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E01683: An imperial decree of 30 July 381, issued in Latin and recorded in the Theodosian Code, prohibits the burial of dead bodies at the shrines of apostles and martyrs inside the walls of Constantinople. Promulgated in Latin at Heraclea (of Thrace?, eastern Balkans) and addressed to the Urban Prefect of Constantinople.
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posted on 2016-06-30, 00:00 authored by erizosTheodosian Code 9.17.6
Imppp. Gratianus, Valentinianus et Theodosius aaa. Pancratio praefecto Urbi. Omnia quae supra terram urnis clausa vel sarcofagis corpora detinentur, extra urbem delata ponantur, ut et humanitatis instar exhibeant et relinquant incolarum domicilio sanctitatem. Quisquis autem huius praecepti neglegens fuerit adque aliquid tale ab huius interminatione praecepti ausus fuerit moliri, tertia in futurum patrimonii parte multetur. Officium quoque, quod tibi paret, quinquaginta librarum auri affectum despoliatione maerebit. Ac ne alicuius fallax et arguta sollertia ab huius se praecepti intentione subducat atque apostolorum vel martyrum sedem humandis corporibus aestimet esse concessam, ab his quoque, ita ut a reliquo civitatis, noverint se atque intellegant esse submotos. Dat. III kal. aug. Heracleae Eucherio et Syagrio conss. (381 iul. 30).
‘The emperors Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius, Augusti, to the Urban Prefect [of Constantinople] Pancratius.
All the corpses which are contained in urns or sarcophagi above ground must be taken and placed outside the city, in order that they may present an example of the human condition, and leave purity to the households of the inhabitants. Yet anyone who is neglectful of this ruling, or should dare attempt such a thing after the threat of this ruling, in the future, will be deprived of one third of their patrimony. Moreover, the staff subject to you will regret to suffer the forfeiture of fifty pounds of gold. And let no one, in their false and cunning shrewdness, exempt themselves from the purpose of this ruling and suppose that a shrine (sedes) of apostles or martyrs is authorised for the burial of bodies: let them know and understand that they will be removed also from there, as from the rest of the city.
Given on the third day before the kalends of August at Heraclea, during the consulships of Eucherius and Syagrius [= 30 July 381]’
Text: Mommsen, Meyer, Krueger 1904. Translation: Efthymios Rizos.
Imppp. Gratianus, Valentinianus et Theodosius aaa. Pancratio praefecto Urbi. Omnia quae supra terram urnis clausa vel sarcofagis corpora detinentur, extra urbem delata ponantur, ut et humanitatis instar exhibeant et relinquant incolarum domicilio sanctitatem. Quisquis autem huius praecepti neglegens fuerit adque aliquid tale ab huius interminatione praecepti ausus fuerit moliri, tertia in futurum patrimonii parte multetur. Officium quoque, quod tibi paret, quinquaginta librarum auri affectum despoliatione maerebit. Ac ne alicuius fallax et arguta sollertia ab huius se praecepti intentione subducat atque apostolorum vel martyrum sedem humandis corporibus aestimet esse concessam, ab his quoque, ita ut a reliquo civitatis, noverint se atque intellegant esse submotos. Dat. III kal. aug. Heracleae Eucherio et Syagrio conss. (381 iul. 30).
‘The emperors Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius, Augusti, to the Urban Prefect [of Constantinople] Pancratius.
All the corpses which are contained in urns or sarcophagi above ground must be taken and placed outside the city, in order that they may present an example of the human condition, and leave purity to the households of the inhabitants. Yet anyone who is neglectful of this ruling, or should dare attempt such a thing after the threat of this ruling, in the future, will be deprived of one third of their patrimony. Moreover, the staff subject to you will regret to suffer the forfeiture of fifty pounds of gold. And let no one, in their false and cunning shrewdness, exempt themselves from the purpose of this ruling and suppose that a shrine (sedes) of apostles or martyrs is authorised for the burial of bodies: let them know and understand that they will be removed also from there, as from the rest of the city.
Given on the third day before the kalends of August at Heraclea, during the consulships of Eucherius and Syagrius [= 30 July 381]’
Text: Mommsen, Meyer, Krueger 1904. Translation: Efthymios Rizos.
History
Evidence ID
E01683Saint Name
Anonymous martyrs : S00060 Apostles (unspecified) : S00084Related Saint Records
Language
- Latin
