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In 380 the co-emperors Theodosius and Gratian issued the Edict of Thessalonica which made mainstream Christianity (the Latin and Greek Churches, which later came to be called Catholic and Orthodox respectively) the sole legitimate religion of the empire. Christianity became state religion ad was officially endorsed by the Roman state. The object of the edict was to ban the many dissident Christian doctrines which were branded heretic. The main target was Arian Christianity, which was popular around the empire and which was persecuted. Thus, the edict also promoted greater uniformity among the Christians. Theodosius persecuted the Arians.

Theodosius also introduced further laws which banned the institutions and practices of Roman religion which had not already been banned by previous Christian emperors. This made practicing this religion virtually fully illegal. Theodosius persecuted the pagans. He either ordered the destruction of pagan temples, shrines and statues or condoned such destructions by Christian monks and zealots. In some parts of the empire there were also forced conversions. These persecutions weakened pagan religions and further favoured the spread of Christianity.

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Pinkie Davis

Lvl 13
3y ago

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