JULIAN THE APOSTATE

Laws
Edited by Rev. Daniel R. Jennings
The Emperor Constantine II and Julian-Caesar to Felix, Bishop.
Let all ecclesiastics be free from the imposition of taxes which are not due, an
d from the wickedness of unjust
exactions; for no agreement having reference to base employments shall be requir
ed of them; and while traders are
liable to certain contributions, all ecclesiastics shall be exempt from the nois
e and bustle incident to transactions of
this kind. For when they have accumulated anything, either through economy, fore
sight, or trade (if they know their
conduct to have been honorable), they are obliged to devote it to the relief of
the poor and needy. Anything which
can be acquired or accumulated by the said ecclesiastics in factories or shops,
they must consider to have been
obtained for the benefit of religion.
(1) The laws of the Divine Emperor, My Father, provide that their employees who
are engaged with them in the same
occupation, shall also enjoy the same privileges as the clergy themselves.
(2) Hence the aforesaid persons shall be exempt from the necessity and the annoy
ance of extraordinary burdens.
(3) Nor shall they, or their property, be liable to contribution for traveling e
xpenses.
(4) This privilege is granted to all ecclesiastics, so that their wives, childre
n, and servants, both male and female, and
their sons and daughters, shall always remain exempt from impositions of this ki
nd.
Given on the ninth of the Ides of December, during the Consulate of Constantine,
Consul for the ninth time, and
Julian-Csar, Consul for the second time, 357.
(Codex Justinian, Bk. 1, Tit. 3.2, Concerning Bishops and Other Members of The C
lergy, Superintendents of Orphan
Asylums, Of Hospitals and of Charitable Foundations, Monasteries of Ascetics and
Monks and Their Privileges;
Castrense Peculium; The Redemption of Captives; and Forbidden or Permitted Marri
ages of Ecclesiastics.)
The Emperor Constantius and Julian-Csar to Thalassius, Prtorian Prefect.
If anyone, after renouncing the venerated Christian faith, should become a Jew,
and join their sacrilegious
assemblies, We order that, after the accusation has been proved, his property sh
all be confiscated to the Treasury.
Given at Milan, on the fifth of the Nones of July, during the Consulate of Const
antius, Consul for the ninth time, and
Julian-Csar, Consul for the second time, 357.
(Codex Justinian, Bk. 1, Tit. 7.1, Concerning Apostates.)