Книга 9

1. The cancellation of the previous royal order was promulgated throughout Asia and neighboring provinces. While events were going on like this, Maximin, the tyrant in the East - was there ever such an atheist in the world - a frantic enemy of the Christian faith, annoyed by the written decree, in response to the promulgated order, verbally ordered his subordinates to stop the war with us. It was impossible for him to go against the decision of the strongest, and he hid the published law, not wanting it to be known in the areas he controlled, and verbally ordered his subordinates to stop the persecution. They communicated this order to each other in writing. 2. And so Sabinus, who held the position of supreme prefect, announced the royal will to the rulers of individual provinces in a message written in Latin: 3. “In their greatest and most sacred zeal, our divine rulers, god-like autocrats, have long ago decided to direct the thoughts of all people towards the path of a holy and righteous life, so that those who apparently do not live according to the customs of the Romans would give the immortal gods the honors due to them. 4. The inflexibility of some, however, and the stubbornness of their plans have reached the point that they cannot be diverted from their own decisions by a reasonable and fair order, nor can they be frightened by the impending punishment. 5. Since such a way of life can plunge many into danger, our divine rulers, the most powerful autocrats, due to the nobility of their innate piety, considered it alien to their divine destiny to plunge people into danger for such a reason and ordered me, the devout, to notify you, the discerning one, that if there is any Christian who observes the faith of his people, then deliver him from anxiety and danger and do not think of punishing anyone under this pretext, for it has been established for so long a time that they can in no way be persuaded to abandon their obstinacy. 6. Therefore, take care to write to the curators, strategists and heads of quarters of each city that in their activities they must adhere to the limits prescribed by this decree.” 7. After this, the provincial rulers, deciding that this message confirmed the imperial decree, announced the royal will in written orders to curators, strategists and village elders; the instructions were preceded by action even earlier: carrying out the royal will to the end, they brought into the light of God those who were imprisoned for their faith, and released those who were exiled to the mines as punishment. Believing that the emperor really wanted all this, they were mistaken. 8. This is how things went; suddenly, as if in the middle of the night, the lights came on: in every city one could see meetings of believers, very large congresses and during their regular church services. Any pagan was quite embarrassed by this, marveled at the incredible change and proclaimed the one true and great God of Christians. 9 . Those of us who bravely endured the struggle and went through persecution with faith were again able to speak freely before everyone; those who had weakened in faith and were overwhelmed by the storm, joyfully and hastily rushed to healing; clutching the saving hand, they begged those who arrived with the strength to pray to God to have mercy on them. 10. The noble fighters for the faith, delivered from torment in the mines, returned to their homes; cheerful, radiant, they passed through the cities, filled with unspeakable joy and that feeling of freedom and boldness that cannot be expressed in words. 11. Numerous crowds met them on the main roads and city squares and, praising God, accompanied them with the singing of hymns and songs. Those whom just recently you could see in chains, condemned to cruel punishment, expelled from their native places, returned with joyful and bright faces to their home, and even those who had previously threatened us with death, seeing this amazing sight, which happened contrary to all expectations, rejoiced with us. The said ruler of the East, a tyrant, a hater of beauty, an enemy of all good, being unable to bear this, did not allow this state of affairs to continue for six full months. This is how he came up with the idea of ​​breaking the peace: first of all, under some pretext, he forbade us to gather in cemeteries; then, inciting some evil people, he equipped an embassy to himself from the Antiochians, having previously learned to ask him, as the greatest mercy, to prohibit any Christian from living in their hometown; he encouraged others to make the same request 1974. The leader of all this in Antioch turned out to be Theoteknos 1975, a terrible sorcerer and a crafty person unworthy of his name 1976. He seems to have been the curator of the city. He, mainly, waged war against us, diligently, in every way, hunting us, like vile thieves who were pulled out of their secret hiding places. He brought all sorts of slander against us and was responsible for the death of many of us. Finally, with the help of some kind of witchcraft and sorcery, he erected the idol of Friendly Zeus 1977, invented in his honor some unholy sacraments, monstrous mysteries, criminal purifications. He brought tales of his supposedly fulfilled predictions to the king himself. And he, flattering the ruler, to please him, aroused a demon against us and said that this god commands to expel Christians, as his enemies, from the city and surrounding villages. 1. Theoteknus was the first to act deliberately and systematically. The remaining magistrates living in the same province were in a hurry to pass a similar resolution; the provincial rulers, seeing that this pleased the king, ordered their subordinates to act in the same way. 2. And when the tyrant responded with a rescript in 1978, in which he expressed complete satisfaction with their actions, persecution against us broke out again. In each city, Maximin himself appointed idol priests and over them high priests, chosen from the most famous citizens who had distinguished themselves in all the city magistrates. They took great pains to maintain the service of those they honored. 