Chapter 3 Persecution of the Way By mbreter27 64 Great Fire of Rome; Nero launches persecutions of Christians 70 Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus 81 Persecution under Domitian 81-96 87 St. Clement I is Pope; restored the Sacrament of Confirmation according to the rite of St. Peter; martyred in 97 110 St. Ignatius of Antioch martyred 112 Trajan's Rescript in response to Pliny 115 St. Sixtus I is Pope; died in 125 123 Hadrian's Rescript 125 St. Telesphorus is Pope; martyred in 136; He composed the Gloria in Excelsis Deo 150 St. Justin Martyr dedicates his First Apology 155 St. Polycarp martyred 161 St. Justin Martyr dedicates his Second Apology 180 St. Irenæus writes Against Heresies 196 Tertullian begins writing 203 Sts. Perpetua and Felicity are martyred in the arena at Carthage 215 Origen (ca. 185-254) begins writing 250 Edict of Decius (emp. 249-251) orders empire-wide persecution of Christians 257 Valerian (emp. 253-260) Rescripts in 257 and 258 293 Diocletian creates the Tetrarchy 303 "Great Persecution" begins under Diocletian 312 Constantine adopts Christian symbol before battle 313 Edict of Milan