CHAPTER II.

THEIR HISTORY DURING THE AGES OF PERSECUTION.

Earliest places of Christian worship in Rome—Their position before the law—Edict of Valerian against assemblies in the Catacombs—Disobedience and consequent martyrdom of St. Sixtus—Extension of the Catacombs—Changes in their architectural forms—The _fossors_ and their clerical character—Stories of martyrs belonging to this period—St. Hippolytus and others—SS. Chrysanthus and Daria—St. Tharsicius—St. Agnes and St. Emerentiana 26