3. The extreme, in short, superstition of the ruler prompted all his subjects - both rulers and ruled - to please him in every possible way to harm us; counting on his good deeds, they did him the greatest favor: they demanded that he kill us and invent new torments. 1. At that time, the “Acts of Pilate” were invented - notes full of all kinds of blasphemy against Christ; at the direction of the ruler, lists of these “Acts” were sent throughout the country under his control with the order to place them throughout the villages and cities in plain sight of everyone; teachers, instead of teaching academic subjects, were ordered to read them in schools and force students to learn them by heart. 2. While these orders were being carried out, the military ruler of Damascus Phoenician 1979 (among the Romans it is called Ducus 1980) ordered to seize several obscene women in the square and forced them, under the threat of torture, to declare in writing that they were formerly Christians and know that Christians are criminals, that they create obscenities in the churches themselves; in general, to slander our faith, they said everything he wanted. Having added their testimony to the “Acts,” he reported this to the king, who ordered that this matter be made public in all places and cities. 1. This military leader soon committed suicide: he was punished for his evil behavior. Again they began to cruelly drive us out and persecute us; in all provinces they took cruel measures against us; some of the most prominent Christians were unconditionally sentenced to death. Three from Emesa of Phoenicia, who declared themselves Christians, were thrown into food for wild animals; one of them was Bishop Silvan, a very old man who served for forty years. 2. At the same time, Peter, who gloriously ruled the diocese of Alexandria, a marvelous example for bishops of a virtuous life and deep knowledge of Scripture, was captured without any reason and without the slightest delay, immediately beheaded for no reason, as if by order of Maximin. Many bishops from Egypt were also executed along with him. 3. The presbyter of the Antiochian Church, Lucian, a man of a beautiful strict life, immersed in sacred science, was brought to Nicomedia, where the king was then located. He made an apology before the magistrate for the doctrine for which he had been arrested; he was taken to prison and killed. 4. Such evil was inflicted on us in a short time by the hater of good, Maximin, that the persecution instigated by him began to seem heavier to us than before. 1. In the middle of each city (this has never happened) there were bronze columns on which were engraved the city decrees against us and the royal edicts in response; The names of Jesus, Pilate and his “Acts”, invented to disgrace Christ, never left the lips of children in schools. 2. It seems to me necessary to place here the edict of Maximin himself, given in columns, so that the vain and arrogant audacity of his hatred of God and the hatred of evil and atheism of the vigilant holy truth that followed on his heels becomes clear. Persecuted by her, he soon made other decisions in 1981 and enshrined them in written laws. 3. Translation of the Edict of Maximin, issued in response to the decrees against us; taken from a column in Tire (copy): “The once powerlessly daring human thought, finally, having driven away and dispelled the fog of senseless delusion, which previously held captive the feelings of people, not so much the wicked as the unfortunate, in captivity in the destructive gloomy ignorance, gained strength and realized that everything is controlled and affirmed by the beneficent providence of the immortal gods. 4. Words cannot express how joyful, how pleasant and kind we are to this great proof of your 1982 reverent love for the gods. And before it was known to everyone how pious you are and how devoted you are to the immortal gods; your faith is not recognized by meaningless empty words - it is glorified by continuous and amazing deeds. 5. That is why your city is not without reason called the church and home of the immortal gods. Many examples indicate that it owes its prosperity to the gods living in it. And now, noticing that these people are beginning to move again, filled with damned vanity and, as if in an abandoned and dying fire, again stirring up a huge flame with their torches, you neglect your own important affairs, forget about your previous requests and immediately, without any delay, resort to our piety, as to the refuge of all religions, asking for healing and help. 7. It is clear that this saving thought was instilled in you by the gods for your pious faith; it is he, the Almighty and Great Zeus, the guardian of your magnificent city 1983, protecting from harm and death your paternal gods, your wives, children, your native home and hearth, yes, he breathed into your souls this saving desire, showing and letting you know how excellent, magnificent and saving it is to turn to the immortal gods, to serve them with due reverence and make sacrifices. 8. Is there such a fool or a person completely devoid of reason who would not understand that everything happens according to the beneficent will of the gods: the earth does not reject the seeds entrusted to it and does not deceive the hopes of farmers with vain expectations; unholy war does not unimpededly fix its gaze on the earth; the harsh climate does not kill withered bodies; the sea, agitated by stormy winds, does not rise like a mountain; unexpected hurricanes do not strike with destructive storms; finally, the earth, the universal nurse and mother, does not emerge from its bosom in terrible tremors, and the mountains towering on it are not swallowed up by the gaping abysses. Everyone knows that such and much worse disasters have often happened before this time, 9. and all this is due to the destructive delusion and empty vanity of these lawless people, which grew stronger in their souls and, one might say, kept almost the entire earth under the yoke of shame.” 10. Then a little lower he adds: “Let them look at the vast plains, rippling with ears of corn, at the meadows where fertile rains have grown grass and bright flowers, at the weather given to us, soft, temperate. 