1. The Great Persecution 1.Persecution under Decius. 2.The Great Persecution. 3.How to read historical accounts.

2. Emperor Decius (249-251) Started the first empire-wide persecution of Christians -- Decius ordered everybody to sacrifice to Jupiter and to obtain a certificate --Decius went after Christian leaders --problem of the lapsed

3. Emperor Diocletian (284-305) Instigated the second Empire-wide persecution of Christians (303-311) Went after church leaders and property Installed tetrarchy

4. Diocletian’s tetrarchy André Thevet The Tetrarchs. Corner of San Marco, Venice.

5. How to Read Historical Accounts All histories are written from a particular point of view All historical accounts are selective History is not a mere time-line or chronicle Historians at times distort facts