The Great Persecution

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The Great Persecution

• Persecution under Decius.
• The Great Persecution.
• How to read historical accounts.

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Emperor Decius (249-251)
Started the first empire-wide persecution of
Christians -- Decius ordered everybody to
sacrifice to Jupiter and to obtain a
certificate --Decius went after Christian
leaders --problem of the lapsed
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Emperor Diocletian (284-305)

• Instigated the second Empire-wide persecution of
  Christians (303-311)
• Went after church leaders and property
• Installed tetrarchy

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Diocletians tetrarchy
André Thevet
The Tetrarchs. Corner of San Marco, Venice.
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How to Read Historical Accounts

• All histories are written from a particular point
  of view
• All historical accounts are selective
• History is not a mere time-line or chronicle
• Historians at times distort facts