An Account of the Pious Martyrs and Witnesses of Jesus Christ who Suffered In…

[There was never a time in the church of Jesus Christ in which so many and great tyrants arose to destroy and root out the people of God as in this century; for scarcely had one stopped when another began, except for a short pause under the Emperors Caracalla and Geta.

The chief of those who tyrannized over the believers and put them to death were Severus, Maximinus, Decius, Valerianus, Gallienus, and Aurelianus, who, though the world hailed them as "Gracious Emperors," were in fact nothing less than merciless, cruel, and bloodthirsty tyrants.

Under Severus suffered Rutulius, Manilius, Perpetua, Felicitas, Leonides, five God-fearing disciples of Origen, and two of his female disciples, also Origen himself, and Basilides.

Under Maximinus several thousand Christians suffered in different meeting places, besides about seventy others.

Under Decius suffered Cointha, Apollonia, an old man called Julianus, with his companion Eunus, Amonaria, Mercuria, Dionysia, Heron, Ater, Isidoris, a youth of fifteen years, Nemesius, Babylas, the three youths, Urbanus, Philidianus, and Epilonius, also Maximus, Origenes.

Under Valerianus and Gallienus suffered Dionysius, Fructuosus, Augurius, Eulogius, Marinus, the three peasants who sought heavenly crowns, namely, Priscus, Malchus, and Alexander, and also Philippus, Privatus, Florentinus, and Pontius.

Under Aurelian, Privatus of Gevauldan, Mamas, a shepherd, and Symphorianus suffered and were put to death.

Under Diocletian (in the preparatory period of his persecutions) the three brothers Claudius, Asterius, and Neon were miserably put to death; also Donuina and Theonilla, Zenobius with his sister Zenobia, and the three dear friends Tharacus, Probus, and Andronicus. That all these suffered and shed their blood for the name of Jesus Christ is abundantly testified in the following account.]

The third century began with the fifth persecution of the Christians, and so we will begin with it too, and show what a distressing condition the church of God was in during those times.