THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

Year 7 Religion
WHY DID THE ROMANS PERSECUTE
THE CHRISTIANS?
Why?
• The Romans persecuted the Christians because they saw them
as dangerous to the welfare and stability of the Empire.
• The lifestyle, beliefs and moral standards of the Christians were
completely contrary to those of the Romans.
• The Romans were ‘pagans’ and believed in many Gods.
• The early Christians separated themselves from the pagans,
mixing only with fellow Christians. Their lifestyle and moral
standards were completely contrary to the pagan way of living.
Emperor Nero
• The first stage of persecutions began with Emperor Nero. In 64
CE he started a great fire in Rome, intending to rebuild the city.
The fire destroyed many parts of Rome and devastated the
economy. Rumours were spreading that Nero had intentionally
started the fire. To prevent riots, Nero decided to blame the
Christians.

• Tacitus, a man who lived in Rome at the time, described the

horrible form of execution imposed on the Christians.
“And in their deaths they were made the subject of sport; for they
were wrapped in the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs,
or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when the day declined, were
burned to serve for nocturnal light.”
 Why did the Romans
Persecute them?
• They refused to watch gladiators fight.
Christians were not allowed to marry pagans.
They refused to serve in the army because
they believed killing was wrong.
• Christians refused to worship the Roman gods
and regard the emperor as divine, which
infuriated the Romans.
• The early Christians worshipped in secret and
did not allow pagans to worship with them.
This caused a lot of suspicion among the
Romans.
ROMAN GODS
What is a Martyr?
• Martyrs were held in great esteem by the early
Christians because they endured great pain as
they suffered and died for the name of Jesus.
• The persecutions were a time of great fear and
suffering for Christians, a time of terror created by
the Romans. However, God created blessings for
the Church in the middle of all this evil. These
blessing came in the form of martyrs who
willingly suffered and died for the name of Jesus.
Their example gave Christians hope, courage and
strength.
 ST STEPHEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u9eN72iFjo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye6T7sGvAtA
St Stephen
Name Background info Who killed this Why was s/he When was How was
(who was s/he?) martyr? killed? s/he killed? s/he killed?
(details)

St Stephen
Understanding Faith,
Unit 4, page 3,
slideshow.
http://www.catholic-s
aints.info/patron-sain
ts/saint-stephen.htm
 ST POLYCARP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCN09WDLpKM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7tff-6Lzsg
St Polycarp
• Polycarp was martyred around 155 CE at the age
of 86. Polycarp was a disciple of St John the
Apostle and the Bishop of Smyrna a city in the
East.
• The authorities demanded more bloodshed and
called for Polycarp but couldn't find him!
• He escaped to a nearby farm where he hid and
prayed
• While praying he saw a vision a of a pillow turn to
fire – He told his friends he would be burned alive
St Polycarp
• He was found after two boys were
tortured and revealed where he was
• When captured, he gave his captures
and meal and asked for an hour to
pray
• People begged for Polycarp to lie
about his faith
• Polycarp refused!
St Polycarp
• He was tied up and ready to be burned
• The fire was lit but the fire did something
amazing…
• It formed a circle around him and didn’t burn
him – he was glowing!
• The captors stabbed him to kill him instead
• His blood put the fire out
• Christian weren’t allowed to have his body in
fear they would worship Polycarp
ST PERPETUA & FELICITY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPt5ioSXxK4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0USGV7YDylg
This is much longer, but if you have time
Saints Perpetua and Felicity
During the reign of Septimus Severus at the beginning of the third century, the
persecution had turned against the catechumens as baptism was made illegal.
Perpetua and Felicity were martyred during this persecution.
The account of this event was recorded first hand by Perpetua herself, and her
teacher Saturus.
Perpetua was married at the time of her execution, but she never mentioned her
husband in her account, probably because she was a widow.
Perpetua was a 22 year old, well educated young lady with a tiny infant son. Even
though she knew the danger, Perpetua decided that she wanted to become a
Christian.
Her father, knowing that Perpetua might die, tried to talk her out of her decision,
but she refused,
Her father became so upset that he attacked Perpetua, and they parted company.
Shortly afterwards, Perpetua was arrested along
with four other catechumens, one of whom was her
slave girl, Felicity, who was eight months pregnant.
At that time God spoke to her in prayer, telling her to
endure in the face of the upcoming trials. Perpetua
was baptised before she was taken to prison.
The prison was dark, and hot with overcrowded
bodies, and the guards treated the five catechumens
badly.
Perpetua was very frightened and she missed her
baby so much. When this came to the attention of
the two deacons looking after them, they paid the
guards to have the martyrs moved into a better part
of the prison. Perpetua's parents visited her and
brought the baby with them. To her delight the baby
was allowed to stay with her.
Once again, Perpetua's father pleaded with her to reject her
faith, but she refused. The judge also tried to persuade her, but
Perpetua stood firm, and the judge sentenced her to death.
Perpetua's father was very angry and refused to allow the baby
to remain with her in the prison.
While in the prison, Perpetua had a vision of her brother, all
alone and thirsty in a dark, hot place. She began to pray for him
continuously, even while she was put in the stocks. Finally,
Perpetua saw a second vision, in which her brother, healed and
clean, was drinking from a cup that never ran out.
Meanwhile, Perpetua's slave, Felicity, suffered greatly. It was
against Roman law to execute pregnant women, because to kill
a child in the womb was shedding innocent and sacred blood.
Felicity hoped that she would give birth before the execution,
so that she could die with her friends. Two days before the
execution, Felicity gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
The guards made fun of her while she was in labour, but Felicity
stood firm in her faith and refused to be teased. The infant was
adopted and raised by one of the Christian women of Carthage.
 The guards began to realise the
power of the Christians and the
strength of Perpetua's leadership. As
a result, one guard, who later became
a Christian, gave them extra
privileges, but he also became fearful
of them.
 For example, on the day of their
execution, he refused to let them get
cleaned up. However, Perpetua
persuaded him to let them get
cleaned and they walked calmly and
joyfully into the arena.
When the executioners tried to make the martyrs
dress in robes dedicated to the Roman gods, Perpetua
spoke up on behalf of the group, 'We came to die out
of our own free will so we wouldn't lose our freedom to
worship our God. We gave our lives so that we wouldn't
have to worship your gods.' They were allowed to keep
their clothes.
When it was the women's turn to be executed, they
were stripped naked to face a wild heifer. Seeing that
Felicity had just given birth, the crowd was horrified,
and the women were removed and clothed again. They
were thrown back into the arena so violently that they
both fell to the ground, bruised and hurt. Perpetua,
thinking of Felicity, helped her up. The two of them
stood side by side as all five martyrs had their throats
cut.