Christenverfolgung unter Diokletian

299: Diocletian was somewhat paranoid, and so he often sought to know the future from fortune tellers. Once during his stay in the East he began to slay animals, so that he could learn the future from the livers. While he sacrificed, some attendants of his, who were Christians, stood by and put the sign of the cross on their foreheads. At this the demons were chased away, and the holy rites interrupted. The soothsayers trembled, unable to investigate the wonted marks on the entrails of the victims. They frequently repeated the sacrifices, as if the former had been unpropitious; but when the victims were slain they gave no tokens for divination. Finally Tages, the chief of the soothsayers, either from guess or from his own observation, said, There are profane persons here, who obstruct the rites. Then Diocletian, in furious passion, ordered not only all who were assisting at the holy ceremonies, but also all who resided within the palace, to sacrifice, and they refused he ordered them to be scourged. And further, by letters to the commanding officers, he enjoined that all soldiers should be forced to perform similar impieties, or else be dismissed the service. Thus far his rage proceeded; but at that time he did nothing more against the law and religion of God.

Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 10.6

299: The author of the edict [Diocletian] very shortly after this confession was released from his pains and died. He is reported to have been the original author of the misery of the persecution, having endeavored, long before the movement of the other emperors, to turn from the faith the Christians in the army, and first of all those in his own house, degrading some from the military rank, and abusing others most shamefully, and threatening still others with death, and finally inciting his partners in the empire to the general persecution.

Eusebius, Historica Ecclesiasica 8 appendix

Autumn 302: What occurred to Romanus…at Antioch, is also worthy of record. For he was a native of Palestine, a deacon and exorcist in the parish of Caesarea. He was present at the destruction of the churches and beheld many men, with women and children, going up in crowds to the idols and sacrificing. But, through his great zeal for religion, he could not endure the sight, and rebuked them with a loud voice. He was arrested for his boldness and proved a most noble witness of the truth, if there ever was one. For when the judge informed him that he was to die by fire, he received the sentence with cheerful countenance and most ready mind, and was led away. When he was bound to the stake, and the wood piled up around him, as they were awaiting the arrival of the emperor before lighting the fire, he cried, “Where is the fire for me?” Having said this, he was summoned before Galerius and subjected to the unusual torture of having his tongue cut out. But he endured this with fortitude and showed to all by his deeds that the Divine Power is present with those who endure any hardship whatever for the sake of religion, lightening their sufferings and strengthening their zeal. When he learned of this strange mode of punishment, the noble man was not terrified, but put out his tongue readily, and offered it with the greatest alacrity to those who cut it off. After this punishment he was thrown into prison, and suffered there a very long time. At last the twentieth anniversary of the emperor being near, when, according to tan established gracious custom, liberty was proclaimed everywhere to all who were in bonds, he alone had both his feet stretched over five holes in the stocks, and while he lay there was strangled, and was thus honored with martyrdom, as he desired.

Eusebius, De Martyribus Palestinae 2

23. Februar 303: It was in the nineteenth year of the reign of Diocletian, (302-303) in the month of March, when the feast of the Savior’s passion was near at hand, that royal edicts were published everywhere, commanding that the churches be leveled to the ground and the Scriptures be destroyed by fire, and ordering that those who held places of honor be degraded, and that the household servants, if the persisted in the profession of Christianity, be made slaves.

Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 8.4

Spring/Summer 303 Such was not the first edict against us. But not long after, other decrees were issued, commanding that all the rulers of the churches in every place be first thrown into prison, and afterwards be compelled to sacrifice by whatever means necessary.

Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 8.2.5

Fall 303: Other decrees followed the first, directing that those in prison should be permitted to depart in freedom if they would sacrifice, but that those who refused should be harassed with many tortures. How could any one number the multitude of martyrs in every province, and especially of those in Africa, and Mauritania, and Thebais, and Egypt? From this last country many went into other cities and provinces, and became illustrious through martyrdom.

Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 8.6.10

Early 304: In the course of the second year, the persecution against us increased greatly. When Urbanus was governor of the province, imperial edicts were first issued to him, commanding by a general decree that all the people should sacrifice at once in the various cities, and offer libations to the idols.

Eusebius, De Martyribus Palestinae 3.1