“Passio sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis” and the question of the persecution of Christians in the Roman empire under Septimius Severus

The article examines the discussion about the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire under Septimius Severus. The author analyzes the arguments of advocates and opponents of the existence of the edict prohibiting Christian and Jewish proselytism. The information about the Emperor’s ban originates from an ambiguous and controversial source titled “The Scriptores Historiae Augustae”, which can be supported be the evidence provided by Eusebius of Caesarea about the persecution in Alexandria under Severus as well as by anecdotal evidence about the martyrdom in Carthage of the heroes of “Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis” (“The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity”). However, positive comments concerning Septimius Severus, made by his contemporary Tertullian, a Christian and renowned theologian, as well as the absence of any indication of large-scale empire-wide persecution substantiate the position of those opposing the idea of the existence of the edict. The analysis of “Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis” in the context of the discussion on the historicity of the edict does not confirm the version about any new anti-Christian initiatives in the early 3rd century. The evidence of this martyrdom lacks any information about some large-scale persecution: only a small specific group of Christians was executed. There is no reason to believe that it is the violation of the ban of Christian proselytism that they were accused of. Procurator Mecilius Hilarian during interrogation only wanted to know if they were Christians or not, for starting from Trayan the positive answer was a sufficient reason for death penalty. Obviously, the legislative base for the persecution of the Christians under Septimius Severus remained unchanged. However, the Emperor’s expected journey in North Africa and the surge in the persecution of Christians in Alexandria and Carthage are likely to be connected for another reason. In fact, the enthusiasm of the local elites preparing to welcome the first emperor who came from North Africa could be responsible for aggravating the current conflicts and inciting new ones between Christians and adepts of other traditional religions. The author argues that the arrest and persecution of Perpetua and Felicity can be most probably explained by the intention of the provincial authorities to keep order in their provinces and avoid popular unrest in the course of preparations for the Emperor’s visit.