July 19, 64 A.D. - Emperor Nero Begins Persecuting Christians

The Torches of Nero (1876) by Henryk Siemiradzki. Public domain, courtesy of the National Museum in Kraków / Wikimedia Commons.

In the aftermath of the Great Fire of Rome, Emperor Nero blamed the city's Christian community for the devastating blaze, launching what is widely regarded as the first major imperial persecution of Christians. Ancient historians disagree over whether Nero himself was responsible for the fire. Tacitus reported that many Romans suspected Nero had ordered the fire, while other ancient writers offered differing accounts. What is clear is that Nero seized upon the crisis to divert public anger by accusing Christians of arson.

Those arrested faced horrific punishments. Some were crucified, others were torn apart by wild animals in the arena, and many were covered in pitch and set ablaze at night to illuminate Nero's gardens. The famous painting by Russian artist Henryk Siemiradzki, The Torches of Nero, vividly depicts this gruesome tradition of using believers as human torches.

Although Nero's persecution was largely confined to the city of Rome rather than the entire empire, it marked the beginning of nearly 250 years of intermittent imperial persecution. Over the next two and a half centuries, Christians would periodically face imprisonment, confiscation of property, torture, and execution under emperors such as Domitian, Decius, and Diocletian. This era finally came to an end with the Edict of Milan, issued by Constantine the Great and Licinius, which granted legal toleration to Christianity.

Why This Matters

The persecution under Nero reminds us that Christianity spread not through political power or military force but through the courage and faithfulness of ordinary believers willing to suffer for their convictions. Their steadfast witness helped shape the early Church and left a legacy of perseverance that continues to inspire Christians around the world today.