CHRISTIAN
PERSECUTIONS AGAINST THE HELLENES
Summarised from Vlassis
Rassias' book "Es Edaphos Pherein" (Greek), Athens 2000 (2nd
edition), Anoichti Poli Editions, ISBN 960-7748-20-4
(All dates "era vulgaris" = Christian
Era) 314 Immediately after its full legalisation, the Christian Church
attacks the Gentiles: The Council of Ancyra denounces the worship of the Goddess Artemis.
324 Emperor Constantine declares Christianity the only
official religion of the Roman Empire. At Dydima, Asia Minor, he sacks the
Oracle of God Apollo and tortures its Pagan priests to death. He evicts the Gentiles from Mt. Athos and destroys all local Hellenic
Temples.
326 Emperor Constantine, following the instructions of his mother
Helen, destroys the Temple of the God Asclepius in Aigeai of Cilicia and many
Temples of the Goddess Aphrodite in Jerusalem, Aphaca, Mambre, Phoenice,
Baalbek, etc.
330 Constantine steals the treasures and statues of the Pagan
Temples in Greece to decorate Nova Roma (Constantinople), the new capital
of his Empire.
335 Constantine sacks many Pagan Temples of Asia Minor and
Palestine and orders the execution by crucifixion of “all magicians and
soothsayers". Martyrdom of the neoplatonist philosopher
Sopatros.
341 Emperor Constas, son of Constantinus, persecutes "all the
soothsayers and the Hellenists". Many Gentile Hellenes are either
imprisoned or executed.
346 New large-scale persecutions of the Gentiles in
Constantinople. Banishment of the famous orator Libanius, who is accused
of being a
"magician".
353 An edict of Constantius decrees the death penalty for all
forms of worship involving sacrifice and "idols".
354 A new edict of Constantius orders the closing of all Pagan
Temples. Some of them are profaned and turned into brothels or gambling
rooms. Executions of Pagan priests. The first burning of libraries in
various cities of the Empire. The first lime factories are built next to
closed Pagan Temples. A large part of Sacred Gentile architecture is
turned into lime.
356 A new edict of Constantius orders the destruction of the
Pagan Temples and the execution of all "idolaters".
357 Constantius outlaws all methods of Divination (Astrology not
excluded).
359 In Skythopolis, Syria, christians organise the first death
camps for the torture and execution of arrested Gentiles from all around
the Empire.
361 to 363 Religious tolerance and restoration of Pagan cults declared
in Constantinople (11th December 361) by the Pagan Emperor Flavius
Claudius Julianus.
363 Assassination of Emperor Julianus (26th
June).
364 Emperor Flavius Jovianus orders the burning of the Library of
Antioch. An Imperial edict (11th September) orders the death penalty for
all Gentiles that worship their ancestral Gods or practice Divination
(“sileat omnibus perpetuo divinandi uriositas”). Three different edicts
(4th February, 9th September, 23rd December) order the confiscation of all
properties of Pagan Temples and the death penalty for participation in
Pagan rituals, including private ones.
365 An Imperial edict (17th November) forbids Gentile officers of
the army to command christian soldiers.
370 Emperor Valens orders a tremendous persecution of Gentiles
throughout the Eastern Empire. In Antioch, among many other Pagans,
the ex-governor Fidustius and the priests Hilarius and Patricius are
executed. Tons of books are burnt in the city-squares of the Eastern
Empire. All friends of Julianus are persecuted (Orebasius, Sallustius,
Pegasius etc.), the philosopher Simonides is burned alive and the
philosopher Maximus is decapitated.
372 Emperor Valens orders the governor of Asia Minor to
exterminate the Hellenes and destroy all writings of their
wisdom.
373 New prohibition of all methods of Divination. The term
"Pagan" (pagani, villagers) is introduced by the christians to lessen the
Gentiles.
375 The Temple of the God Asclepius in Epidaurus, Greece, is closed
down.
