Martyr of the Catacombs tells the story of Christians during the great persecution under the Roman Emperor Decius. Marcellus is a successful, young Roman Army officer, chosen by the Emperor for that highest of advancements, assignment to the Praetorian Guard. Upon his arrival in Rome, he witnesses a spectacle in the Coliseum. A famous gladiator Macer defeats all opponents, but at the end he announces that he will not kill a fellow gladiator because he is a Christian. He declares his faith in Jesus Christ, infuriating the mob, and allows his defeated opponent to slay him. As Marcellus ponders upon what he has seen, his friend Lucullus brings him word from the Emperor as to why he has been brought to Rome. Marcellus is to lead a group of soldiers from the Praetorian Guard down into the catacombs to hunt these Christians out and bring them to punishment. While on a scouting mission, in his effort to gather intelligence on them, Marcellus meets several Christians, becomes closer to them and to Christian faith which he eventually accepts, becoming a fugitive and an outlaw.
Оглавление
James De Mille. Martyr of the Catacombs
Martyr of the Catacombs
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I. THE COLISEUM
CHAPTER II. THE PRETORIAN CAMP
CHAPTER III. THE APPIAN WAY
CHAPTER IV. THE CATACOMBS
CHAPTER V. THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET
CHAPTER VI. THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES
CHAPTER VII. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
CHAPTER VIII. LIFE IN THE CATACOMBS
CHAPTER IX. THE PERSECUTION
CHAPTER X. THE ARREST
CHAPTER XI. THE OFFER
CHAPTER XII. POLLIO'S TRIAL
CHAPTER XIII. THE DEATH OF POLLIO
CHAPTER XIV. THE TEMPTATION
CHAPTER XV. LUCULLUS
Отрывок из книги
James De Mille
A Tale of Ancient Rome (Historical Novel)
.....
But he was firm. Unarmed, he advanced toward the African, whom he could have slain even then with a blow of his fist. The face of the African was like that of a fiend. Surprise, joy, and triumph gleamed in his sinister eyes. Seizing his sword in a firm grasp, he struck Macer to the heart.
"Lord Jesus receive my spirit--" The words were drowned in a torrent of blood, and this humble but bold witness for Christ passed away from earth to join the noble army of martyrs.
