Constantine puts an end to pagan Rome's persecution of Christians withthe EDICT OF MILAN
Chapter V. Copies of Imperial Laws.(Taken from the History of the Church by Eusebius.
1 Let us finally subjoin the translations from the Roman tongue of the imperial decrees of Constantine
and Licinius.
2 Copy of imperial decrees translated from the Roman tongue.
"Perceiving long ago that religious liberty ought not to be denied, but that it ought to be granted to the
judgment and desire of each individual to perform his religious duties according to his own choice, we
had given orders that every man, Christians as well as others, should preserve the faith of his own
sect and religion.
3 But since in that rescript, in which such liberty was granted them, many and various conditions
seemed clearly added, some of them, it may be, after a little retired from such observance.
4 When I, Constantine Augustus, and I, Licinius Augustus, came under favorable auspices to Milan
and took under consideration everything which pertained to the common weal and prosperity, we
resolved among other things, or rather first of all, to make such decrees as seemed in many respects
for the benefit of every one; namely, such as should preserve reverence and piety toward the deity.
We resolved, that is, to grant both to the Christians and to all men freedom to follow the religion
which they choose, that whatever heavenly divinity exists may be propitious to us and to all that live
under our government.
5 We have, therefore, determined, with sound and upright purpose, that liberty is to be denied to no
one, to choose and to follow the religious observances of the Christians, but that to each one
freedom is to be given to devote his mind to that religion which he may think adapted to himself, in
order that the Deity may exhibit to us in all things his accustomed care and favor.
6 It was fitting that we should write that this is our pleasure, that those conditions being entirely left
out which were contained in our former letter concerning the Christians which was sent to your
devotedness, everything that seemed very severe and foreign to our mildness may be annulled, and
that now every one who has the same desire to observe the religion of the Christians may do so
without molestation.
7 We have resolved to communicate this most fully to thy care, in order that thou mayest know that
we have granted to these same Christians freedom and full liberty to observe their own religion.
8 Since this has been granted freely by us to them, thy devotedness perceives that liberty is granted
to others also who may wish to follow their own religious observances; it being clearly in accordance
with the tranquillity of our times, that each one should have the liberty of choosing and worshiping
whatever deity he pleases. This has been done by us in order that we might not seem in any way to
discriminate against any rank or religion.
9 And we decree still further in regard to the Christians, that their places, in which they were formerly
accustomed to assemble, and concerning which in the former letter sent to thy devotedness a
different command was given if it appear that any have bought them either from our treasury or from
any other person, shall be restored to the said Christians, without demanding money or any other
equivalent, with no delay or hesitation.
10 If any happen to have received the said places as a gift, they shall restore them as quickly as
possible to these same Christians: with the understanding that if those who have bought these places,
or those who have received them as a gift, demand anything from our bounty, they may go to the
judge of the district, that provision may be made for them by our clemency. All these things are to be
granted to the society of Christians by your care immediately and without any delay.
11 And since the said Christians are known to have possessed not only those places in which they
were accustomed to assemble, but also other places, belonging not to individuals among them, but to
the society as a whole, that is, to the society of Christians, you will command that all these, in virtue
of the law which we have above stated, be restored, without any hesitation, to these same Christians;
that is, to their society and congregation: the above-mentioned provision being of course observed,
that those who restore them without price, as we have before said, may expect indemnification from
our bounty.
12 In all these things, for the behoof of the aforesaid society of Christians, you are to use the utmost
diligence, to the end that our command may be speedily fulfilled, and that in this also, by our
clemency, provision may be made for the common and public tranquillity.
13 For by this means, as we have said before, the divine favor toward us which we have already
experienced in many matters will continue sure through all time.
14 And that the terms of this our gracious ordinance may be known to all, it is expected that this
which we have written will be published everywhere by you and brought to the knowledge of all, in
order that this gracious ordinance of ours may remain unknown to no one." |
