In 390 Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, excommunicated Theodosius for ordering the massacre of innocent people following a riot in Thessalonica. After eight months of pondering what to do, in the end Theodosius decided to admit his mistake to Ambrose and beg his forgiveness.
What if he had decided to challenge Ambrose's authority? The church's authority in general would surely take a hit, and there wouldn't have been as close a relationship between Empire and church. In the short term, perhaps paganism is persecuted less, perhaps the Olympics Games aren't banned.
But in the long term, does the Empire need a close relationship with christianity to survive? Does its collapse come sooner?
What if he had decided to challenge Ambrose's authority? The church's authority in general would surely take a hit, and there wouldn't have been as close a relationship between Empire and church. In the short term, perhaps paganism is persecuted less, perhaps the Olympics Games aren't banned.
But in the long term, does the Empire need a close relationship with christianity to survive? Does its collapse come sooner?
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