The Martyrs Treated as criminals ... suddenly in the middle of the 3rd century, the year 250, the Emperor Decius decides that Christians are a real enemy of the Roman order, ...

It is interesting to note that Charles I was canonised by the Church of England after the Restoration for his refusal to reject the episcopacy, and Tsar-Martyr Nikolai is now venerated as a saint ...

“Jesus Christ warned his followers that they could face persecution, Mark 10:39 and Matthew 10:16-25, and the first Christian martyr was Stephen, who was stoned to death, Acts 7:58-60.

The Tsar and his family were the best known victims of the Russian Revolution in 1918, but there is controversy surrounding their canonization as so-called "New Martyrs." ...

The Last Tsar: The Abdication of Nicholas II and the Fall of the Romanovs. By Tsuyoshi Hasegawa. Basic Books. 560 pages. We may earn a commission when you buy products through the links on our site.

Emperor Maxentius came to power. He ordered sacrifices made to pagan gods, and martyred Christians who refused to participate. Catherine, only age 18, challenged him for his persecution of Christians.