11. Let everyone rejoice that this was arranged thanks to your piety, your sacrifices and the veneration of the almighty and strongest Ares 1984! May everyone be able to enjoy peace in peace! And those who have stopped wandering blindly and returned to the correct and best way of thinking, may they rejoice even more, like people who were saved from an unexpected storm, freed from a serious illness and given the opportunity to enjoy life! 12. If they remain in this damned empty delusion, then let them, as you asked, be driven far beyond the boundaries of your city and its environs, so that, in accordance with your praiseworthy ardent desire, your city, freed from all filth and wickedness, may turn, according to its innate disposition, to the reverent service of the immortal gods. 13. And so that you know how kind this request of yours was to us, without delay, without asking, at the own prompting of our reverent soul, we invite you, pious people, in response to your love for the gods, to ask us for any great mercy. 14. Just agree to do this, and you will receive everything without delay. The mercy shown to your city will testify throughout the century to your piety and love for the gods, and for your sons and descendants it will serve as proof that, through our favor, you have received a worthy reward for your chosen path in life.” 15. This decree, directed against us, was posted throughout all the provinces; at least there was nothing to hope for anything good from people: according to the word of God, “if it is possible, even the elect will be offended” 1985. 16. The majority stopped expecting good, and suddenly, when there were still people on the way who were obliged to promulgate an edict against us, the Lord, Defender of the Holy Church, not only curbed the tyrant’s arrogance towards us, but also sent us heavenly help. 1. The usual downpours and rains during winter did not irrigate the land in the same quantity; famine and plague suddenly struck in 1986, and a new disease appeared - an ulcer, accompanied by fiery heat and for this feature called “anthrax” 1987. Spreading throughout the body, it threatened great danger. It manifested itself primarily in front of the eyes and made countless men, women and children blind. 2. These disasters were also joined by the war with the Armenians; This atheist tried to force them, people who had long been friends and allies of Rome, Christians and zealous Christians 1988, to sacrifice to idols and demons and thereby made them enemies instead of friends and enemies instead of allies. 3. All this collapsed at once, at the same time, disgracing the godless arrogance of the arrogant tyrant, who boldly asserted that under him there would be no famine, no plague, no war, for he honors idols and oppresses us 1989. All these disasters, which happened together and at the same time, preceded his death. 4. He himself, together with his troops, suffered failures in the war with the Armenians; the inhabitants of the cities under his control were completely tortured by plague and famine: a measure of wheat cost 2,500 Attic drachmas. 5. Thousands of people died in cities, and even more in villages and villages; From the 1990 census lists, where a large number of farmers had previously been included, almost everyone had to be deleted: almost all died from lack of food and from the plague. 6. They exchanged their most beloved things with the more prosperous for a tiny amount of food; having sold off their property little by little, they reached extreme poverty; chewed scraps of hay; Sometimes, indiscriminately eating poisonous plants, they destroyed their health and died. 7. The noble women of the city were forced by need to forget their shame: they went out into the squares and begged for alms; the color of shame on their faces and the elegance of their clothes indicated that they had received a good upbringing. 8. People, withered, like ghosts, struggled with death; staggering, sliding, not having the strength to stand, they fell in the streets and, lying prostrate, begged for a piece of bread; Until their last breath they cried out that they were hungry: they only had enough strength for this sorrowful cry. 9 . Struck by the multitude of people asking, the apparently wealthy people helped generously at first, but in the end they fell into a state of insensibility and hard-heartedness, soon expecting the same bitter fate. For many days, the naked dead lay unburied in the squares and streets - a very pitiful sight for those who looked on. 10. Some have even become food for dogs. Those who remained alive began to kill the dogs, fearing that they would become enraged and become cannibals. 11. The plague, along with hunger, devoured entire families, especially those who, having food supplies, did not suffer from hunger. Therefore, rulers, military leaders and numerous magistrates, who lived in prosperity, as if deliberately left by hunger as prey to the plague, died a painful and quick death. There are groans everywhere - in the streets, markets and squares, everywhere there is only crying, the usual sounds of flutes and beating one's chest. 12. Thus, fighting with two named weapons: plague and famine, death wiped out entire families in a short time: two or three dead were carried out from one house at once 1991. 13. This is how Maximin paid for his arrogance and the decrees against us promulgated throughout the cities, and meanwhile all the pagans saw clear evidence of the piety of Christians and their active care for everyone. 14. Among these hopeless disasters, they alone actually revealed their compassion and love for mankind: daily and without fail, they buried the dead in a dignified manner (there was no one to take care of many), in every city they gathered hungry people together and distributed bread to them 1992, so that everyone recognized the God of Christians and began to say that only Christians are pious people who love God and that they testified to this with their deeds. 