In the early days of church, many Christian women were regarded as rebels and were martyred.

Irene (April 1, 304) was sentenced as follows, "Whereas Irene has refused to obey the command of the emperors and to offer sacrifice, and still adheres to a sect called Christians, I therefore sentence her to be burned alive, as I did her two sisters before her." Irene's courageous testimony reflects the independent spirit of the Christian women martyrs of the early church, their strong resistance to political oppression, and their willingness to embrace martyrdom for the sake of the gospel. Many others were martyred for their faith in Christ resulting in rebellions against authorities that disapprove of it.