Galerius, Struck by a Loathsome Disease, Issues an Edict for the Christians

For this man had begun the attack on the churches and had been the first to stain his soul with the blood of righteous and godly men. A judgment from God overtook him, which at first struck his body but in the end reached his soul as well. Suddenly an abscess appeared in his private parts, followed by a deep, running ulcer. These diseases took hold of his bowels with incurable virulence; they swarmed with a vast number of worms and gave off a deadly stench. Besides, through gluttony his whole body had become loaded with an enormous mass of fat, and since this was now rotting, it is said to have presented an unbearable and dreadful sight to all who came near him. So, having to struggle against such sufferings, at last, though late, he came to see his past crimes against the church. Confessing his sins before God, he put a stop to the persecution of the Christians and hurried to issue imperial edicts and decrees for the rebuilding of their churches, ordering them at the same time to carry on their customary worship and to offer prayers on his behalf. [a]