Persecution of Dèce (250)

Short persecution and forces against the new religions, in particular, Christianity. It is the cause of movements such as the schism novatien.

Origins

In 249, when Dèce becomes emperor, it promulgates a program of political and religious restoration to make the unit of all the inhabitants of the empire around the emperor and the gods of Rome. The empire faces important difficulties indeed: increasing threats on the borders, crisis of imperial legitimacy. Also, it is not astonishing only this emperor expresses the desire to put at evil the religions which are opposed to the traditional Roman religiosity and in particular the Christianisme. This last can indeed pass for a rupture of the peace of the gods ( pax deorum ) guarantor of the universal order and Roman capacity. Their refusal to sacrifice can also pass like a direct offense to the emperor: in crisis period that does not seem acceptable any more with a weakened imperial capacity.

Events

In December 249, it thus orders on all the subjects empire to offer a solemn sacrifice to the gods. The innovation of this edict lies in its obligatory and universal character. Commissions are charged supervise the implementation of the sacrifices by the inhabitants and to distribute certificates to sacrificing.

The operation is short but very violent. A great number of Christians disavow the Christian religion and sacrifice to the gods. Others refuse to abjure their faith: the pope Fabien (236-250) is killed, Origène is torture victim (250) but survives. With Smyrna the martyr of Pionios is known to us by particularly reliable acts. However, this persecution does not seem to have done as many victims as does not let suppose Christian historiography. Moreover, the application of the edict seems unequal in the provinces: severe in Africa, persecution is quite less as a Gaulle. Finally for the State, the result is not that hoped because the rallying is surface. Indeed as of the end of the year 250, the Christians who sacrificed require of the Church their rehabilitation.

It is in this context that Cyprien de Carthage written Of the unit of the Catholic church , in order to inform those which moved away from the Church that they will not find the safety in this way (“Salus extra Ecclesiam not is”).

Consequences

The problem of the lapsi will start the Crise novatienne after the pope Corneille (251-253) decided to reinstate the Lapsi within the Church.

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