Edict of the Three Emperor

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The edict of the three emperors "Cunctos populos" was passed on February 28, 380 in Thessaloniki by the Roman emperors Theodosius I , Gratian and Valentinian II . It ended the nominal religious freedom of the 4th century and is considered an essential step towards making Christianity the state religion (cf. Reichskirche ).

The edict was formally addressed to the population of Constantinople , but meant the entire imperial people. It was written as a political edict; the idea of ​​unification was in the foreground. There was no prior consultation with church and theological representatives. In the following year it was supplemented by implementing provisions on dealing with heretics .

In terms of content, the (Roman-Alexandrian) belief in the Trinity of God becomes the binding state religion; anything that deviates from it is declared heresy with the corresponding consequences. The proposed sanctions were not always and not immediately implemented. For the time being, exiles and church closings took place. (The first death penalty was imposed in Trier in 385 ). Nevertheless, the edict was never repealed, but formed a legal basis for the office of the Inquisition established in the 13th century .

The Edict Cunctos Populos - wording in Latin and German
CUNCTOS populos, quos clementiae nostrae regit temperamentum, All the peoples over whom we rule a mild and moderate regime,
in tali volumus religione versari, should, so is our will, convert to religion,
quam divinum petrum apostolum tradidisse romanis which the divine apostle Peter delivered to the Romans,
religio usque ad nunc ab ipso insinuata declarat as the faith he proclaimed to this day shows
quamque pontificem damasum sequi claret et petrum alexandriae episcopum virum apostolicae sanctitatis, and to which the Pontifex Damasus clearly professes, as does Bishop Peter of Alexandria, a man of apostolic holiness;
hoc est, ut secundum apostolicam disciplinam evangelicamque doctrinam patris et filii et spiritus sancti unam deitatem sub parili maiestate et sub pia trinitate credamus. this means that, according to apostolic instruction and evangelical teaching, we believe in a Deity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in equal majesty and the Holy Trinity.
Hanc legem sequentes christianorum catholicorum noun iubemus amplecti, Only those who obey this law should, we command, be allowed to be called Catholic Christians;
reliquos vero dementes vesanosque iudicantes haeretici dogmatis infamiam sustinere, the rest, whom we declare to be truly mad and insane, bear the shame of heretical teaching.
nec conciliabula eorum ecclesiarum noun accipere, Their meeting places are also not allowed to be called churches.
divina primum vindicta, post etiam motus nostri, quem ex caelesti arbitrio sumpserimus, ultione plectendos. Finally, divine retribution is to overtake it first, but then also our punishment righteousness, which has been transferred to us through heavenly judgment.

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