Chapter 3: The Persecution of the Way

Question 1

Describe St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch.

Answer 1

-His letters are one of the most important documents since they link the Twelve Apostles to the early Church
-Went against heresies that claimed the Eucharist not to be the flesh of Jesus
-Was martyred in the Coliseum and fed to the lions
-His feast day if on October 17

Question 2

Who was Hadrian?

Answer 2

He ordered that Christians can only be prosecuted for actual violations of the common law

Question 3

Describe St. Polycarp.

Answer 3

-Suffered martyrdom during Emperor Antoninus Pius
-He was encouraged to renounce Christ but het refused
-Sentenced to be burned alive
-Remained unfarms until an executioner killed hi with a sword
-His feast day is on February 23

Question 4

Who was St. Justin Martyr?

Answer 4

-Martyred under emperor Marcus Aurelius
-Wrote 2 Apologies
-When he refused to sacrifice to idols, he was behaded
-His feast day if on June 1

Question 5

What did Emperor Septimius Severus do?

Answer 5

Issue decrees that forbade both baptism and circumcision

Question 6

What is the feast day of St. Perpetua and St. Felicity?

Answer 6

March 7

Question 7

When were Saints Perpetua and Felicity martyred?

Answer 7

During Septimius Severus’s reign

Question 8

Describe St. Irenaeus.

Answer 8

-Bishop of Lyons
-Preeminent figure of the early Church in Gaul
-Martyred during the reign of Septimius Severus
-Came from the Greek-speaking east
-Feast day is on June 28

Question 9

Who were sacrificati?

Answer 9

Christians who offered sacrifice to the pagan gods

Question 10

Who were thurificati?

Answer 10

Christians who burned incense to the pagan gods

Question 11

Who were libellatici?

Answer 11

Bought certificates stating that they offered sacrifices to the pagan gods

Question 12

What is the difference between heresy and apostasy?

Answer 12

Heresy denies one or more doctrines of the Faith, while apostasy denies the Faith altogether;
Both result in excommunication from the Church

Question 13

Who was Origen?

Answer 13

Founded and headed the Catechetical School in Alexandria

Question 14

Who was Emperor Valerian?

Answer 14

Was the first Roman emperor to be captured by a foreign enemy;
He eventually passed away and the Persians stuffed his body and hung it inside a temple

Question 15

What happened to Pope Saint Sixtus?

Answer 15

-While celebrating mass, he was arrested along with 7 deacons;
-Him and the 6 other deacons were beheaded
-St. Lawrence, the last deacon, was spared for a time

Question 16

What did St. Lawrence do?

Answer 16

When asked to bring the Church’s treasures to the authorities, he brought a group of poor people;
In response, he was roasted alive by the authorities

Question 17

Describe St. Agnes.

Answer 17

Oral tradition states that she Was a beautiful young woman;
She was tortured by fire;
Her feast day is January 21

Question 18

Who issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD?

Answer 18

Constantine