The great persecution

The proceedings of the fifth international patristic conference, Maynooth, 2003

D. Vincent Twomey SVD & Mark Humphries, editors

This volume contains the proceedings of the Fifth International Maynooth Patristic Conference held in November 2003.

Contents: Mark Humphries (Swansea U), The mind of the persecutors: ‘By the gracious favour of the gods’; Andrew Smith (UCD), Philosophical objections to Christianity on the eve of the Great Persecution; Harold A. Drake (U California, Santa Barbara), Lessons from Diocletian’s persecution; Oliver Nicholson (U Minnesota), Preparation for martyrdom in the early Church; Thomas O’Loughlin (U Wales, Lampeter), Eusebius of Caesarea’s conceptions of the persecution suffered by the Church and a key to reading his Historia ecclesiastica; Finbarr Clancy SJ (Milltown Institute), Imitating the mysteries that you celebrate: Martyrdom and Eucharist in early Patristic period; David Woods (UCC), The origin of the cult of St George; D. Vincent Twomey (St Patrick’s College, Maynooth), The perennial importance of the Great Persecution for understanding the mutual relationship between politics and religion.

D. Vincent Twomey SVD is professor emeritus of moral theology, Pontifical University, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Mark Humphries is professor of ancient history, Swansea University.