Early Christianity started as a religious sect among the temple of Jews. The New Testament narrates that the Christians were persecuted by the Pharisees. Paul of Tarsius, before his conversion, was anti-Christian too.
Persecutions continued during the first century by Jews and Romans who controlled vast tract of lands. Christian missionaries and converts were martyred because of their faith.
Persecution of Christians ended in 313 when Constantine the Great signed the Edict of Milan, which granted permanent freedom of worship to Christians. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states that estimates of the number of people killed before 313 vary from a low 10,000 to a high of almost 100,000.
The church honors today Saints Mark and Marcellian, brothers who were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian.
The great persecutions
Nero, at 17, became the emperor of Rome as heir and successor to his uncle, Claudius, who adopted him. He reigned from October 13, 54, to June 9, 68. He focused on trade, diplomacy and culture. He built theaters, promoted athletic games and made public appearances as a musician, poet or charioteer.
His rule was characterized by tyranny, extravagance and execution of Christians, which include Saints Peter and Paul.
Historians attribute the Great Fire of Rome on July 18 and 19, 64, to Nero, who desired to clear the place for the construction of Domus Aurea, a palatial complex. The fire destroyed three of the 14 Roman districts and severely damaged seven.
In Lives of 12 Caesars by Suetonius, it was noted that Nero, in stage, costume was singing Sack of Lium while Rome was burning. Tacitus, a historian, stated that Christians confessed to the crime, but it was not known if owning the crime was induced by torture.
Nero tortured and executed Christians for the burning of Rome, Tacitus wrote. The first text to suggest Nero ordered the execution of Saint Paul was a letter by Clement to the Corinthians dated 96 AD. According to Lactantius, Saint Peter was crucified but not by Nero, and Saint Paul was slain by a sword.
In 68 civil and military authorities declared Galba emperor, so Nero fled Rome. Historians declared he was captured and executed, or committed suicide. But, the Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire 2009 by Matthew Bunson narrated that, initially, he wanted to commit suicide but forced Epaphroditos, his private secretary, to kill him.
Nero died on June 9, 68, and was buried at the mausoleum of the Domiti Ahenobarbi, now the Villa Borghese in Pincian Hill, Rome.
To restore the pagan religion, Emperor Domitian executed confessed Christians when they refused to offer sacrifice to the idols. Labelled atheists, they were killed. A self proclaimed “Lord and God”, he did not ignore the needs of the people. But when pressures mounted, he became a paranoia, and was stabbed by Stemphasus. He reigned until September 18, 96.
Emperor Decius reigned from 249 to 251 AD. On June 250 he issued an imperial edict requiring all inhabitants to pledge loyalty to the ancestral gods of Rome before the magistrate of the community, in exchange for a certificate—libellus.
Those who refused were tortured and executed, including Pope Saint Fabian. Cyprian in his essay De Mortatilate wrote that the executions triggered the Plaque of Cyprian.
The last and greatest persecution of Christians was during the reign of Emperor Diocletian who was acclaimed emperor by soldiers on November 17, 284.
A conservative, Diocletian, according to Britanica.com, obligated children to care for their parents in old age, parents to care for children justly, married couples to respect the laws of marriage, sons not to witness against their fathers, and slaves against their masters.
Private property and contracts were protected. He also forbade the use of torture.
The persecution of Christians during his reign was the possible influence of Calerius, a fanatic follower of the traditional Roman religion who believed that complete unity was seemingly difficult with Christians “forming a kind of state within the state” with their doctrines.
Although he published four edicts in 303 to 305, promising that he would not spill blood, his vow went unheeded. He abdicated on May 1, 305.
Twin brothers and saints
Mark and Marcellian were brothers. Both were married with children and deacons in Rome. The children of Martia and Tranqillinus of Rome, were Christians but their parents worshipped pagan gods.
When Christians were persecuted during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, the brothers were imprisoned. Their parents visited them persuading both to abandon their belief in God.
Mark and Marcellian were prevailed by the future Saint Sebastian not to give up their faith. A captain of the Praetorian guards, Diocletian, was unaware Sebastian was a Christian. Sebastian was able to convert the brothers’ parents, Chromatius, the local prefect and his son, Tiburtius, who became a saint.
Set free by Chromatius, they were concealed by another Christian officer, Castulus. But they were betrayed by Torquatus.
Both brothers were bound to two pillars with their heads downward. For a day they were hung then pierced with lances.
The twins, whose feast day is June 18, were buried in Via Ardeatina near the Domitian Cemetery. Their bodies were rediscovered in 1581 during the reign of Pope Gregory XIII.
- Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.