380 On the 27th February, Christianity becomes the exclusive religion
of the Roman Empire by an edict of Emperor Flavius Theodosius, requiring
that "all the various nations, which are subject to our clemency and
moderation should continue in the profession of that religion, which was
delivered to the Romans by the divine Apostle Peter". Non-christians are
called "loathsome, heretics, stupid and blind". In another edict
Theodosius calls "insane" those that do not believe in the christian god
and outlaws all disagreements with Church dogma. Ambrosius, bishop of
Milan, starts destroying all the Pagan Temples of his area. Christian
priests lead the mob against the Temple of the Goddess Demeter in Eleusis and
try to lynch the hierophants Nestorius and Priskus. The 95 year-old
hierophant Nestorius, ends the Eleusinian Mysteries and announces the
predominance of mental darkness over the human
race.
381 On May the 2nd, Theodosius deprives christians that
return to the Pagan Religion of all their rights. Throughout the Eastern Empire, Pagan Temples
and Libraries are looted or burned down. On 21st December, Theodosius
outlaws even simple visits to the Temples of the Hellenes. In
Constantinople, the Temple of the Goddess Aphrodite is turned into a brothel
and the Temples of Sun and Artemis into stables.
382 "Hellelu-jah" (Glory to Yahweh) is imposed in the christian
mass.
384 Emperor Theodosius orders the Praetorian Prefect, Maternus
Cynegius (a dedicated christian), to cooperate with the local bishops and
destroy the Temples of the Gentiles in Northern Greece and Asia
Minor.
385 to 388 Maternus Cynegius, encouraged by his fanatic
wife, and his bishop "Saint" Marcellus, scour the countryside with their
gangs, sack and
destroy hundreds of Hellenic Temples, shrines and altars. Amongst others
they destroy the Temple of Edessa, the Cabeireion of Imbros, the Temple of
Zeus in Apamea, the Temple of Apollo in Dydima and all the Temples of
Palmyra. Thousands of innocent Gentiles from all sides of the Empire
suffer martyrdom in the notorious death camps of
Skythopolis.
386 Emperor Theodosius outlaws (16th June) the care of sacked
Pagan Temples.
388 Public talks on religious subjects are also outlawed by
Theodosius. The old orator Libanius sends his famous Epistle "Pro Templis"
to Theodosius, with a hope that the few remaining Hellenic Temples will be
respected and spared.
389 to 390 All non-christian calenders are outlawed. Hordes of fanatic
hermits from the desert flood into Middle Eastern and Egyptian cities,
destroying statues, altars, Libraries and Pagan Temples, whilst Gentiles
are lynched. Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, starts heavy
persecutions against the Gentiles, turns the Temple of Dionysos into a
church, burns down the Mithraeum of the city, destroys the Temple of Zeus
and burlesques the Pagan priests before they are killed by stoning. The
christian mob profanes the cult images.
391 On 24th February, a new edict of Theodosius prohibits not
only visits to Pagan Temples but also looking at vandalised statues. New
heavy persecutions all around the Empire. In Alexandria, Egypt, the
Gentiles, led by the philosopher Olympius, revolt and after some
street fights, finally lock themselves inside the fortified Temple of the God
Serapis (The Serapeion). After a violent siege, the christians occupy the
building, demolish it, burn its famous Library and profane the cult
images.
392 On 8th November, the Emperor Theodosius outlaws all
non-christian rituals and names them "superstitions of the Gentiles"
(“gentilicia superstitio”). New full scale persecutions against the
Gentiles. The Mysteries of Samothrace are ended and priests slaughtered.
In Cyprus the local bishop, "Saints" Epiphanius and Tychon destroy almost
all the Temples of the island and exterminate thousands of Gentiles. The
local Mysteries of Goddess Aphrodite are ended. Theodosius' edict
declares: "the ones that won't obey pater Epiphanius have no right to keep
living on the island". The Gentiles revolt against the Emperor and the
Church in Petra, Aeropolis, Rafia, Gaza, Baalbek and other cities of the
Middle East.
393 The Pythian, Aktia and Olympic Games are outlawed as part of
the Hellenic "idolatry". Christians sack the Temples of
Olympia.
