Watercolor, charcoal and plaster on paper

Christians were prosecuted for committing civil crimes such as vandalism and arson. Riots often interrupted public worship of the national religion of Rome. In fact, the Great Fire of 64 A.D. was set by Christians. Many anxiously waited for the world to end by fire, so they started fires to prompt God. It was St. Theodore who was canonized for being an arsonist. His claim to fame was burning down the temple of the Mother of the Gods.

-- Walker, Barbara G., The Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1983. Pages 209-210.