Martyrs – Graphic Organizer Roman Persecutions – Graphic Organizer
St Ignatius
 Bishop of Antioch
 Model for Apostolic
Fathers
 Martyred under Trajan
 Wrote 7 Letters
 Called himself “God of
Wheat” referring to the
Eucharist
 Caution those who would
say Eucharist is not the
truly Body of Christ
Trajan
 Emperor from 98-117 AD
 Strong emperor because
of his strong military
 Trojans rescript 112 AD
 Said, that Christianity was
illegal but people couldn’t
be randomly be accused of
it
St. Polycarp St. Justin Martyr St. Perpetua and Felicity St. Irenaeus
 Bishop of Smyrna  Converts to  St. Perpetua –  Bishop of France
 Burned the stake for Christianity beautiful women,  Gnosticism taught
not denying the  First philosopher totally devoted to that the material
faith.  Started his own God and Christianity world was evil and
 Flames did not harm theology school  Many men wanted to for the good soul to
her  Martyred along court with her (marry escape
 Stabbed repeatedly with his class her)  Defended his
and dies  Thrown with the  Catechumens were position using
 His blood puts out lions, then discovered, both scripture, Tradition
the fames beheaded women were forced and Magesterium
to raise their children
in jail
Hadrian Decius Valerian Diocletian
 Emperor from 117-  Inaugurated the  Two Rescript:  The “Great
138 AD first empire-wide  1. Forbade Christians Persecution”
 Concerned about persecution of from meeting in  Churches, books,
mob killings of Christians public places and and the whole city
Xian’s  Left Christians with from celebrating the was set on fire
 Declared that Xian’s death or apostasy Eucharist in the
could be arrested  Christians who catacombs
for civil crimes, not refused to  2. Much harsher-
heresy renounce their issued bishops,
 However, the Xian’s faith were sent to deacons, and priests,
were still left with exile or put to to be executed, and
two choices, death death Christians of rank
or apostasy  All their property were removed from
 Apostasy – denying, was confiscated office and sold into
of their faith slavery