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Religious Intolerance in the Later Roman Empire - Bad request ...

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giv<strong>in</strong>g a list of bishops as had been <strong>the</strong> case with CTh. 16.1.2 and CTh. 16.1.3. The<br />

dogma given followed, with some variations, <strong>the</strong> Nicene creed of 325, and <strong>in</strong>dicated<br />

that a “defender of <strong>the</strong> Nicene faith and a true adherent of <strong>the</strong> Catholic religion” was<br />

one who confessed that “Almighty God and Christ <strong>the</strong> Son of God are One <strong>in</strong> name,<br />

God of God, Light of Light.” The law <strong>the</strong>n went on to deal with <strong>the</strong> still unresolved<br />

question of <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Godhead. Cun ctos populos (CTh. 16.1.2) had been<br />

direct and simple, affirm<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> “s<strong>in</strong>gle Deity of <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> Son and <strong>the</strong> Holy<br />

Spirit, under <strong>the</strong> concept of equal majesty.” This law was also direct, but also more<br />

technical than Cun ctos populos; it affirmed that a true Nicene did not “violate by denial<br />

<strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit.” A true Nicene would also “with <strong>in</strong>violate faith” believe <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

“undivided substance of <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>corrupt Tr<strong>in</strong>ity, that substance which those of <strong>the</strong><br />

orthodox faith call, employ<strong>in</strong>g a Greek work, ousia.” All of <strong>the</strong>se beliefs were “surely<br />

more acceptable to us and must be venerated.” 172<br />

The f<strong>in</strong>al and third paragraph dealt with punishments and future courses of<br />

action. Those who were not “devoted to <strong>the</strong> aforesaid doctr<strong>in</strong>es shall cease to assume,<br />

with studied deceit, <strong>the</strong> alien name of true religion” and “<strong>the</strong>y shall be branded upon<br />

<strong>the</strong> disclosure of <strong>the</strong>ir crimes.” They were also forbidden access to churches s<strong>in</strong>ce “we<br />

forbid all heretics to hold unlawful assemblies with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> towns.” Any “factions”<br />

attempt<strong>in</strong>g to “do anyth<strong>in</strong>g, we order that <strong>the</strong>ir madness shall be banished and that<br />

<strong>the</strong>y shall be driven away from <strong>the</strong> very walls of <strong>the</strong> cities” so that all churches could<br />

be restored to Nicene bishops. 173<br />

172 Is autem nicaenae adsertor fidei, catholicae religionis v erus cultor accipiendus est, qui om nipotentem deum<br />

et christum filium dei uno nom <strong>in</strong>e confitetur, deum de deo, lum en ex lum <strong>in</strong>e: qui spiritum sanctum , quem ex<br />

sum m o rerum parente speram us et accipim us, negando non v iolat: apud quem <strong>in</strong>tem eratae fidei sensu v iget<br />

<strong>in</strong>corruptae tr<strong>in</strong>itatis <strong>in</strong>div isa substantia, quae graeci adsertione v erbi ousia recte credentibus dicitur. haec<br />

profecto nobis m agis probata, haec v eneranda sunt<br />

173 Qui v ero isdem non <strong>in</strong>serv iunt, des<strong>in</strong>ant adfectatis dolis alien um v erae religionis nom en adsum ere et suis<br />

apertis crim <strong>in</strong> ibus denotentur. ab om nium subm oti ecclesiarum lim <strong>in</strong>e penitus arceantur, cum om nes<br />

haereticos illicitas agere <strong>in</strong>tra oppida congregation es v etem us ac, si quid eruptio factiosa tem ptav erit, ab ipsis<br />

etiam urbium m oenibus exterm <strong>in</strong>ato furore propelli iubeam us, ut cunctis orthodoxis episcopis, qui nicaenam<br />

fidem tenent, catholicae ecclesiae toto orbe reddantur<br />

214

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