Editing Codex Theodosianus (section)

==Christianity==
Apart from clearing up confusion and creating a single, simplified, and supersedent code, Theodosius II also attempted to solidify Christianity as the Empire's official religion after it had been decriminalised under [[Galerius]]' rule and promoted under Constantine's. In his ''[[City of God (book)|City of God]]'', [[St. Augustine]] praised [[Theodosius the Great]], Theodosius II's grandfather, who shared his faith and devotion, as "a Christian ruler whose piety was expressed by the laws he had issued in favor of the [[Catholic Church]]".{{sfn|Matthews|2000|p=8}}

The ''Codex Theodosianus'' is, for example, explicit in ordering that all actions at law should cease during [[Holy Week]], and the doors of all courts of law be closed during those 15 days (1. ii. tit. viii.). It also instituted laws punishing [[homosexuality]], which represented a departure from policy under the period of the Roman Republic, under which homosexuality was tolerated and perhaps mocked but was not illegal.{{sfn|Frakes|n.d.}}{{sfn|Pharr|Davidson|Pharr|2001|pp=232–233}}

The first laws granting [[tax exemption]] to the church appear in the ''Codex'' and are credited to Constantine and his son [[Constantius II]]. These laws specify land owned by [[clergy]], their family members, and churches were exempt from compulsory service and tax payments with the exception of land personally owned by the clerics.{{sfn|Pharr|Davidson|Pharr|2001|p=443}}{{sfn|Elliott|1978|p=333}}