Christian Persecutions

The persecution of Christians can be historically traced from the first century of the Christian era to the present day. Christian missionaries and converts to Christianity have both been targeted for persecution, sometimes to the point of being martyred for their faith, ever since the emergence of Christianity.

Early Christians were persecuted by Jews and by the Romans who controlled many of the early centers of Christianity in their Empire. In the early 4th century, Christianity was legalized by Rome, but by the year 380, Christians had begun to persecute each other. Schisms of late antiquity and the Middle Ages led members of the various denominations to persecute each other and engage in sectarian violence.

In the 20th century, Christian populations were persecuted, sometimes to the point of genocide. Various states were guilty, including the Ottoman Empire and its successor state Turkey, perpetrating the Hamidian massacres, the Armenian genocide, the Assyrian genocide, the Greek genocide, and the Charles Diyarbekir genocide. Atheist, communist states (such as those of the former Eastern Bloc), also promulgated wide-spread anti-Christian persecution.

The contemporary persecution of Christians includes the official state persecution mostly occurring in countries which are located in Africa and Asia because they have state religions or because their governments and societies practice religious favoritism. Such favoritism is frequently accompanied by religious discrimination and persecution.

1. Early Localized Persecutions (c. 30–250 AD)

Type: Sporadic, local, and not empire-wide.

Reasons: Christians were viewed with suspicion for refusing to worship Roman gods and the emperor, which was seen as subversive and impious.

Notable Events:

• Nero (c. 64 AD): Blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome; brutal executions (e.g., Peter and Paul martyred).
• Other localized actions: Executions or punishments carried out by governors or mobs, such as under Pliny the Younger in Bithynia.

2. Systematic Empire-Wide Persecutions (250–311 AD)

Type: State-sponsored, legally mandated, and often brutal.

Key Emperors & Events:

Decian Persecution (250–251):

• First empire-wide edict requiring all citizens to offer sacrifices to Roman gods.
• Christians who refused were punished or executed.

Valerian Persecution (257–260):

• Targeted Christian clergy and aristocrats.
• Confiscation of property, exile, or execution.

Diocletianic (Great) Persecution (303–311):

• Most severe and systematic.
• Edicts ordered destruction of churches, burning of scriptures, imprisonment of clergy, and forced pagan sacrifices.
• Continued under co-emperors (especially Galerius), but enforcement varied.

3. End of Persecution and Legalization (311–313 AD)

Type: Gradual decline and legal toleration.

Key Events:

• Edict of Toleration (311) by Galerius: Ended Diocletianic persecution, acknowledged failure to suppress Christianity.
• Edict of Milan (313) by Constantine and Licinius: Granted full religious freedom, legalized Christianity, and restored confiscated property.

Summary of Types of Persecution:

• Legal/State-driven: Imperial edicts and trials under Decius, Valerian, and Diocletian.
• Social/Mob violence: Riots, lynchings, and local scapegoating.
• Economic: Confiscation of property, exclusion from public office or guilds.
• Religious: Forced participation in pagan rituals; refusal often led to martyrdom.