(S (S (S (BASENP (DT This) (NN event)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (JJ important) (PP (IN for) (BASENP (DT the) (NNPS Christians)))))) (SBAR (IN because) (S (S (BASENP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN been) (VP (VP (VBN persecuted) (PP (IN by) (BASENP (DT the) (JJ Roman) (NNP Empire)))) (PP (IN during) (BASENP (NN 300) (NNS years))))))) (CC and) (S (ADVP (RB now)) (S (BASENP (PRP they)) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB have) (NP (BASENP (NN freedom)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VP (VB profess) (BASENP (PRPD their) (NN religion))) (PP (IN without) (S (VP (VBN been) (PP (IN in) (NP (BASENP (NN risk)) (PP (IN of) (S (VP (VBN been) (VP (VP (VP (VBN arrested)) (CC or) (VP (VBN convicted) (PP (TO to) (BASENP (NN death))))) (PP (IN by) (BASENP (DT the) (NN government)))))))))))))))))))))))) (PERIOD .))