By 324 Constantine had defeated Licinius, thus becoming sole emperor of the whole empire, both East and West. Partly because of this betrayal by Licinius of the Edict of Milan, Constantine led his troops against him. The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and the Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates died for Christ in this time. In about 320, the eastern emperor Licinius began persecuting Christians in the military. 339–397), made Christianity the official state religion of the Empire. 379–395), with advice from Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan (c. Now recognized as a legal entity, the Church expanded and flourished greatly during the 4th century-so much so that in the last decade of the century, Emperor Saint Theodosius the Great (r. Together they issued the Edict of Milan giving freedom to Christians to practice their Faith in the empire-as well as affirming general religious freedom for everyone. In February of 313, Constantine met Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern half of the empire, in Milan. So he acted very quickly to bring the era of persecution of Christians to an official end. With this Christ-inspired victory, Constantine not only became the sole emperor in the West he also became a stronger believer in the God of the Christians. He saw in the sky the Cross or Labarum (Chi Rho: XP) of Christ with the words, “In this sign, conquer.” He placed this Christian symbol on his troops’ tunics and shields, and they won the battle-known as the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. In 312, as Constantine was moving with his troops towards Rome to fight against Maxentius, the tyrannical ruler there, he had a vision or a dream that dramatically changed the course of history. Meanwhile, Constantine was proclaimed emperor in the West in York, England, in 306, upon the death of his father, the deputy emperor Constantius. After his death in 311, his former deputy emperor, Maximin, renewed the persecution for another year, until he was overthrown by Licinius. He continued the attack against Christianity until he was on his deathbed, when he asked the Christians to pray for him. Among the other more well-known martyrs of this period are Saint Katherine the Greatmartyr of Alexandria Saint Panteleimon of Nicomedia Saint Demetrius the Greatmartyr of Thessalonica and his friend Saint Nestor Saints Agapia, Chionia, and Irene of Aquileia and the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia.Īfter Diocletian abdicated the throne in 305, Galerius became the Emperor in the East.
During this nine-year persecution, soldier-martyrs like Saint George of Nicomedia proved their courage in enduring fearsome tortures and death on behalf of the true emperor, the King of Glory. 284–305), at the urging of his deputy emperor in the East, Galerius, who began to suspect the loyalty and valor of the Christian soldiers in the military. It was started in 303 by Emperor Diocletian (r. Work of the Church Liturgical Music & Texts, News, Media, Reflections, PublicationsĮarly in the fourth century began the longest and most extensive persecution ever waged against the Church.Directories Dioceses, Parishes, Clergy, Monasteries, Seminaries.The Orthodox Faith Feasts & Saints, Readings, Q&A, Prayers.Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America.
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