Christians in the Early Roman Empire

In 110 CE Pliny the Younger is appointed governor of the Roman province of Pontus-Bithynia. Within just a few months of starting the job he uncovers a community of Christians, some of which are executed. This just scratches the surface of a much more pervasive spread of the strange religion as more and more Christians are uncovered, either through anonymous accusations or as a result of torture. Pliny discovers the Christian community is widespread throughout the entire province and writes to the Emperor Trajan seeking advice.

Pliny’s letter to Trajan is the very earliest non-biblical account of Christians and provides a fascinating look at the spread of early Christianity, what their religious practices were, what Roman law was concerning Christians, and why they were seen as such a threat (or not).

Just 90 years later, in the now Roman city of Carthage in 203 CE, two young Christian women (Perpetua and Felicity) are arrested and brought before the governor Hilarion for trial. Perpetua’s family are wealthy enough to be able to bribe the guards of the prison to allow visits, provide materials for writing, and opportunities to beg Perpetua to recant and return to her family. What follows next is a handwritten diary of the last days of two of Christianity’s earliest saints. Outlining Roman procedures of trial, prison life, and execution. The heart felt thoughts and anxieties are recorded as two young mothers face their last days before embarking on what they see as a Passion and a guaranteed short-cut straight to the gates of Heaven.

80 Year’s following Perpetua’s martyrdom Roman attitudes towards Christianity seem to have softened somewhat. Mauritius (Saint Maurice) is a Roman citizen, an open Christian who leads the Theban Legion, an entirely Christian Roman legion, under the banner of Emperor Maximian. The legion is sent into modern day Switzerland and ordered to slaughter a Christian settlement. What follows next is a tale of an immovable object meeting an unstoppable force as devout Christians face the choice of death for defying a direct order from a Roman emperor, or eternal damnation for murdering other Christians.

Saint George (if he existed at all) was born sometime around the time of Maximian and Saint Maurice. An era commonly known as the Crisis of the Third Century. Beginning our journey into the real-world and history of the time of Saint George we start by examining the earliest non-biblical accounts of Christians, exploring Roman attitudes and law towards Christians, and Christian attitudes towards Roman authority.

Sources Used in this series

Millennium - Tom Holland

Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine - Patricia Southern

The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity - Perpetua

Dominion - Tom Holland

Complete Letters - Oxford World Classics Pliny the Younger

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