15. When events took such a turn, the Lord, the great and heavenly protector of Christians, having revealed His formidable wrath on all people through the indicated disasters, sent us, for what we had suffered from them in abundance, a bright ray of His Providence, as if in the deep darkness the light of the world He had sent miraculously shone for us, so that it would become clear to everyone that the Lord Himself watches over us in all matters: He punishes His people when necessary, tests them, but then, enough Having admonished him, He reveals Himself to be meek and merciful to those who place their hopes in Him 1993. 1. That is why Constantine, the pious king, the son of the king, as we said, the most pious and wise, and after him Licinius, both adorned with reason and piety, by the will of God Almighty and our Savior, went to a just war against the most wicked tyrants, and God miraculously became their helper. In Rome, Maxentius fell in the war with Constantine; in the East, Maximinus, who did not survive him for long, died a most shameful death at the hands of Licinius, who was then still of sound mind 1994. 2. Constantine, the first in the kingdom in honor and position, took pity on the inhabitants of Rome, who were in the power of a tyrant. Having called upon the help of the Heavenly God and His Word, the Savior of all, Jesus Christ Himself, in prayers, he set out with his entire army to return to the Romans the freedom they received from their ancestors 1995. 3. Maxentius, relying more on the art of sorcerers than on the disposition of his subjects, did not dare to take a step outside the city gates 1996; every place, every city, the outskirts of Rome and all of Italy enslaved by him were slaughtered by his countless hoplites 1997 and thousands of military detachments 1998. The king came out in 1999, hoping for God’s help; in the first, second and third battles he won a complete victory, covered most of Italy and was very close to Rome 2000. 4. And, as if saving him from the war with the Romans caused by the tyrant, the Lord, as if with some kind of chain, pulled the tyrant 2001 very far from the city gates 2002. And now the punishment that befell the wicked in ancient times - most do not believe it, considering it a fairy tale, but believers believe what is recorded in the Holy Scriptures - appeared in all its obviousness to believers and non-believers who saw the miracle with their own eyes. 5. Just as in the time of Moses and the once pious Jewish people, “The Lord cast Pharaoh’s chariots, and his army, and his chosen horsemen into the sea and, plunging them into the Red Sea, covered them with waves” 2003, so Maxentius with his hoplites and guards “sank into the abyss like a stone” 2004. Fleeing from Constantine's army, reinforced by the power of God, he had to cross the river he encountered on the way 2005; Having connected both its banks with a very good bridge of boats, he prepared his own death 2006. 6. One can say about him: “He dug a ditch, and deepened it, and fell into the hole that he had made. His sickness will turn on his head, and his iniquity will come down on his crown” 2007. 7. The bridge connecting the banks of the river parted, began to sink into the water, the boats along with all the people immediately sank to the bottom, and the first was the most wicked of people 2008, and after him the squires who were with him; God's prediction came true. “Drowned like lead in the great waters” 2009. 8. Rightly, if not in words, then in deed, like the companions of the great servant of God - Moses, the victors, strengthened by God, sang a song composed against the ancient wicked tyrant: “Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been gloriously glorified: He has cast horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my helper and protector for my salvation. Who, Lord, is like You among the gods? Glorified are You among the saints, wondrous among the glorious, You who work miracles!” 2010. 9 . This is how, or similar to this, Constantine sang in his deeds to God, the Supreme Lord, who granted victory. With victorious chants, he entered Rome 2011, and everyone, together with their wives and children, senators, prominent magistrates and the entire Roman people met him with cheerful faces and hearts, as a savior, liberator and benefactor, and accepted him with loud exclamations and boundless joy 2012. 10. He, as if by innate piety, was not shocked by the shouts and was not exalted by the praise; Knowing full well that help was coming from God, he ordered to depict himself holding in his hand the victorious sign of the Passion of the Savior 2013. And when a statue was erected to him with a saving symbol in his right hand in the most crowded place in Rome, he ordered the following inscription in Latin to be inscribed under it: 11. “With this saving sign, a true testimony of courage 2014, I liberated your city and saved it from the yoke of the tyrant, and having freed it, I restored the Senate and the Roman people to their former splendor and glory.” 12. After this, Constantine and with him Licinius, who had not yet fallen into the madness that subsequently overcame him, considering God the giver of all the blessings bestowed upon him, unanimously passed a law that was absolutely excellent for Christians 2015. They sent it to Maximin, who still ruled in the East and curried favor with them, also reporting the miracles sent to help them and the victory over the tyrant. 13. The tyrant Maximin was very upset by this information. He did not want, however, to be thought that he was retreating from others and canceling previous orders out of fear of new orders; therefore, he sent out a decree in favor of Christians to the rulers under his control, supposedly drawn up of his own free will, but in fact forced, falsely telling what was never said or done to them. Translation of the decree of the tyrant Maximin (copy) 1. Jovius 2016 Maximin August – Sabina 2017. You, an important person, and all people, I think, know that our rulers and fathers Diocletian and Maximian, having learned that almost all people left the service of the gods and joined the Christian people, rightly decreed that all who had retreated from the veneration of the gods, to teach others, should be punished and called to serve the gods. 2. When I safely arrived in the East for the first time and learned that a lot of people capable of serving the state had been sent somewhere by judges for the above reason, I gave each judge an order from now on not to act cruelly with any of the Christians, residents of the provinces, but to return them to serving the gods with convictions and affection. 