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- “The Great Persecution” refers to what historical period?
- On the map on page 258, either site or locate Nicomedia, Caesarea Maritima, Alexandria, Lyons, Edessa, Thebes.
- Eusebius describes how, before the Great Persecution, the Roman government generally treated Christians and Christian leaders. What does he say?
- Diocletian shared the tetrarchy with whom? When?
- When exactly did Diocletian issue the edict requiring that Christian churches be burned?
- What kinds of tortures did Christians suffer during this period? If beasts refused to attack the Christians, then what happened? How did tortures differ by region?
- Roman-Christian soldiers faced what options during this persecution?
- Examine closely the plate on p. 266: describe everything you see and interpret the significance.
- On pp. 268 and 269, Eusebius quotes Phileas at length. In the first paragraph, Phileas’s description of Jesus suggests what heresy? How can you tell?
- How did Domnina escape brutal torture?
- What do we mean by calling “churchmen proved through blood”?
- Who was Constantius Chlorus, and why is he important?
- What is Saint Helena renowned for besides being Constantine the Great’s mother?
- When you examine the sculpture on p. 274, what does the artist stress about Constantine the Great?
- Despite his building program in Rome, we best recall Maxentius for his obsession with magic and witchcraft which led him to commit what kinds of atrocities?
- Maxentius entered into a secret alliance with which Eastern tetrarch? And with what results?
- When and why (generally) did the Great Persecution end?
- Read closely Emperor Galerius’s recantation. Focus on the last paragraph (p. 280): What do you find sympathetic, ironic, worthy of comment in this recantation?