Chapter XXIII.—How he forbade Idolatrous Worship, but honored Martyrs and the Church Festivals.

Such were his sacred ministrations in the service of his God. At the same time, his subjects, both civil and military, throughout the empire, found a barrier everywhere opposed against idol worship, and every kind of sacrifice forbidden.^33223322    [This prohibition must be limited to private sacrifices. See Bk. II., ch. 45, note.—Bag.] A statute was also passed, enjoining the due observance of the Lord’s day, and transmitted to the governors of every province, who undertook, at the emperor’s command, to respect the days commemorative of martyrs, and duly to honor the festal seasons in the churches:^33233323    “Str. rightly translates ‘and honored the festal days by public gatherings,’ while Val. [and Bag.] falsely renders ‘duly honored the festival seasons of the church.’”—Hein. and all these intentions were fullfilled to the emperor’s entire satisfaction.