The Servant of God in prison and persecution against Christians

Devasahayam Pillai was brought before the king. The king told Devasahayam to renounce the Christian faith and threatened him with cruel punishment if he refused to leave the religion of the Christians. The Servant of God, who had great regard for the King replied politely to the king and asserted his firm resolve to stick on to the faith even to the point of death. The king also promised a high position in his kingdom if the Servant of God denied his Christian faith. Enraged at the firm resolve of the Servant of God to cling on to Christian faith despite threats and allurements, the king ordered him to be immediately put in prison. Devasahayam was immediately put in a prison. This was the time when a great persecution broke out against all Christians except those along the coast. Heavy punishments and fines were inflicted on the Christians, many of whom escaped to mountains and some even fled out of the kingdom. A few even denied the faith and many of them came back later on. But most of the people were brave at the face of persecution.