Constantine's Recognition of "The Day of the Sun"

[Tom Hart]

Constantine to Elpidius. All judges, city people and craftsmen shall rest on the venerable day of the Sun. But countrymen may without hindrance attend to agriculture, since it often happens that this is the most suitable day for sowing grain or planting vines, so that the opportunity afforded by divine providence may not be lost, for the right season is of short duration. 7 March 321.

Cod. Justinianus, III. Cii. 3 (Corp. Jur. Civ. Ii. 127)


In Bettenson, Henry, ed. Documents of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press, 1961.

 

[Tom Hart]

I wonder if anyone might be able to comment on Constantine's mention of "the venerable day of the Sun" as "the most suitable day" for certain agricultural activities. Is this an ancient superstition?

 

[Phil D.]

I think that may be somewhat of a misleading translation. Rather than inferring that a specific date or day of the week in in view here, Philip Schaff's translation indicates that simply taking advantage of suitable conditions for planting as such happens to occur, perchance including Sundays, is intended.

On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits; because it often happens that another day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine-planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost. (P. Schaff, History of the Christian Church, [New York: 1884], 3:380 fn.1)

Latin: Omnes judices, urbanaeque plebes et cunctarum artium officia venerabili die Solis quiescent. Ruri tamen positi agrorum culture libere licenterque inserviant, quoniam frequenter evenit, ut non aptius alio die frumenta sulcis aut vineae scrobibus mandentur, ne occasione momenti pereat commoditas coelesti provisione concessa. (Ibid.)​

 

[Tom Hart]

I think that may be somewhat of a misleading translation. Rather than inferring that a specific date or day of the week in in view here, Philip Schaff's translation indicates that simply taking advantage of suitable conditions for planting as such happens to occur, perchance including Sundays, is intended.

On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits; because it often happens that another day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine-planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost. (P. Schaff, History of the Christian Church, [New York: 1884], 3:380 fn.1)

Latin: Omnes judices, urbanaeque plebes et cunctarum artium officia venerabili die Solis quiescent. Ruri tamen positi agrorum culture libere licenterque inserviant, quoniam frequenter evenit, ut non aptius alio die frumenta sulcis aut vineae scrobibus mandentur, ne occasione momenti pereat commoditas coelesti provisione concessa. (Ibid.)​

Thank you for that! This old Bettenson book has caused a few doubts to be raised elsewhere as well. Annoyingly, it doesn't even name the translator, and apart from sparse footnotes it includes nothing of the original language.