The same Augustus to Julian, Praetorian Prefect. We have learned that there are many orthodox children whose father and mother are not of the orthodox religion. And therefore we ordain that not only in the case where one parent is [not] of the orthodox religion, but also in those cases in which both parents are of an alien sect—that is, both father and mother—these children alone are to be called to their succession, whether by will or on intestacy; and that donations or other liberalities can accrue only to those who are adorned with the venerable name of the orthodox; while the rest of the children of those who have followed not the love of Almighty God but a father's or a mother's impious affection are to be repelled from every benefit.
But if no orthodox children exist, let these same goods or successions pass to the agnates or cognates of those parents (provided, however, that they be orthodox). But if no such agnation or lawful cognation be found, then let these same goods be claimed for the rights of our fisc. § 1. But lest we seem to provide for children when their parents are dying, yet to bring no provision to bear while the parents are living (which has also become known to us from an actual case), we impose a necessity upon such parents to nourish their orthodox children according to the measure of their patrimony, and to furnish them with everything that suffices for the maintenance of daily life;
and also to give dowries for daughters and granddaughters, and to assign ante-nuptial gifts for sons or grandsons, such liberalities being in every case estimated according to the means of the patrimony, lest, on account of their choice of divine love, the children be defrauded of a paternal or maternal provision. All those things, namely, which our constitutions have already established concerning the penalties of pagans, and Manichaeans, and Borborites, and Samaritans, Montanists, and Tascodrogites, and Ophites, and the other heretics, being confirmed by this our law and to remain valid in perpetuity. Given at Constantinople on the tenth day before the Kalends of December, in the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes, most distinguished men, 530.