26 - Ecclesiology forged in the wake of persecution

Summary

The Decian persecution and its immediate effects

The persecutions under the emperor Decius (249–51 ce) divided the churches and had lasting consequences for the way the church was perceived and organised. Before 250 ce, Christians had been persecuted from time to time. The severity and extent varied greatly, and the legal basis remains uncertain. Although there were occasional imperial rescripts or other enactments, local popular feeling and the personal attitude of local officials (always susceptible to bribes) usually determined events. When the Emperor Decius had defeated his predecessor Philip (244–9 ce) in September 249, he decreed that all citizens should offer sacrifice to the gods. It was not a specifically anti-Christian decree: only the worship of the gods, not renunciation, was the subject of the libellus, or certificate of sacrifice, which every citizen had to obtain from the examining tribunal. Notable bishops fell victim: Fabian of Rome on 20/21 January 250, Babylas of Antioch soon after, and Alexander of Jerusalem died in the Caesarea prison. Euctemon of Smyrna was probably not the only bishop who sacrificed, and persuaded others to do the same. Dionysius of Alexandria and Cyprian of Carthage went into hiding, and tried to restore the situation, as hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Christians across the empire defected or dissimulated: both these bishops describe the rush to get certificates by making the required public offerings. Decius had decreed the most systematic attempt ever made to enforce religious conformity, and, as far as the Christian population was concerned, had considerable success.