Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

33 The sixth and seventh centuries 225
course of the fifth century became more and more dependent on the wielders
of power. It would appear that also in the year 420 Yazdgard I, who
because of his long standing tolerance with regard to Christians and Jews
received the title ‘the Infidel’ in the Eastern literature, 80 gave in to the
Magians. The persecutions, which began during the reign of Yazdgard
continued under the rule of his successor Bahrām V Gōr (420–39). In
his ecclesiastical history Theodoret talks about how the Christians were
tortured to death. 81 Although in 422 Romans and Persians concluded
a peace (19) which guaranteed the freedom to practise one’s religion in
both empires, the following period saw new persecutions in the Sasanian
Empire. 82
33: Religion and politics during the sixth and seventh centuries
In the sixth and seventh centuries, no less than before, dealing with religious
matters formed an important part of Byzantine–Sasanian relations;
religion could bear an impact on armed conflicts (15) and was the subject
of agreements and treaties between the powers. Menander Protector, who
wrote a detailed account of the specific terms of the peace treaty concluded
in 562 between the Sasanian king Xusrō I Anōˇsārvān (531–79) and Justinian
(20), finishes his report with agreements that relate to the situation of the
Christians in the Persian Empire.
Menander Protector, frg. 6.1 (= FHG iv, frg. 11)
When these issues had been agreed upon and ratified, further agreements were
made, 83 namely regarding the Christians in the Persian Empire. They should be
allowed to build churches as well as engage in worship without fear, and to sing
their hymns of praise without impediment, as it is customary also among us. For
they should neither be forced to convert to the religion of the Magians nor to praise
the traditional Persian gods against their will. The Christians in turn should not
attempt in any way to convert the followers of the Magian religion to our faith.
The Christians should be allowed to bury their dead in graves, as it is customary
among us.
Apparently this was a separate agreement, which was concluded after all
other issues had been agreed upon. The wording at the beginning of the
passage suggests that there may have been an independent treaty guaranteeing
the Christians the full freedom to practise their religion and to build
80 Nöldeke 1887a: 103. 81 Thdrt. HE v.39.7–24. 82 Asmussen 1983: 942.
83 The Greek verb used here is nomizein, which in a legal context refers to a usage prescribed by the
force of law.