395 Two new edicts (22nd July and 7th August) lead to new
persecutions against the Gentiles. Rufinus, the eunuch Prime Minister of
Emperor Flavius Arcadius directs the hordes of the baptised Goths (led by
Alaric) to the country of the Hellenes. Encouraged by christian monks, the
barbarians sack and burn many cities (Dion, Delphi, Megara, Corinth,
Pheneos, Argos, Nemea, Lycosoura, Sparta, Messene, Phigaleia, Olympia,
etc.), slaughter or enslave innumerable Hellenes and burn the Temples.
Among others, they burn down the Eleusinian Sanctuary and burn alive all
of its priests (including the hierophant of Mithras
Hilarius).
396 On 7th December, a new edict by Emperor Arcadius orders that
Paganism be treated as high treason. Imprisonment of the few
remaining Pagan priests and hierophants.
397 "Demolish them!" Emperor Flavius Arcadius orders all the
still erect Pagan Temples demolished.
398 The Fourth Church Council of Carthage prohibits to all,
including its bishops, the study of Gentile books. Porphyrius, bishop of
Gaza, demolishes almost all the Pagan Temples of his city (except nine of
them that remain active).
399 With a new edict (13th July) Emperor Flavius Arcadius orders
all remaining Temples, mainly in the countryside, to be immediately
demolished: «Si qua in agris templa sunt, sine turba ac tumultu diruantur.
His enim deiectis atque sublatis omnis superstitioni materia
consumetur»
400 Bishop Nicetas destroys the Oracle of God Dionysus in Vesai
and baptises all the Gentiles of this area.
401 The christian mob of Carthage lynches Gentiles and destroys
Temples and "idols". In Gaza too, the local bishop, also a..,"Saint",
Porphyrius sends his followers to lynch Gentiles and demolish the
remaining nine still active Temples of the city. The 15th Council of
Chalkedon orders all christians that still keep good relations with their
gentile relatives to be excommunicated (even after their
death).
405 John Chrysostom sends his hordes of gray-clad monks armed
with clubs and iron bars to destroy the "idols" in all the cities of
Palestine.
406 John Chrysostom collects funds from rich christian women to
financially support the demolition of the Hellenic Temples. In
Ephessus, he orders the destruction of the famous Temple of Goddess
Artemis. In Salamis, Cyprus, "Saints" Epiphanius and Eutychius continue
persecutions of the Gentiles and the total destruction of their Temples
and sanctuaries.
407 A new edict outlaws once more all non-christian acts of
worship.
408 The Emperor of the Western Empire Honorius and the Emperor of
the Eastern Empire Arcadius, order together that all sculptures of the
Pagan Temples be either destroyed or confiscated. Private ownership of
Pagan sculpture is also outlawed. The local bishops lead new heavy
persecutions against Gentiles and new book burning. Judges showing pity
for Gentiles are also persecuted.
409 Once again, an edict orders Astrology and all methods of
Divination to be punishable by death.
415 In Alexandria, Egypt, the mob urged by the bishop Cyrillus,
attacks a few days before the judaeo-christian Pascha (Pesach-Easter) and
hacks to pieces the famous and beautiful philosopher Hypatia. Pieces of
her body are paraded by the christian mob through the streets of
Alexandria, and are finally burned together with her books in a place
called Cynaron. On 30th August, new persecutions start against all the
Pagan priests of North Africa, who end their lives either crucified or
burned alive.
416 The inquisitor Hypatius, alias "The Sword of God",
exterminates the last Gentiles of Bithynia. In Constantinople (7th
December), all non-christian army officers, public employees and judges
are dismissed.
423 Emperor Theodosius II, declares (8th June) that the Religion
of the Gentiles is nothing more than "demon worship" and orders all those
who persist in practicing it to be punished by imprisonment and
tortured.
429 The Temple of Goddess Athena (Parthenon) on the Acropolis of
Athens is sacked. Athenian Pagans are persecuted.
435 On 14th November, a new edict by Theodosius II orders the
death penalty for all "heretics" and “pagans” of the Empire. Only Judaism
is considered a legal non-christian Religion.
