“Search the building,” he ordered the men behind him. “Take out the benches and set them afire in the square with whatever other furniture and furnishings you can find. And Decurion Paulos, he directed, “take a detail and search the floor beneath. Bring out anything you find that can be destroyed.”
The decurion’s eyes brightened at the thought of possible loot small enough to be hidden in his clothing, or in a safe place until it could be recovered. As Paulos hurried toward the doorway leading to the lower floor, Constantine spoke quickly to the priest in a low voice.
“You will gain nothing by staying here, sir,” he said. “The Emperor may order the church burned and it will only be your pyre. Leave by the back entrance; I cannot be responsible for what will happen if you appear in the square.”
Tribune Constantine
“May God bless you, Tribune Constantine.” The priest turned toward a door behind the altar. “You are a worthy son of your father.”
As the priest disappeared through another door, Constantine marched up the aisle and through the entrance of the church with the scroll of the Scriptures held high in his hands. He was followed by a file of soldiers carrying benches, tables, and other articles of wood which they piled upon a fire that had been kindled in the square. Constantine, however, continued past the fire and up the steps to the throne of Diocletian.
The Christian Scriptures, Dominus,” he reported. “Seized as you commanded.”
“What of the images?” Galerius demanded. “Where are they?” There were no images,” Constantine said. “During our march to Egypt I was in the country from which the man called Christ came. I learned there that neither they nor the Jews allow any graven images to be worshiped in their churches.”
The reminder of his own difficulties not long after the event of which Constantine spoke sent a red tide of anger surging into Galerius’ face. “Burn the building then,” he snapped. “Destroy every vestige of their cursed faith.”
Many wooden buildings are located near the church, Dominus.” Constantine spoke earnestly to Diocletian. “If it is burned, much of the city may go with it.”
Nonsense, Galerius exclaimed. “With so many people here, we can contain the fire.”
And the mob rushing to escape the flames?” Constantine was still speaking to Diocletian. “Who will contain them?”
“Constantine is right, Galerius,” Diocletian said. “It would be too dangerous to set fire to the church now. Bum the cursed writings upon the fire, Constantine, and be sure everything related to their sect is removed from the building and destroyed.”
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