The Age of Martyrs
Christianity from Diocletian (284) to Constantine (337)
Item Number: 1584
In The Age of Martyrs, the famous Catholic historian Abbot Giuseppe Ricciotti records the epochal events of Roman history from the rise of Diocletian (284) to the death of Constantine the Great (337), a period which witnessed the last and greatest of the 10 persecutions of the Christians by the Roman government. Included are the stories of many of the most famous martyrdoms of that period, e.g., the "Forty Martyrs" frozen to death on the ice of a pond at Sebaste (in modern Turkey).
In the rendition, the author also describes the meteoric and nearly miraculous rise of Constantine-resulting in complete control of the Empire-starting in 307 and culminating in 324, including his lightning campaign in Italy, the famous Battle of the Milvian Bridge outside Rome (312), the epochal Edict of Milan (313), the defeat of the Emperor Maximin in 313 and finally the defeat and death of the Emperor Licinius in 324, at which time Constantine finally brought all persecution of the Christians to an end.
Included, too, are the founding of Constantinople as the "Second Rome," the calling of the Council of Nicea (325) to thwart the Arian heresy, the rise and virulence of the Donatist heresy, the excavation of the holy places in Jerusalem, the death of Arius, and finally the Baptism and death of Constantine himself in 337.
Though pivotal in the history of the world, the life of Constantine the Great, as well as his thought and motives, remain in many regards shrouded in mystery. But as far as they can be known, Abbot Ricciotti has exposed them for our scrutiny. In all, he has rendered a most illuminating account of that brief era in history which saw the Catholic Church emerge from persecution to freedom-to a freedom that would eventually lead to a prominence in world affairs which she has never lost and which has only been augmented with the passage of the centuries. In this sense, we all still stand in the shadow of Constantine the Great.
A Tiber River reviewer hasn't written a review for this book yet.
Sign up as a Tiber River reviewer and see your review here!
(Apart from fame, you can also can get free stuff and gift certificates.)
1. St. Anthony of Padua 02/26/2009
2. St. Jude Thaddeus 12/02/2008
3. A Resource Guide to Books by Pope Benedict XVI 11/25/2008
4. Christ the King Sunday 11/20/2008
5. Learn About the Church Fathers 11/13/2008
6. The Faith Database - A Resource for Every Catholic 10/17/2008
7. St. Teresa of Avila 10/14/2008
8. In Remembrance of Pope John Paul II 10/13/2008
9. The Anniversary of Vatican Council II 10/10/2008
10. About the Battle of Lepanto 10/01/2008
11. The Immaculate Conception: Patroness of the US 07/23/2008
12. The Conversion of St. Paul 07/03/2008
13. Why a Year of St. Paul? 07/02/2008
14. The Martyrdom of St. Paul 07/02/2008
15. About the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls 07/02/2008
16. The Feast of St. Justin Martyr 05/31/2008
17. Feast of St. Sylvester I, Pope 12/30/2007
18. Feast of St. John the Evangelist 12/26/2007
