A Christian Mother Tackles the Roman Empire

Perpetua, a young matron of good family met her adversary’s eyes, and firmly announced, “I am a Christian.” And with these words, she condemned herself to death for her faith. Vibia Perpetua was a twenty-two year old wife and mother, a resident of the North African city of Carthage, and a member of Rome’s aristocratic class. Although “respectably born and liberally educated” she had embraced Christianity, turning her back on the traditional gods of the empire. In the early third century, Roman emperors had not yet taken an interest in persecuting Christians (see my recent article, Persecuting Christians in the Early Roman Empire — link at the bottom of this article). Nevertheless, someone had reported her religious malfeasance to the local magistrate, Hilarianus. Perpetua, her maid Felicitas, and a handful of comrades were arrested and placed on trial. <a href="https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/a-christian-mother-tackles-the-roman-empire-b851c0ccf1d3">Learn More</a>