438 Theodosius II issues an new edict (31st January) against the
Gentiles, incriminating their "idolatry" as the reason for a
recent plague!
440 to 450 The christians demolish all the monuments, altars and Temples
of Athens, Olympia, and other Greek cities.
448 Theodosius II orders all non-christian books
burned.
450 All the Temples of Aphrodisias (City of Goddess Aphrodite)
are demolished and its Libraries burned down. The city is renamed
Stauroupolis (City of the Cross).
451 A new edict by Theodosius II (4th November) emphasises that
"idolatry" is to be punished by death.
457 to 491 Sporadic persecutions against Gentiles of the Eastern Empire.
Among others, the physician Jacobus and the philosopher Gessius are
executed. Severianus, Herestios, Zosimus, Isidorus and others are tortured
and imprisoned. The proselytiser Conon and his followers exterminate the
last Gentiles of the island of Imbros, in the northeast Aegean. The last
worshippers of Lavranius Zeus are exterminated in
Cyprus.
482 to 488 The majority of the Gentiles of Asia Minor are exterminated,
after a desperate revolt against the Emperor and the
Church.
486 More "underground" Pagan priests are discovered, arrested,
burlesqued, tortured and executed in Alexandria,
Egypt.
515 Baptism becomes obligatory, even for those that already say
they are christian. The Emperor of Constantinople, Anastasius orders the
massacre of the Gentiles in the Arabian city Zoara and the demolition of
the Temple of local God Theandrites.
528 Emperor Jutprada (Justinianus) outlaws the "alternative"
Olympian Games of Antioch. He also orders the execution (by fire,
crucifixion, tearing to pieces by wild beasts, or cutting by iron nails)
of all who practice "sorcery, divination, magic or idolatry" and prohibits
all teachings by the Gentiles ("..the ones suffering from the blasphemous
insanity of the Hellenes").
529 Emperor Justinianus outlaws the Athenian Philosophical
Academy, which has its property confiscated.
532 The inquisitor Ioannis Asiacus, a fanatical monk, leads a
crusade against the Gentiles of Asia Minor.
542 Emperor Justinianus allows the inquisitor Ioannis Asiacus to
convert the Gentiles of Phrygia, Caria and Lydia in Asia Minor. Within 35
years of this crusade, 99 churches and 12 monasteries are built on the
sites of demolished Pagan Temples.
546 Hundreds of Gentiles are put to death in Constantinople by
the inquisitor Ioannis Asiacus.
556 Justinianus orders the notorious inquisitor Amantius to go to
Antioch, to find, arrest, torture and exterminate the last Gentiles of the
city and burn all the private libraries down.
562 Mass arrests, burlesquing, tortures, imprisonments and
executions of Gentile Hellenes in Athens, Antioch, Palmyra and
Constantinople.
578 to 582 Christians torture and crucify Gentile Hellenes all around
the Eastern Empire, and exterminate the last Gentiles of
Heliopolis (Baalbek).
580 Christian inquisitors attack a secret Temple of Zeus in
Antioch. The priest commits suicide, but the other Gentiles are arrested.
All the prisoners, the Vice Governor Anatolius included, are tortured and
sent to Constantinople to face trial. Sentenced to death they are thrown
to the lions. The wild animals are unwilling to tear them to pieces and
they end up crucified. Their corpses are dragged through the streets by
the christian mob and afterwards thrown unburied in the city
dump.
583 New persecutions against the Gentile Hellenes by the Emperor
Mauricius.
590 Throughout the Eastern Empire, christian accusers "discover"
Pagan conspiracies. A new wave of torture and executions
erupts.
692 The "Penthekte" Council of Constantinople prohibits the
remains of Calends, Brumalia, Anthesteria, and other Pagan / Dionysian
festivals.
804 The Gentile Hellenes of Laconia, Greece, resist successfully
the attempt of Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople, to convert them to
Christianity.
950 to 988 Violent conversion of the last Gentile Hellenes of Laconia by
the Armenian "Saint" Nikon.
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