3. The judges, following the order, began to comply with my orders, and no one in the eastern regions was either expelled or offended, and people, without feeling oppressed, willingly returned to the veneration of the gods. 4. Then, when last year I arrived safely in Nicomedia and remained there, the inhabitants of that city came to me with statues of the gods and strenuously asked me not to allow such people to live in their hometown in any way. 5. Having learned that many people of this faith live in these areas, I gave them the following answer: their request gave me great pleasure, but I do not see that it came from everyone. And if there are people who persist in this superstition, then let everyone, according to his own desire, adhere to what he preferred, and whoever wishes, let him turn to serving the gods. 6. In the same way, the residents of Nicomedia and other cities, who turned to me with the same fervent request: let none of the Christians live in their cities in 2018, I was forced to graciously answer, because all the previous autocrats observed this situation, and the gods themselves, by whom all people and the state itself adhere, wanted me to approve the petition 2019, submitted in defense of faith in the gods. 7. Nevertheless, you, a pious man, were very often sent decrees and were also given orders not to oppress the inhabitants of the provinces who observed such customs, but to deal with them calmly, without giving yourself free rein; Let them also not tolerate insults or extortion from the beneficiaries of 2020, or from anyone else. In accordance with this, I decided to remind you that with affection and persuasion you will most likely convert the inhabitants of our provinces to faith in the gods. 8. And if anyone, by his own choice, decides that he should believe in the gods, then such people should be received favorably; if anyone wants to follow his faith, leave him to live according to his own will. 9 . Therefore, you must observe what you are commanded: no one is allowed to offend the inhabitants of our provinces or extort anything from them, for, as it is written above, they should be encouraged to believe in the gods more with affection and persuasion. And in order for this decree of ours to come to the attention of everyone, you must make it public by your own order.” 10. Maximin acted forcedly, out of necessity, and not out of conviction; no one considered him truthful and trustworthy: and earlier, behind similar condescension, his deceitfulness and unsteadiness of thought were revealed. 11. None of our people dared to hold meetings or act openly: judging by the decree, this was undesirable. It was only ordered not to offend us, but it was not directly allowed to hold meetings, or build churches, or even perform our usual rituals. 12. And although the defenders of peace and piety 2021 wrote to him that they allow this, and they themselves, by edicts and laws, announced such permission to their subjects, the great wicked one chose not to give up and only, having been comprehended by the judgment of God, was forced in the end to agree against his will. 1. The following reason prompted him to do this: he was unable to bear the burden of higher power, which was not received through merit - he lacked prudence and statesmanship; He conducted his affairs stupidly and invariably, through his empty boastfulness, extolled himself. He dared to oppose his co-rulers and claimed first place, while they surpassed him in everything: birth, upbringing, education, dignity, wisdom and, most importantly, prudence and faith in the true God. 2. Having completely lost his mind, he violated the agreement concluded with Licinius 2023 and waged an irreconcilable war with him 2024. In a short time, he set everything in motion, excited all the cities and the entire army, gathered innumerable thousands of warriors and, lining them up in battle formation, marched against the enemy 2025, trusting in the demons, whom he considered gods, and relying with proud confidence on thousands of his hoplites 2026. 3. Having entered the battle of 2027, he found himself without God's help; the one Lord and Almighty ordered the victory, granting it to the then ruler of 2028. 4. First he lost the hoplites, in whom he especially hoped; the spearmen guarding him abandoned him, alone and defenseless, and ran over to the victors 2029. The unfortunate man, hastily removing the royal attire 2030 that was inappropriate for him, cowardly, lowly and cowardly disappeared into the crowd, and then, hiding, wandered through the villages and hamlets 2031, barely hiding from his enemies, caring only about his own salvation. By his deeds he confirmed the fidelity and truth of the Divine prophecy: “A great army will not save the king, and a giant will not be saved by his enormous strength. A horse is unreliable for salvation; in its power it will not be saved. Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him and trust in His mercy, that He will save their souls from death” 2032. 6. Covered in shame, the tyrant returned to his regions. First of all, in furious anger, he executed, as sorcerers, deceivers and traitors, many priests and prophets of those gods whom he had previously honored and whose predictions plunged him into war. Then, giving glory to the Christian God, he issued the most perfect and complete law, ensuring their freedom. And soon - no reprieve was given to him - he died a miserable death. The law he issued was as follows. Translation of the tyrant's decree in favor of Christians from Latin into Greek (copy) 1. “Emperor Caesar Gaius Valery Maximinus, conqueror of the Germans and Sarmatians, pious, happy, invincible, Augustus. We believe that it is known and clear to everyone, if he mentally returns to the past, that we have in every possible way and invariably cared for the welfare of the inhabitants of our provinces and sought to provide them with what is most beneficial for them, what relates to their common good, what corresponds to the common benefit and appeals to everyone. 