Christian Cyclopedia

(Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Justinianus; Flavius Anicius Justinianus; 483–565). “Justinian the Great.” B. Tauresium, Illyricum, Macedonia; consul 521; E Roman emp. 527–565; brilliant ruler; tried to restore the religious and pol. unity of the empire, but failed to prevent increased estrangement bet. the E and the W Ch.; efforts to codify Roman law resulted in Corpus iuris civilis (Code of Justinian), a revision and updating of the Code of Theodosius* II; it decreed the destruction of Hellenism. Closed the philos, school at Athens 529; promoted Christian missions; restricted civil rights and religious affairs of Jews; made Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed the sole symbol of the ch.; accorded legal force to the canons of the first 4 ecumenical councils. See also Constantinople, Councils of, 2; Natural Law; Popes, 3.