Works & Councils of Toledo 55

The Emperor Justinian Augustus to Mennas, archbishop of the royal city of Constantinople. It was sanctioned even by ancient laws that there be utterly no license to anyone to perform at home the things that are most sacred, but to let belief and the worship of God proceed in public, according to the ordinance handed down concerning these sacred acts; and we too in the present set forth this law, which with all caution we wish to be kept. For we forbid all the inhabitants of this great city—nay, rather of our whole dominion—to have in their houses certain so-called houses of prayer, and to celebrate the sacred mysteries in these, and from thence for certain things foreign to the catholic and apostolic tradition to be done.

But if indeed some think they ought to have houses thus simply for their sacred uses, for the sake, that is, of prayer alone, and with nothing at all of those things which are of the sacred mystery being celebrated, this we permit them. For there is no ill-will, if they wish, apart from these, to have certain dwellings, and in them to pray as in sacred places, but to abstain from all the rest. Unless however they should wish to invite into them certain clerics—here indeed of the most holy Great Church and of the most holy houses under it, deputed to this by the will and approval of the most holy archbishop; but in the province, of the bishops beloved of God.

No novelty being made to the see of his Beatitude by our present law, concerning the rights existing for it in any way whatsoever in ordinations or governances here or in the provinces; but with all things in any way and at any time pertaining to it being preserved for it valid both now and for all the remaining time: we ordain that your Glory preserve these things, and establish them manifest to all by its own letters, so that through all things the law may hold good. For these things we enjoin both upon the most glorious prefect of this happy city, and upon the most holy archbishop and universal patriarch, that out of civil and priestly virtue these things may be guarded perpetually.

For let the masters of the houses themselves also know that, if they do not guard these things, they themselves indeed shall come under imperial displeasure, while the houses in which any such thing is done shall both become public, and be brought under our most sacred treasury. But if it should befall any also to have any such thing in their houses, let them know that, unless within three months from the time this law has been promulgated they correct these things, and reduce them to the form ordained by us, they shall fall under the aforesaid penalty. And these things we wish to be done with truth, not through any false accusation; for we are lovers only of the truthful. These things we ordain your Highness to guard, and to grant that nothing of the kind be done.

For know that, if we should learn that any such thing was reported to you, and you then did not forbid it—whether you, or your successors, whoever they shall be in future—you yourself indeed shall pay a penalty of fifty pounds of gold, but so also shall those who shall be successors to the office (cingulum, lit. 'belt'). And the official obedient to you shall sustain the same loss, if he has allowed to be done in secret a thing zealous for us and preserving the unity of the most holy Church, and forbidding the things openly interdicted by us, and has despised the charge entrusted to him; and he shall be imperilled even regarding his very office, and moreover the very house in which any such thing is done shall be made public, and come under our most sacred treasury.

A written copy (has been sent) by us also to the most holy patriarch of this happy city, so that he too may exercise providence over this matter. For we wish these things, guarded in priestly and judicial manner, to endure for the remaining time and unimpaired. Given on the third day before the Kalends of November at Constantinople, in the eleventh year of the reign of our lord Justinian, Perpetual Augustus, after the consulship of Belisarius, most distinguished man.