12.07.2015 Views

A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

371(b) Codex Theodosianus, XII, 1, 75; A. D. 371.In this edict Valentinian I confirms the immunities of theheathen priesthood which had been restored by Julian. Theheathen priesthood is here shown to continue as still opento aspirants after political honors and conferring immunitiesupon those who attained it. The curial had to pass through thevarious offices in fixed order be<strong>for</strong>e he attained release fromburdens which had been laid upon him by the State's systemof taxation.Let those be held as enjoying immunity who, advancing by thevarious grades and in due order, have per<strong>for</strong>med their variousobligations and have attained by their labor and approved actionsto the priesthood of a province or to the honor of a chief mag- [339]istracy, gaining this position not by favor and votes obtained bybegging <strong>for</strong> them, but with the favorable report of the citizensand commendation of the public as a whole, and let them enjoythe repose which they shall have deserved by their long labor,and let them not be subject to those acts of bodily severity inpunishment which it is not seemly that honorati should undergo.(c) Theodoret. Hist. Ec., IV, 21; V, 20. (MSG, 82:1181.)The following statement of Theodoret might seem to havebeen inspired by the general hatred which was felt <strong>for</strong> theviolent persecutor and pronounced Arian, Valens. Neverthelessthe statement is supported by references to the conditionsunder Valens made by Libanius in his Oratio pro Templis,addressed to the Emperor Theodosius.IV, 21. At Antioch Valens spent considerable time, and gavecomplete license to all who under cover of the Christian name,pagans, Jews, and the rest preached doctrines contrary to thoseof the Gospel. The slaves of this error even went so far as to

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!