Editing Persecution in Lyon (section)

==Account of the persecution==
Before the actual outbreak of violence, Christians were forbidden from the marketplace, the forum, the baths, or to appear in any public places.<sup>[2]</sup>  If they did appear in public they were subject to being mocked, beaten, and robbed by the mob. The homes of Christians were vandalized. (''Hist. Eccl.'', 5.1.5,7). The martyrs of Lyons were accused of "Thyestean banquets and Oedipean intercourse".<sup>[1]</sup>

How long all of this lasted is not indicated, but eventually the authorities seized the Christians and questioned them in the forum in front of the populace.  They were then imprisoned until the arrival of the governor.<sup>[2]</sup> 

According to Eusebius (Hist. Eccl.,5.4), while yet a presbyter or elder, St. [[Irenaeus]] was sent with a letter, from certain members of the Church of Lyons awaiting martyrdom, to Eleutherus, bishop of Rome.

When the governor arrived at Lugdunum, he interrogated them in front of the populace again, mistreating them to such a degree that Vettius Epagathus, a Christian and man of high social standing, requested permission to testify on behalf of the accused.  This request was refused and instead the governor arrested Vettius Epagathus when he confessed to being a Christian (5.1.9-10).

These Christians endured torture while the authorities continued to apprehend others.  Two of their pagan servants were seized and, fearing torture, falsely charged the Christians with incest and cannibalism (Hist. Eccl., 5.1.12-13).

What followed was the torture of the captive Christians by various means.  In the end, all were killed, some of whom had recanted but later returned to the faith (Hist. Eccl., 5.1.45-46).
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