The Great Persecution

The Great Persecution

May 11, 2026 · 14 min · Episode 7

About this episode

This episode discusses the Great Persecution of the early 4th century and its significance in the history of the Church.

The first decade of the fourth century, from about 302 to 313, is one of the most remarkable in history. In that short time, the Church would go from the worst of persecutions to the beginning of an unprecedented new era of peace and favor. In what we might consider a foreshadowing of the Church's trials and final victory at the end of the world, the Great Persecution was merely the labor pains for the birth of Christendom. This installment covers popes #29-32: Sts. Marcellinus, Marcellus I, Eusebius, and Miltiades. Links Article version of this episode https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/great-persecution/ Phillip Cambell, "The Public Apostasy of Pope Marcellinus" https://unamsanctamcatholicam.com/2024/01/15/the-public-apostasy-of-pope-marcellinus/ Way of the Fathers on Donatism https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/410-heresies-rebaptism-and-donatists/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CatholicCulture.org

Books & works: The Public Apostasy of Pope Marcellinus, Way of the Fathers on Donatism

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