The Bills of the Emperor Honorius against Caelicolae

Abstract

The author of the present paper discusses the bills of the emperor Honorius (Cth 16, 8, 9; Cth16,5, 43 = Sirmond 12) against Caelicolae. The latter was a little know pagan and Jewish group which also took on some elements of the Christian doctrine. Honorius' bills bore the penal character. The sovereign declared that belonging to Caelicolae was a crime (crimen). The sanctions for this kind of crime were not clearly defined. The text of the bill read that they were to be punished, as in the case of heresy. Any access to this group was forbidden. The sanctions for joining the sect were the same as in the case of high treason (crimen laesae majestatis). The emperor declared that the temples belonging to Caelicolae descended to the church. The bills do not make any mention any the penal procedure.