Roman Emperors and Persecution of Christians

Question 1

initiated the widespread and brutal persecution of Christians

Answer 1

Nero

Question 2

After Rome burned in 64 CE, based on the report of Tacitus. To quell the persistent rumor that that_____ himself was responsible for the conflagration (intense fire) which consumed much of the city on 16 July 64, the emperor diverted the blame onto the Christian community. That is why Christians were hated by the Roman people.

Answer 2

Nero

Question 3

Large numbers (ingens multitudo) of Christians were arrested and executed in the ways reserved for arsonists: some were sewn into the skins of the animals and thrown to the wild dogs, others were clothed in inflammable materials and used as living torches by_____ to light his garden, which he opened to the public for the spectacle.

Answer 3

NERO

Question 4

the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.

Answer 4

Arson

Question 5

The Christians were unjustly accused of arson.

Answer 5

Nero

Question 6

persecuted the Christians not because he felt them as a threat to the state, but was aimed rather at individual Christians. He wanted the annihilation of the religion.

Answer 6

Nero

Question 7

But_______ act did not win the sympathy of all his fellowmen for the victims were pitied, for it was felt that they (Christians) were being sacrificed to one man’s brutality rather to the national interest.

Answer 7

Nero’s

Question 8

THE ROYAL DECREE
______wrote a letter to Pliny the Younger his governor in Asia Minor, setting his royal decree on how to deal with the Christians in a proper inquiry based on the following procedures

Answer 8

Trajan

Question 9

DENY OR DIE
They are not to be hunted out.
If they are convicted, they are to be punished.

But, he who denies that he is a Christian and proves it by supplicating our gods, although suspected in the past, may gain pardon from penitence. Anonymous accusations shall not be entertained with respect or any crime.

Answer 9

Trajan

Question 10

Deny or Die

Answer 10

Trajan

Question 11

The situation became worst for the Christians.

In 202 he intensified the campaign for the persecution with greater severity.

Answer 11

SEPTIMUS SEVERUS

Question 12

He forbade conversion to Christianity, and baptism was considered a criminal act.

The Christians were still pardoned however, if they denied the faith.

Answer 12

Septimus Severus

Question 13

The policy stepped up the governments active persecution of Christians because the police sought out the newly baptized Christians

Answer 13

Septimus Severus

Question 14

The famous martyrdom of ______ and _______ took place at Carthage during the time of Septimus Severus (193-211)

Answer 14

Perpetua and Felicity

Question 15

Saints Perpetua and Felicity, a young noblewoman and her slave, were martyred for their faith in A.D. 203, under the emperor_____

Answer 15

Severus

Question 16

In 250 C.E. The Roman emperor______ directed that all citizens of the Empire must worship the gods of the Romans and secure a_______ from the government.

Answer 16

Decius

certification

Question 17

According to the historian Richard Cronin, “many Christians, it seems, actually bought such certificates, others performed the act of worship required, and others who refused were martyred. The magnitude of inhumanity to the Christians heightened.

Answer 17

Decius

Question 18

continued the persecution in 257 by ordering the close and confiscation of Christian Churches, and by exiling and killing the bishops.

Answer 18

Valerian

Question 19

He commanded Christian clergy to perform sacrifices to the Roman gods or face banishment and death
Valerian

Question 20

Son of valerian

Answer 20

Galienus

Question 21

stopped his father’s order of persecution and returned confiscated Church property.

Answer 21

Galienus

Question 22

After the death of his father,________ granted liberty of worship to the Christians

Answer 22

Galienus

Question 23

The era of Roman persecution resumed its implementation at the time of________.

Answer 23

Diocletian

Question 24

He renewed the former edicts of persecution by Decius and Valerian, but added the confiscation of Christian writings as well as Church buildings.

Answer 24

Dioclectian

Question 25

The persecution under his reign according to the historian William Hugh Clifford Frend, was a product of well-thought and well-planned attack on the Christians.

Answer 25

Diocletian

Question 26

He recognized the danger of making Christians martyr. No blood, he insisted must be shed.

The aim was to recall the Christians to their duty of recognizing the majesty of the Roman gods.

Answer 26

Diocletian

Question 27

The edict he promulgated on February____ ordered that throughout the empire
Churches were to be destroyed, and sacred books to be burned.

Answer 27

Diocletian

24

Question 28

Christians from public offices were to be removed.

Christians in the upper classes were to lose their privileges.

Answer 28

Diocletian

Question 29

Christian slaves may not be freed.

The attacked was concentrated on the organization of Churches.

Answer 29

Diocletian

Question 30

Some Christians fled to remote places to freely practice their faith. Others submitted to the authorities. But there were those who complained, fought for their rights and persisted to uphold their freedom. Thus, they ended up tortured, executed and burned in public.

Answer 30

Diocletian

Question 31

Persecution finally met its end at the time of _______ in ____

Answer 31

Galerius in 311

Question 32

he became incapacitated with a painful disease. Fearing, perhaps, that his illness was the vengeance of the Christian God, he issued on April 30, 311, an edict unwillingly granting toleration and lifting some of his persecution.

Answer 32

Galerius

Question 33

In____, Emperor_______ together with_____ issued the Edict of Milan which declared religious freedom to all citizens of the Empire, after so many decades of prolonged agony and torture.

Answer 33

313

Constantine

Licinus