8. Even earlier, it came to our attention that, referring to the orders given by our divine ancestors Diocletian and Maximian and forbidding Christians to gather, the officials of 2033 were engaged in extortion and robbery and that this evil was growing to the detriment of the inhabitants, while we especially tried to have zealous care for them. Seeing that the property of private individuals was being completely plundered, last year 2034 we sent our decree to the rulers of each province and decreed by law: if anyone wants to follow some custom and keep his faith, let him freely adhere to what he has chosen; no one dares to hinder him or prohibit him; he is free to act without fear or suspicion as he pleases 2035 . 9 . In addition, we could not hide from us now that some judges did not pay attention to our orders and forced our people to doubt our orders and perform liturgical rites with caution; which they enjoy. 10. In order to henceforth destroy all suspicions and every reason for fear, we have decided to promulgate this decree: let everyone know that those who wish to follow such a teaching and profess such a faith are allowed, by our grace, to remain in the faith that is familiar to them and chosen by them, as it is desirable or pleasant to them. It is also allowed to build church houses. 11. And in order to further aggravate our mercy, we decided to legislate the following: if any houses and lands previously belonged by right to Christians, and by order of our ancestors came into the possession of the treasury, or were appropriated by some city, or sold, or given to someone as a gift, then we order them to be returned to Christians in their former possession 2036 - so that all our piety and our trusteeship can be seen.” 12. These were the words of the tyrant, less than a year after his decrees against Christians were posted. The one who just recently considered us a destructive ulcer for everyone, wicked and atheists, for whom cities, villages, and even deserts were closed, now issued decrees and laws in favor of Christians. Recently, before his eyes, Christians were burned, stabbed, thrown into food for animals and birds, tortured in every possible way, doomed to a miserable death, as atheists and wicked; now they receive from the same tyrant consent to their worship, permission to build churches and recognition of some of their rights. 13. After this confession, as if as a reward, he suffered less than he should have suffered 2037. Immediately struck by the scourge of God, he died in the second battle. 14. He did not die the way military leaders die who lead the course of a war, fighting bravely for their loved ones and for the sake of glory; they bravely died a glorious death on the battlefield. This same wicked fighter against God, while his army stood in the field, ready to fight for him, remained at home and, hiding, suffered a well-deserved punishment: the scourge of God suddenly whipped him 2038 all over his body; in terrible, unbearable suffering, he lay on his back and almost died of hunger 2039; his whole body melted in invisible fire sent by God; His former appearance completely disappeared, as if melted, leaving only dry bones, something like an old skeleton. All those present looked at his body as nothing other than the grave of a soul buried in a completely destroyed corpse. 15. The fire emanating from the brain itself burned it even more; his eyes rolled out of his sockets - he became blind 2040. However, he still breathed and called for death, confessing the Lord. Finally, realizing that he was rightly suffering for his cruelty to Christians 2041, he breathed his last 2042. 1. So, Maximin, the last and of all the most cruel enemy of Christians, did not bother anyone else. The churches, by the grace of God Almighty, rose from their very foundations; the teaching of Christ spread its light to the glory of God and enjoyed greater freedom than before; the wicked enemies of the faith were covered with extreme dishonor and shame. 2. First of all, the rulers declared Maximin the enemy of all; in state manifestos, which were posted everywhere, he was called the most wicked, most hated and most godless tyrant. The portraits placed throughout all the cities in his honor and in honor of his children were either thrown to the ground from above and trampled on, or covered with black paint; the statues erected in his honor were also overthrown, broken into pieces and thrown away for ridicule and desecration. 3. Then other enemies of our faith were also deprived of all honors; All of Maximin’s like-minded people were killed, primarily those whom he honored with the title of rulers and who, while flattering him, grossly insulted our teaching. 4. These were: Peucetius 2043, of his friends the most venerable, the most respected and the most faithful, who was consul twice and thrice and was appointed manager of the state treasury; Kulkian, who also held all government positions, became famous for shedding the blood of many Christians in Egypt 2044. There were many others who contributed to maintaining and strengthening the tyranny of Maximin. 5. God's judgment also struck Theoteknos: his actions towards Christians were not consigned to oblivion. Having erected an idol in Antioch, he expected to prosper; from Maximin he was awarded high power. 6. Licinius, having arrived in Antioch, began to look for sorcerers and, torturing the prophets and priests of the newly appeared idol, tried to find out how they managed to come up with this deception. Those, exhausted by torture, could not remain silent and declared that the whole mystery was a deception invented by Theoteknos. Everyone received a well-deserved punishment; Theoteknos was the first to be executed, and then, after many tortures, the other accomplices of his magic. 