Great Persecution
persecution · 303–311 · Nicomedia
The Great Persecution (303–313): four escalating edicts ordered the churches razed, the scriptures surrendered, the clergy imprisoned, and at last universal sacrifice. Eusebius witnessed it in Palestine and counted its martyrs there at 83; modern estimates put the executed across the empire at three to three and a half thousand, with far more imprisoned, mutilated or sent to the mines. It broke first in the west (306) and ended in the east with Galerius' edict (311) and Milan (313). It pressed hardest in the east, under Galerius and Maximinus Daza.
Diocletian's restoration of the old order — the church now too large to ignore.
Churches razed, scriptures burned, universal sacrifice; some 3,000–3,500 executed by modern estimate, ending in Galerius' capitulation (311) and Milan (313).
People
- Catherine of Alexandria victim
- Agnes of Rome victim
- Diocletian instigator
- Eusebius of Caesarea significant
- Maximian instigator
- Maximinus Daza instigator
- Saint Lucy victim
- Demetrius of Thessaloniki victim
- Januarius victim
- Lactantius suffered
- Lucian of Antioch victim
- Methodius of Olympus victim
- Pamphilus of Caesarea victim
- Peter of Alexandria victim
- Vincent of Saragossa victim