Decian Persecution (jan 1, 249 – jan 1, 251)
Description:
Staunchly opposed to Christianity, Emperor Decius issued a decree that all Roman citizens must perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods in the sight of a Roman official. If they refused, they could face punishment and death. During this persecution, many Christians adamantly lay down their lives. However, many also paid off officials instead of making sacrifices, and some renounced their faith in order to be spared. This later caused controversy in the Church over whether or not to accept back into the Church those who had denied Christ during this time of persecution.
Added to timeline:
First Missions Paradigm Timeline
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