4th century – 4th century
Egypt, especially the Thebaid and Alexandria
The Great Persecution was the final major Roman campaign against Christianity in Egypt before imperial policy changed under Constantine and Licinius. It involved the dismantling of churches, forced sacrifice, imprisonment, torture, and executions, while disputes emerged over the treatment of Christians who had lapsed. Its memory endured in the Egyptian Church through the Era of the Martyrs.
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The Story
The Great Persecution began in Egypt during a period of administrative and fiscal intensification. Diocletian divided the province into three parts, strengthened military command, and expanded bureaucratic oversight, while raids by the Blemmyes and the revolt of Achilleus added pressure. Requisitions, taxation, and compulsory municipal service deepened the burden carried by local inhabitants.
Christian communities initially attempted to continue their activities, but pressure increased in AD 304–305 as churches were dismantled and laypeople were compelled to sacrifice. Peter, bishop of Alexandria, was imprisoned and disagreed with Meletius, bishop of Lycopolis, over how to restore those who had lapsed. During a pause after Diocletian’s abdication, Peter issued relatively mild canons in AD 306; Meletius and his followers rejected them and formed a schism.
Maximin restarted the persecution in AD 306, and it continued for six years under officials such as Sossius Culcianus and Hierocles. Eusebius described mass executions in the Thebaid, where Christians met death with hymns and declarations of faith. Bishop Peter was executed in Alexandria on 25 November 311, and Egyptian Christians subsequently remembered the era as the Era of the Martyrs.
4th century – 4th century
Egypt, especially the Thebaid and Alexandria
The Great Persecution was the final major Roman campaign against Christianity in Egypt before imperial policy changed under Constantine and Licinius. It involved the dismantling of churches, forced sacrifice, imprisonment, torture, and executions, while disputes emerged over the treatment of Christians who had lapsed. Its memory endured in the Egyptian Church through the Era of the Martyrs.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Great Persecution began in Egypt during a period of administrative and fiscal intensification. Diocletian divided the province into three parts, strengthened military command, and expanded bureaucratic oversight, while raids by the Blemmyes and the revolt of Achilleus added pressure. Requisitions, taxation, and compulsory municipal service deepened the burden carried by local inhabitants.
Christian communities initially attempted to continue their activities, but pressure increased in AD 304–305 as churches were dismantled and laypeople were compelled to sacrifice. Peter, bishop of Alexandria, was imprisoned and disagreed with Meletius, bishop of Lycopolis, over how to restore those who had lapsed. During a pause after Diocletian’s abdication, Peter issued relatively mild canons in AD 306; Meletius and his followers rejected them and formed a schism.
Maximin restarted the persecution in AD 306, and it continued for six years under officials such as Sossius Culcianus and Hierocles. Eusebius described mass executions in the Thebaid, where Christians met death with hymns and declarations of faith. Bishop Peter was executed in Alexandria on 25 November 311, and Egyptian Christians subsequently remembered the era as the Era of the Martyrs.