13 What ended the Roman persecution of the Christians?

Answer 1

Emperor Galerius issued the Edict of Toleration in 311, bring the Great Persecution of 303-311 to an end.

However, persecution of some Christians was renewed under the rule of Emperor Constantine, who determined that Gnostic Christians were not covered by the Edict of Toleration or his own Edict of Milan, issued in 313. Constantine also ordered the persecution of Donatist Christians, but later rescinded the order because it was not having the desired effect. Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of empire in 380, but only the Christianity "taught by the bishops of Rome and Alexandria". Persecution of Christians outside the mainstream Church continued for many centuries, so it is not possible to identify a single time or person who ended this persecution.

Answer 2

AnswerConstantine approved persecution of gnostic Christians because he wanted a strong, united Christian religion. In the Western Empire, Gnostics were driven underground and then eliminated during the fourth century, but they continued for centuries in parts of the Eastern and Byzantine Empires. Christianity also began a systematic persecution of pagans late in the fourth century, after they formally became the state religion. Persecution of 'heretics' and 'witches' continued until the eighteenth century.

The end of Church-approved persecution began with the Protestant Reformation, the Enlightenment, the colonisation of the Americas and the move to secular, democratic forms of government, all of which weakened the power of the Church to impose its will on unwilling subjects.

Answer 3

Roman Emperor Constantin passed the Edict of Toleration in 313 AD, which legalized Christianity. Not long after that Christianity was universally synchretized with the traditions of paganism and purged itself of anything resembling Judaism.

Answer 4

Emperor Diocletian began the Great Persecution of Christians in 303 CE. After his abdication in the year 305, there was no interest on the part of the two Western emperors in persecuting Christians, so persecution simply ceased in that part of the empire.

However, Galerius, the senior emperor of the Eastern part of the empire was zealous to continue their persecution. This continued until Galerius realised that the persecution was not having any effect and was actually bringing the Christians together against his rule. He signed the Edict of Toleration in 311 CE, ending the last pagan persecution of Christians. From this time on, the only persecutions that Christians had to fear were from other Christians.

Answer 5

emperor galerius