Christians within the Magian state. Social outcasts?

Abstract

The situation of Christians within the Magian state - first the Parthian Arsacid monarchy and later the Sassanid monarchy referring to the Persian tradition - varied according to internal and external circumstances. Mutual relations were influenced both by the internal religious policies of the rulers and by conflicts with the Roman Empire. This forced the Christians to be prepared to make various compromises and also influenced their confessional choices. On top of this, cultural differences also played a major role, especially when it came to the upper classes. The article attempts to show the complexity of the interactions.