For a couple of hundred years Roman emperors had a sort of “don’t ask don’t tell” policy about Christians. Since the emperors thought they were gods the idea of worshiping someone else wasn’t high on their list, but they tended to turn blind eyes. But on February 24, 303 AD Emperor Diocletian issued what was called the Edict Against the Christians and serious pain was inflicted on churches everywhere. Not until Constantine would become emperor a few years later would the persecution end. This is a picture of Diocletian’s palace.
