A flat discharge display panel has a transparent face plate made of an electrically insulating material, a base or substrate made of an electrically insulating material, an intermediate insulating plate interposed between the face plate and the base or substrate, a plurality of major discharge cells defined between the face plate and the intermediate insulating plate, a plurality of anodes each disposed in each of the major discharge cells, a plurality of auxiliary discharge cells defined between the intermediate insulating plate and the base or substrate, a plurality of cathodes each disposed in each of the auxiliary discharge cells, a plurality of of auxiliary anodes each disposed in each of the auxiliary discharge cells, the paired main and auxiliary discharge cells being intercommunicated through a through hole formed through the intermediate insulating plate, and the paired major and auxiliary discharge cells constituting a gas discharge cell, whereby the positive columns produced in each gas discharge cell as well as the discharge paths are in parallel with the face plate.