christians were targeted in the great persecution that began in 303.
christians were targeted in the great persecution that began in 303.
who was targeted in the great persecution that began in 303?
christians
christians suffered from sporadic and localized persecutions over a period of two and a half centuries. their refusal to participate in the imperial cult was considered an act of treason and was thus punishable by execution. the most widespread official persecution was carried out by diocletian. during the great persecution (303–311), the emperor ordered christian buildings and the homes of christians torn down and their sacred books collected and burned. christians were arrested, tortured, mutilated, burned, starved, and condemned to gladiatorial contests to amuse spectators. the great persecution officially ended in april 311, when galerius, senior emperor of the tetrarchy, issued an edict of toleration, which granted christians the right to practice their religion, though it did not restore any property to them. constantine, caesar in the western empire, and licinius, caesar in the east, also were signatories to the edict of toleration. it has been speculated that galerius' reversal of his long-standing policy of christian persecution has been attributable to one or both of these co-caesars.
constantine the great and christianity
section::::great persecution.









































section::::great persecution.:first edict.
diocletianic persecution