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PERSECUTION in the EARLY CHURCH

PERSECUTION in the EARLY CHURCH. PERSECUTION in the EARLY CHURCH. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” Tertullian. Shortly After the Death of Christ. -Christians accused of cannibalism, perversion, and incest -Christians used as scapegoats for every misfortune

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PERSECUTION in the EARLY CHURCH

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  1. PERSECUTION in the EARLY CHURCH PERSECUTION in the EARLY CHURCH

  2. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”Tertullian

  3. Shortly After the Death of Christ -Christians accused of cannibalism, perversion, and incest -Christians used as scapegoats for every misfortune -Christians arrested, harassed, and persecuted

  4. Early Christian Martyrs Ignatius of Antioch • Martyred in 107 in the arena (believed to be the Coliseum) • Roman Authorities hoped to make an example of him and thus discourage Christianity from spreading. • Instead, he met with and encouraged Christians who flocked to meet him all along his route, and he wrote letters to the churches. Bishop of Antioch

  5. Perpetua and Felicity (d. 202) Perpetua, her slave Felicity, and three men were arrested for converting to Christianity. • Amphitheater in Carthage • Scourged • Attacked by wild animals • Then put to the sword

  6. Sts. Sergius and Bacchus were the leaders of a group of Roman soldiers under Emperor Diocletian. When it became known that they were Christians, they were tortured and killed.

  7. The Roman Coliseum

  8. Caesar Nero Emperor: 54-68 First emperor to persecute Christians Blamed the Christians for the fire in Rome in 64 "Mockery of every sort accompanied their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired." -Tacitus

  9. Caesar Decius Emperor: 249-251 Empire-wide & systematic persecution Required libelli (certificates) Apostasy or martyrdom

  10. Libelli & Confessors The libelliwere documents notarized by Roman authorities to certify that someone had offered sacrifice to the gods. In times of persecution these documents were accepted as proof that someone was not a Christian. Confessorswere Christians who confessed their faith and suffered persecution and torture, but not to the point of death. They were imprisoned for their faith, and other Christians flocked for to them for strength and guidance. Many Christians even sought them for forgiveness of their sins, which became controversial in the Church.

  11. Lapsi The lapsi (lapsed) were those apostates who renounced their faith during the early persecutions. They can be divided into multiple categories: - sacraficati – those who had actually offered sacrifice to an idol - thurificati – those who burned incense on an altar before a statue of the gods - libellatici – those who obtained libelli from Roman officials without actually sacrificing - traditores (“traitors”) – Those who gave up Sacred Scripture, sacred vessels, or gave up names of fellow Christians.

  12. “They seized first an old man and commanded him to utter impious words. They beat him with clubs, tore his face and eyes with sharp sticks, and dragged him out of the city to stone him. Then they carried to their temple a faithful woman. As she turned away in detestation, they bound her feet and dragged her through the city over the stone-paved streets, dashed her against the millstones, scourged her, and stoned her. Then they rushed to the homes of the pious to steal and plunder. Then they seized the most admirable virgin and broke out her teeth. They threatened to burn her alive if she would not utter impious cries. She leaped eagerly into the fire. There was no street, nor public road, nor lane open to us, by night or day; for always and everywhere, all of them cried out that if any one would not repeat their impious words, he should immediately be dragged away and burned.” Caesar Decius Emperor: 249-251

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