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Title: The Age of Martyrs: Christianity from Diocletian (284) to Constantine (337) by Anthony Bull, Abbot Giuseppe Ricciotti ISBN: 0-89555-631-6 Publisher: Tan Books & Publishers, Inc. Pub. Date: 01 December, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.50

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Average Customer Rating: 3.67 (3 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: Witnesses to Christ, Martyrs for truth.
Comment: The seed of the Church is fed by the blood of martyrs. In a time when so much is made of supposedly Muslin martyrs, it is refreshing for Christians to recall what a true martyr is- someone who bears witness to their faith in Christ by laying down their life by the hands of persecutors. Ricciotti does an excellent job in weaving both historical narrative and quotations from primary sources to give the reader a real flavor of the stresses and glories of the early Church's position in society between 284 and 337.

The various forms of martyrdom are covered thoroughly. As well, an excellent prologue sets the stage for the political and religious climate of the era. It ends with a long discussion of various heresies that were rampant at the time (such as Arianism and Donatism). This is a very good source, in fact, for information of the Donatist Schism if you can't get a hold of Frend's massive study.

I was a bit surprised at one reviewer's remarks that this book was fit for the fire. The author of the book makes distinctions between the historical and fictional accounts of martyrdom in detail. While sympathetic to Latin Christianity, Ricciotti does not compromise his integrity as a historian. This is why I give the book five stars and the other lame review a thumbs down.

You may also enjoy reading "The Cruelty of Heresy" and Hengel's "The Cross of the Son of God".

Rating: 5
Summary: A welcome account of St. Constantine the Great
Comment: The author, writing from an Italian and Latin perspective, is understandably less than effusive regarding the interventions of St. Constantine in the internal affairs of the Church. Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the Great Councils, beginning with Nicea in 325 as establishing the "conciliar" pattern by which Orthodoxy defined itself against the variety of heretical uprisings in the Patristic age. With certain limitations, this is a factual, sympathetic, and balanced account of an heroic, and sinful, and ultimately repentant, man. Nevertheless, the result, with Contantine's acceptance, of the rise of Christianity in the Empire was dramatic and swift. Crucifixion and other public cruelties were abolished, the infanticide of female children was suppressed so that women came from perhaps 1/3 of the population to equality in numbers with males, slavery and other evils eventually disapeared... and the Empire lasted another thousand years until overwhelmed by the Muslim invasions.

Rating: 1
Summary: Good papers to throw in fire
Comment: This author uses fiction and mythology to write this book. It is filled with historical errors and pure sugar coated wishes...the major one: Constantine as a Christian Martyr....He was far from it.