170-189 Germanic Invasion, Syrian Revolt & Christian Martyrs
During this 20 year period the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (pictured) co-ruled with his adoptive brother Lucius Verus. Both emperors were dead by 180, and the next emperor was Marcus Aurelius' young son Commodus.
By 175 Marcus was in dire straits facing a Germanic invasion of Northern Italy and a revolt in the eastern empire. Avidius Cassius, Governor of Syria and a native of Syria, declared himself Emperor and then Palestine, Arabia and Egypt fell under his control.
Around the same time, in 177, when Christians in Lyons and Vienne in the Rhone Valley started boasting of their power to cast out demons, Marcus Aurelius ordered their execution and in doing so created the Martyrs who seemed to enjoy the prospect of dying for their faith.
Under the pontificate of Victor I, the African Bishop of Rome from 189-198, the Church recognized the need to avoid persecution and ridicule by stamping out the crazy Christian cults and imposing centralized control - but his first effort to do so, deciding that Easter should be observed on a set Sunday each year, was not accepted by the churches in Asia Minor and he showed a remarkable display of authority by excommunicating them!
It seemed to most thinking people - Christian or not - that the persecution that did arise against the Christians was the result of the crazies within the religion.
Marcus died in 180 and his young son, Commodus, then became emperor.
By 175 Marcus was in dire straits facing a Germanic invasion of Northern Italy and a revolt in the eastern empire. Avidius Cassius, Governor of Syria and a native of Syria, declared himself Emperor and then Palestine, Arabia and Egypt fell under his control.
Around the same time, in 177, when Christians in Lyons and Vienne in the Rhone Valley started boasting of their power to cast out demons, Marcus Aurelius ordered their execution and in doing so created the Martyrs who seemed to enjoy the prospect of dying for their faith.
Under the pontificate of Victor I, the African Bishop of Rome from 189-198, the Church recognized the need to avoid persecution and ridicule by stamping out the crazy Christian cults and imposing centralized control - but his first effort to do so, deciding that Easter should be observed on a set Sunday each year, was not accepted by the churches in Asia Minor and he showed a remarkable display of authority by excommunicating them!
It seemed to most thinking people - Christian or not - that the persecution that did arise against the Christians was the result of the crazies within the religion.
Marcus died in 180 and his young son, Commodus, then became emperor.
Labels: 170, avidius cassius, commodus, lucius verus, marcus aurelius, pope victor i, syria
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