During the early part of his reign, Yazdegerd inclined towards Christianity. George Rawlinson feels that Yazdegerd may even himself wanted to convert to Christianity. Antiochus openly wrote in favor of Christians, and this rapidly increased conversions to Christianity. He openly persecuted the Magi, the Zoroastrian high-priests, who were sworn enemies of Christians.
Yazdegerd is believed to have been an ardent follower of at least two prominent Christian bishops: Marutha, bishop of Mesopotamia, and Abdaas, the bishop of Ctesiphon. Marutha in particular exerted a great amount of influence over the Persian Emperor, and it was at his insistence that Yazdegerd issued a declaration in 410 giving Christians the freedom of worship. This proclamation is sometimes regarded as "the Edict of Milan for the Assyrian Church". However he was forced to persecute Christians when Bishop Abdaas burnt a Fire Temple in Ctesiphon and the Magi rebelled...
WI Yazdegert I converted to Christianity indeed and persecuted brutally the Magi instead of Christians? How is this altering History? Any thoughts?
Yazdegerd is believed to have been an ardent follower of at least two prominent Christian bishops: Marutha, bishop of Mesopotamia, and Abdaas, the bishop of Ctesiphon. Marutha in particular exerted a great amount of influence over the Persian Emperor, and it was at his insistence that Yazdegerd issued a declaration in 410 giving Christians the freedom of worship. This proclamation is sometimes regarded as "the Edict of Milan for the Assyrian Church". However he was forced to persecute Christians when Bishop Abdaas burnt a Fire Temple in Ctesiphon and the Magi rebelled...
WI Yazdegert I converted to Christianity indeed and persecuted brutally the Magi instead of Christians? How is this altering History? Any thoughts?