In this week’s podcast we look at the mid-third-century persecutions enacted by the Emperor Decius. The heaviest blows fell on larger cities, and especially in Alexandria and Carthage.
St. Dionysius of Alexandria
The Libellus of Aurelius Diogenes
1st Hand. To the commission chosen to superintend the sacrifices at the village of Alexander’s Isle. From Aurelius Diogenes, son of Satabous, of the village of Alexander’ s Isle, aged 72 years, with a scar on the right eyebrow,,_ I have always sacrificed to the gods, and now in your presence in accordance with the edict I have made sacrifice, and poured a libation, and partaken of the sacred victims. I request you to certify this below. Farewell. I, Aurelius Diogenes, have presented this petition. 2nd Hand. I, Aurelius Syrus, saw you and your son sacrificing. 3rd Hand …. onos … 1st Hand. The year one of the Emperor Caesar Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius Pius Felix Augustus, Epeiph 2 (June 26, 250). (J. R. Knipfing, Harvard TheologicaRl eview, 16 (1923), p. 363, slightly altered.) (J. Stevenson, A New Eusebius, 228).
Epistle of Dionysus of Alexandria to Fabius of Antioch
And what is more, when the edict arrived, and it was almost like that which was predicted by Our Lord, wellnigh the most terrible of all so as if possible to cause to stumble even the elect. Howsoever that be, all cowered with fear. And of many of the more eminent persons, some came forward immediately through fear, others in public positions were compelled to do so by their business, and others were dragged by those around them. Called by name they approached the impure and unholy sacrifices, some pale and trembling, as if they were not for sacrificing but rather to be themselves the sacrifices and victims to the idols, so that the large crowd that stood around heaped mockery upon them, and it was evident that they were by nature cowards in everything, cowards both to die and to sacrifice. But others ran eagerly towards the altars, affirming by their forwardness that they had not been Christians even formerly; concerning whom the Lord very truly predicted that they shall hardly be saved. Of the rest, some followed one or other of these, others fled; some were captured, and of these some went as far as bonds and imprisonment, and certain, when they had been shut up for many days, then forswore themselves even before coming into court, while others, who remained firm for a certain time under tortures, subsequently gave in. (H.E., vi.40.10-12. Trans. J. E. L. Oulton, Eusebiusi,i , 103-05).