7. They were also joined by the children of Maximin 2045, whom he made his co-rulers and exhibited in portraits along with his images. And the relatives of the tyrant, who were formerly arrogant and tormented people, suffered the same thing and were covered with shame, because they did not accept the teaching, did not know and did not understand the advice given by the Holy Scripture: “Do not trust in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation. Their spirit will depart and return to its land; and on that day all their thoughts will perish” 2046. After such a death of the wicked, firm royal power, protected from envy, rightfully remained only in the hands of Constantine and Licinius. Having destroyed, first of all, what was hostile to God and realized the benefits bestowed upon them from Him, they proved their love for Him and for virtue, their disposition towards Divine piety and gratitude through the publication of laws in favor of Christians 2047. See also: Lact. De mort. pers. XXXVI. 3. Theoteknos († 313) - Antiochian magistrate and adviser to Maximin Daza. See below: IX. 11.5–6. Θεότεκνος (Greek) – child of God. Zeus Philius is the patron god of friendly alliances. See: Plat. Phaedr. 234e. According to Lactantius, in this rescript Maximin Daza forbade putting Christians to death, but allowed them to be mutilated (Lact. De mort. pers. XXXVI.6); at the same time, Maximin himself committed secret murders of Christians (Ibid. XXXVII. 1). Damascus is an ancient city in southern Syria; administrative center of the province of Phenicia of Lebanon. Dux - in the era of dominance, the commander of troops in the border province, independent of the civil administration. In this case we are talking about the dux of the province of Phenicia of Lebanon. For the benefit of Christians. See below: IX. 9. 13 – 10. 12. We are talking about the cult of Zeus-Baal, who was considered the father of Hercules-Melkart, the supreme god of Tyre. The events described in this chapter are intended to refute the picture of general prosperity painted in the anti-Christian edict of Maximin (IX. 7.8-10). According to R. Grant, however, the famine and epidemic mentioned by Eusebius chronologically preceded this decree, and did not follow it (Grant R. M. The Case... P. 417–418). Ἄνθραξ (Greek) – coal. See: L. Duchesne anniversaire de professor sonat. Genève, 1905, pp. 105–109. Christianity appeared in the southwestern regions of Armenia in the 2nd century. and spread widely throughout the country in the 3rd century. At the beginning of the 4th century. The Armenian king Tiridates III (287–330) accepted the Christian faith. See Maximinus' rescript: IX. 7.3–14. Census is a census of citizens and their property for the purpose of taxation. Describing in such terms the disasters that befell the subjects of the wicked Maximin Daza, Eusebius clearly seeks to place them on a par with the misfortunes that befell the Jews during the siege of Jerusalem (III. 6). Eusebius, apparently, seeks to draw a parallel here between the Christians of his time and their co-religionists, described by Dionysius of Alexandria in the Epistle to the Egyptians (see above: VII. 22. 7–10). Compare: Proverbs 3:11–12; Hebrews 12:5–6. That is, he had not yet become an enemy of Christians and Constantine. See also: Eus. Vita Const. I. 26. According to the testimony of Lactantius (Lact. De mort. pers. XLHI. 4) and Zosima (Zos. II. 14.1), it was not Constantine who declared war on Maxentius, but Maxentius on Constantine. Maxentius decided to take this step after concluding an alliance with Maximin Daza. The pretext for the outbreak of hostilities was revenge for the murder of Constantine's father Maxentius Maximian Herculius. In addition to Eusebius, Constantine is called the initiator of the war by Eutropius (Eutr. X. 4.3) and Aurelius Victor (Aur. Vict. Caes. XL. 16). See also: Eus. Vita Const. 1.37.2. Zosimus (Zos. II. 16.1) and Aurelius Victor (Aur. Vict. Caes. XL. 20) also speak about the cowardice of Maxentius. At the same time, Lactantius claims that Maxentius was kept in Rome by the prediction he received that he would die if he stepped outside the city gates (Lact. De mort. pers. XLIV. 1). A hoplite is a heavily armed warrior. Lactantius claims that Maxentius's troops outnumbered Constantine's army (Ibid. XLIV. 2). However, Constantine also had sufficient force to invade Italy - he had 8,000 horsemen and 90,000 infantry. This happened in the early summer of 312. Constantine set out on a campaign against Maxentius only after concluding an alliance with Licinius, who was the formal ruler of the territories captured by the usurper. This union was sealed by the marriage of Licinius to Constantine's half-sister Flavia Julia Constantia. Constantine crossed the Alps through the Mont Cenis pass and captured Segusio (modern Susa) in the province of the Cotine Alps (in the extreme west of modern Piedmont). The first battle took place under the walls of Augusta Taurinorum (modern Turin), where Maxentius's heavily armed horsemen (Clibinarii) were defeated and fled in disarray. As a result, Augusta Taurinorum opened the gates to Constantine. Then Mediolan (modern Milan) and Brixia (modern Brescia) fell. The fiercest battle of this campaign took place at Verona, where Constantine utterly defeated the army of the praetorian prefect Ruricius Pompeianus, who died in battle. Then Constantine captured Aquileia, Ravenna, Mutina (modern Modena) and moved south to Rome. For an analysis of the campaign, see: Barnes T. D. Constantin... R. 40–42; MacMullen K. Constantine. New York, 1969. P. 71–72; Odahl Ch. M. Constantine and the Christian Empire. New York, 2004, pp. 101–107. According to Lactantius, Maxentius was forced to lead his army in the final battle before the walls of Rome under pressure from the people and in the hope of fulfilling the prediction of the death that day of the "enemy of the Romans" (Lact. De mort. pers. XLIV. 7–8). See also: Aur. Vict. Caes. XL. 23. The troops met at the Red Stones (Saxa Rubra) on Via Flaminia, eight miles northeast of Rome, not far from where the Cremera river flows into the Tiber. Constantine defeated the army of Maxentius, who began to retreat randomly to the south - to where the Tiber turned sharply to the west and where it was crossed by a bridge built in 109 BC. e. Milvian Bridge. Before the battle, Maxentius ordered the construction of a pontoon crossing of boats next to the too narrow