Under the reign of Roman Emperor Decius (249-251) the early church faced the first systematized empire wide persecution. This persecution led to the death of many believers and even almost entire faith communities. The only way to escape persecution was to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods on behalf of the emperor. Decius made this mandatory for all citizens, and it was locally enforced. Once you sacrificed, you were give a Certificate of Sacrifice, which was the ticket of life. Christians, however, refused to offer sacrifices because they worshiped only one God and had only one Lord–Jesus Christ. To offer sacrifices would have been idolatry and was considered a major no-no. Below is a translation of an actual Certificate of Sacrifice that was found in an excavation in Egypt in 1893:
“To the commissioners of Sacrifice of the Village of Alexander’s Island: from Aurelius Diogenes, the son of Satabus, of the Village of Alexander’s Island, aged 72 years–scar on his right eyebrow.
I have always sacrificed regularly to the gods, and now, in your presence, in accordance with the edict, I have done sacrifice, and poured the drink offering, and tasted of the sacrifices, and I request you to certify the same, Farewell.
Handed in by me, Aurelius Diogenes.I certify that I saw him sacrificing…
Done in the first year of the emperor, Caesar Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius, Pius, Felix, Augustus: the second of the month Epith. “
Alexandrian Theologian 