelike Marcellinus?Marcellinus? HowHow dodo youyou respondrespond toto pressurepressure toto conformconform toto thosethose aroundaround you?you?