Milvian Bridge, along which he and his soldiers could retreat to Rome in case of defeat and which could be easily dismantled to delay their pursuers. Aurelius Victor makes it clear that this structure was deliberately made unstable so that it would collapse under the feet of the enemies (Aur. Vict. Caes. XL. 23). According to the author of “Extracts from Aurelius Victor,” Maxentius rode on horseback to a pontoon crossing, but his horse stumbled, and he fell into the waters of the Tiber, dragged to the bottom by the weight of his shell (Epit. XL. 7). According to Lactantius, Maxentius fell into the river, “pressed by a crowd of fleeing warriors” (Lact. De mort. pers. XLIV. 9). The tyrant's body was soon washed ashore. His severed head was carried on a pike in front of Constantine's chariot during his triumphal entry into Rome. On the triumph of Constantine, see: Bonamente G. Eusebio, “Storia ecclesiastica” IX, 9 e la versione cristiana del trionfo di Costantino nel 312 // Scritti sul mondo antico in memoria di F. Grosso/A cura di L. Gasperini. Roma, 1981, pp. 55–76. See also: Lact. De mort. pers. XLIV. 10. The Senate proclaimed Constantine supreme Augustus (Ibid. XLIV. 11). Lactantius says that before the battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine was ordered in a dream to draw a cross on the shields of his soldiers and only after that begin the battle. It was this symbol that became the guarantee of Constantine’s union with God, which ensured his victory over the wicked tyrant. See: Ibid. XLIV. 5–6. The meeting of Constantine and Licinius took place in Milan in January 313, where they drew up a joint edict of toleration, according to which all citizens of the Empire were allowed to freely practice any faith, and Christians were returned to the churches, lands and property that had been taken from them. Eusebius gives the text of the Edict of Milan below: X. 5. 2–14. For the Latin original see: Lact. De mort. pers. XLVIII. 2–12. About this decree, see: Brilliantov A.I. Emperor Constantine the Great and the Edict of Milan 313. Ed. 2nd. St. Petersburg, 2007; Spassky A. A. Conversion of Emperor Constantine the Great to Christianity. Ed. 2nd. St. Petersburg, 2007; Anastos M. V. The Edict of Milan (313). A Defense of its Traditional Authorship and Designation // Revue des Études Byzantines. Vol. 25.1967. P. 13–41; Rist J. Die Mailänder Vereinbarung von 313: Staatsreligion versus Religionsfreiheit // Studia Patristica. Vol. 34.2001. P. 217–223; Seeck O. Das sogenannte Edikt von Mailand // Zeitschrift für Kirchengeschichte. Bd. 12. 1891. S. 381–386. Beneficiaries are soldiers who were released from military service and received a pension. In the era of the Late Empire, they often served as informants. According to Lactantius (Lact. De mort. pers. XLIV. 12), the decision of the Roman Senate to proclaim Constantine supreme Augustus caused Maximin extreme irritation. The agreement between Maximin and Licinius was concluded in the winter of 311/312 during their meeting on the Thracian Bosporus. According to this treaty, the possessions of the deceased Galerius were divided: Licinius received the Balkan Peninsula, and Maximin received Asia Minor. Maximin began military operations in the winter of 312/313. Maximin set out from Antioch, crossed all of Asia Minor, crossed the Bosporus and captured the cities of Byzantium and Perinth. At the same time, Licinius marched quickly through Illyria and camped near Adrianople. See: Lact. De mort. pers. XLV. 2–6. Maxentius's army numbered 70,000 men, while Licinius had only 30,000 warriors (Ibid. XLV. 7). The decisive battle between Maximin and Licinius took place on April 30, 313 on the Serenian fields, 18 miles from Heraclea. That is, Licinia. Lactantius says that an Angel, appearing to Licinius in a dream, dictated to him the words of a prayer that would grant victory. All the soldiers of Licinius learned this prayer and said it three times before the start of the battle. Maximin made a vow to Jupiter, promising to completely eradicate Christianity in case of victory (Lact. De mort. pers. XLVI. 1–11). Lactantius tells more about the battle on the Serenian fields (Ibid. XLVII. 1–3). He reports that Maximin hoped for treason in the ranks of Licinius’s army, but his calculations did not come true. Licinius' soldiers fiercely attacked the enemy and soon put him to flight. Purple robe. Lactantius says that Maximin put on “the clothing of a slave” (Ibid. XLVII. 4). The very next day after the battle on the Serenian fields (May 1), Maximin reached the Bosporus, two days later, covering 160 miles, he reached Nicomedia, and then, together with his family and a small retinue, fled to Cappadocia, crossed the Taurus and stopped in Tarsus of Cilicia (Ibid. XLVII. 5-6; XLIX. 1). This point of Maximin's decree repeats one of the most important provisions of the Edict of Milan. See: Lact. De mort. pers. XLVIII. 7–9. Unlike Eusebius, Lactantius does not consider, as in the case of Galerius, the insight of the wicked emperor as a mitigating circumstance, and his death as a heaven-sent deliverance from suffering (Lact. De mort. pers. XLIX. 5–7). According to Lactantius, Maximin, having taken refuge in Tarsus and being in a depressed state, decided to commit suicide and took poison, which, however, did not act immediately and slowly affected the organs of his body, causing him terrible suffering (Ibid. XLIX. 1–4). Wed. from Lactantius: “...for four days, as if exhausted by hunger, [Maximin] tore out the earth with his hands and devoured it” (Ibid. XLIX. 4). See also Lactantius: Ibid. XLIX. 5. Non-Christian authors limit themselves to stating the fact of Maximin's death (Eutr. X. 4.4; Aur. Vict. Caes. XLI. 1; Epit. XL. 8). Clodius Kulkian (Cultian) occupied in 303–306. post of prefect of Alexandria and led the repression against Egyptian Christians. His 8-year-old son Maxim and 7-year-old daughter. Their mother, by order of Licinius, was drowned in the Orontes. See: Lact. De mort. pers. L.6. Upon arrival in Nicomedia, Licinius, by his decree of June 13, 313. extended the Edict of Milan to the eastern regions of the Empire (Lact. De mort. pers. XLVIII. 1). You might be interested in: