Editing Justin I (section)

=== Religion ===

Justin's reign is noteworthy for the resolution of the [[Acacian schism]] between the eastern and western branches of the Christian church. On ascending the throne Justin invited [[Pope Hormisdas]] to Constantinople for negotiations. Justinian sent a similar, but separate, invitation; said to have been closer to a summons. Hormisdas promptly despatched a delegation to Constantinople with instructions to state the orthodox position rather than to negotiate. Carrying out a policy developed by his nephew Justinian, the future emperor, Justin endorsed Rome's view on the question of the dual nature of Christ. On 28 March 519, in the cathedral of Constantinople in the presence of a great throng of people, a reluctant [[John of Cappadocia|Patriarch John II]] accepted the formula of Pope Hormisdas and the end of the schism was concluded in a solemn ceremony.<ref name=Rom>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roman-emperors.org/justin.htm|title=Roman Emperors – DIR Justinian|website=www.roman-emperors.org|access-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515232101/http://www.roman-emperors.org/justin.htm|archive-date=15 May 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

For the first three years of his reign Justin persecuted the Miaphysites, even serving soldiers. Thereafter he adopted a more pragmatic approach. In 523 Justin issued a strict edict against [[Arianism]]. Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths and ruler of Italy, was an Arian himself, as were most Ostrogoths. He despatched [[Pope John I]], Pope Hormisdas' successor, to Constantinople with firm instructions to obtain a policy reversal. John received an exceptionally warm welcome; the population of Constantinople applauded him, Justin laid on celebrations, prostrated himself at the Pope's feet and insisted on being re-crowned by the Pope's hands. John did not succeed in having the edict overturned, it seems that he did not press the matter. On his return to Italy an enraged Theodoric had him flung into prison, where he shortly died.<ref name=Rom /><ref name="ce">{{CathEncy|wstitle=Pope St. John I}}</ref>{{sfn|Meyendorff|1989|p=222}}

Again encouraged by Justinian, Justin increasingly expressed his position as emperor as a religious one. He claimed that "we have been elected to the empire by favour of the indivisible [[Trinity]].{{sfn|Ostrogorsky|1957|p=64}}{{sfn|Mitchell|2007|pp=124–25, 293–94}} Edicts were endorsed with "We continuously commit ourselves to all plans and actions in the name of Jesus Christ".{{sfn|Mitchell|2007|p=294}} In either 519 or 522 Justin abandoned the tradition of depicting pagan symbols on the reverse of his coins and seals. "During the reign, the characteristic identifying the reverse female figure as Victory, a high girdle below the breasts, was substituted by a tunic, therefore identifying the figure as an angel."<ref name=Dumb /> This was a very public and widespread restatement of the Empire as a Christian state.<ref name=Dumb />