A collection of the archive

Martyrs of the Great Persecution, AD 303–313

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The last and longest imperial assault on the church: ten years, four edicts, and the deaths that finally exhausted the policy.

45 figures, AD 303 to 312

Diocletian’s edicts of 303 ordered churches razed, scriptures surrendered and clergy imprisoned; the fourth, in 304, required universal sacrifice. Enforcement varied enormously — savage in the East under Galerius and Maximinus Daza, close to nominal in the West under Constantius. The persecution ended by edict in 311, and the surrender of scriptures it forced would split the African church for a century afterwards.

Dated by the archive’s recorded year of death falling between 303 and 313. Martyrs whose date is given only as “under Diocletian” without a year appear in the parent list instead.

Who were the martyrs of the Diocletianic persecution?

  1. 1 Alphaeus of Caesarea d. AD 303 (martyr) Reader and exorcist · Martyr of Caesarea
  2. 2 Anthimus of Nicomedia d. AD 303 (beheaded) Bishop of Nicomedia · Martyr of the first edicts
  3. 3 Cassian of Imola d. c. AD 303 (martyr) Schoolmaster · Martyr
  4. 4 Dorotheus the Chamberlain d. AD 303 (executed) Imperial chamberlain · Martyr of Nicomedia
  5. 5 Engratia of Saragossa d. c. AD 303 (martyr) Virgin-martyr of Saragossa
  6. 6 Faustus the Deacon fl. AD 250–257; d. c. AD 303 (martyr, in old age) Deacon of Alexandria · Martyr
  7. 7 Felix of Thibiuca d. AD 303 (martyr) Bishop · Martyr of the Scriptures
  8. 8 Gorgonius of Nicomedia d. AD 303 (strangled) Imperial chamberlain · Martyr of Nicomedia
  9. 9 Phocas of Sinope d. c. AD 303 (martyr) Gardener-martyr · Patron of sailors
  10. 10 Procopius of Scythopolis d. 7 June AD 303 (beheaded) Reader & exorcist of Scythopolis · First martyr of Palestine
  11. 11 Zacchaeus of Caesarea d. AD 303 (martyr) Deacon of Gadara · Martyr of Caesarea
  12. 12 Adauctus the Finance Minister d. c. AD 303–305 (martyr) Imperial finance official (magister rei privatae) · Martyr
  13. 13 Agnes of Rome d. c. 304 Virgin · Martyr of Rome
  14. 14 Anastasia of Sirmium d. c. AD 304 (martyr) Martyr · Ancient Roman titulus
  15. 15 Crispina of Thagara d. 5 December 304 Noblewoman · Martyr of Africa
  16. 16 Eulalia of Mérida d. AD 304 (martyr) Girl-martyr of Lusitania
  17. 17 Euphemia of Chalcedon d. c. AD 304 (martyr) Virgin-martyr of Chalcedon
  18. 18 Irenaeus of Sirmium d. AD 304 (martyr) Bishop of Sirmium · Martyr
  19. 19 Lucy of Syracuse d. c. 304 Virgin · Martyr of Sicily
  20. 20 Marcellinus the Presbyter d. c. AD 304 (beheaded) Priest of Rome · Martyr of the Via Labicana
  21. 21 Peter the Exorcist d. c. AD 304 (beheaded) Exorcist of Rome · Martyr of the Via Labicana
  22. 22 Romanus of Caesarea d. AD 303–304 (martyr at Antioch) Deacon and exorcist · Martyr
  23. 23 Timothy of Gaza d. AD 304 (burned at Gaza) Martyr of Gaza
  24. 24 Victorinus of Pettau d. c. 304 Bishop of Pettau · First Latin exegete · Martyr
  25. 25 Vincent of Saragossa d. c. 304 Deacon of Saragossa · Martyr
  26. 26 Alban of Verulamium d. early 4th c. (trad.) Protomartyr of Britain
  27. 27 Eutychius the Martyr d. early fourth century (martyr) Martyr of Rome
  28. 28 Faustinus of the Generosa epigram d. early fourth century (martyr) Martyr of Rome
  29. 29 Viatrix d. early fourth century (martyr) Martyr of Rome
  30. 30 Aedesius the Martyr d. c. AD 306 (drowned at Alexandria) Confessor and philosopher · Martyr of Alexandria
  31. 31 Agapius of Caesarea d. AD 306 (thrown to the beasts) Martyr of the Caesarean amphitheatre
  32. 32 Apphianus of Lycia d. AD 306 (drowned at Caesarea) Young confessor · Martyr of Caesarea
  33. 33 Phileas of Thmuis d. c. 306 Bishop of Thmuis · Martyr
  34. 34 Theodore of Amasea (Tiro) d. c. AD 306 (martyr) Soldier-martyr
  35. 35 Theodosia of Tyre d. AD 307–308 (martyr at Caesarea) Virgin martyr of Caesarea
  36. 36 Quirinus of Siscia d. c. AD 309 (martyr) Bishop of Siscia · Martyr
  37. 37 Valens of Aelia d. AD 309 (martyred with Pamphilus) Deacon of Aelia (Jerusalem) · Martyr
  38. 38 Nilus of Egypt d. c. AD 310 (burned at Phaeno) Egyptian bishop · Martyr of the mines
  39. 39 Pamphilus of Caesarea d. 16 February 310 Presbyter of Caesarea · Scholar · Martyr
  40. 40 Peleus of Egypt d. c. AD 310 (burned at Phaeno) Egyptian bishop · Martyr of the mines
  41. 41 Peter Apselamus d. AD 310 (burned at Caesarea) Ascetic of Anea · Martyr
  42. 42 Methodius of Olympus d. c. 311 Bishop · Theologian · Critic of Origen · Martyr
  43. 43 Peter of Alexandria d. 25 November 311 Bishop of Alexandria · Martyr
  44. 44 Silvanus of Gaza d. AD 311 (beheaded at Phaeno) Bishop of Gaza · Martyr of the mines
  45. 45 Lucian of Antioch d. 7 January 312 Presbyter of Antioch · Biblical scholar · Martyr

Every name links to its profile: the dates, the office, and every primary source that carries the name. 27 of these 45 have no Wikipedia article — for them this archive may be the fullest sourced record online.

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