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== List of Martyrs under the The Diocletianic or Great Persecution (303-313) ==
The persecution of [[Diocletian ]] (r. 284-305) and his immediate successors was the longest and most destructive persecution the Pagan [[pagan]] Roman state waged against the [[Orthodox Church]]. It is also the most well documented period of anti-Christian persecution in the pagan Roman Empire. The persecution began on February 23, 303 with the demolition of a large and prominent church in Diocletian's capital [[Nicomedia]]. The following day, Diocletian and his co-emperors issued the first of four edicts against the Christian [[Church]]. It forbid Christian assemblies, order the Churchbuildings and [[Holy Scriptures]] to be burned. Christians in the Roman government were reduced to slavery and [[pagan]] sacrifice required to be done at court. Any Christians who resisted were to subjected to torture and imprisonment. The second edict was issued in summer of that year ordering all Christian [[clergy]] to sacrifice on pain of torture and imprisonment. The third edict was issued on the 20th November ([[Diocletian]]'s ''Vicennalia''). Diocletian promised amnesty to any Christian who performed a pagan sacrifice. The fourth and final edict was issued early the following year (304 A.D.) and demanded that all inhabitants of the Roman Empire were to offer sacrifice or else suffer torture and death. Of these four edicts, only the first was enforced in the Western Empire by [[Diocletian]]'s co-Augustus Maximianus Herculius (r. 285-305). However, Frend argues that Herculius (who had authority over Italy, Africa, and Spain) enforced the fourth edict as well based on evidence from Africa (Frend 503). The Christians of Gaul and Britain faced almost no persecution (except for the demolition of some churches) given that the Caesar of the West Constantius (father of [[Constantine]] and ex-husband of [[Helena]]) was well disposed towards Christianity.
Martyrs named by [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] in his ''Historia ecclesiastica'' book VIII-IX and/or his ''Martyrs of Palestine''
• Early 303 Dorotheus, Gorgonius and Peter of Nicomedia
• 28 Apr 303 [[Anthimus of Nicomedia]]
Historical martyrs named to in authentic ''Acta'', semi-historical ''Acts'', or later credible sources
• 24 Apr 303 The Presbyters Eusebius and Charalampus and Two-Hundred Sixty-Eight Christians of Nicomedia
• 3 May 303 Helpidius and Hermogenes of Melitene
• [[Catherine of Alexandria]]
• [[Sebastian]]
• Tarachus of Anazarbus and his companions Probus and Andronicus 11 Oct 303 or 304
• ''Martyrdom of Agape, Chione, and Eriene of Thessalonica''
== Secondary Sources ==
Frend, William H.C. ''Martyrdom and Persecution in the Early Church: A Study of Conflict from Maccabees to Donatus''. James Clarke & Co. 2008 Corrected Edition
== See Also ==
[[Timeline of Saints]]
[[Timeline of Church History (Ante-Nicene Era (100-325))]]