363 (Outlawing Sabbath)

During the Constantinian dynasty, institutional roles like the pope, bishops and clerics gradually evolved to maintain order in the church.

At that time Judaism was considered a rival religion to Christianity in the Roman Empire. When Christianity became the state religion in the 4th century, institutionalized antisemitism developed through religious intolerance and political oppression, leading to intensified persecution of Jews.

The Council of Laodicea

Therefore, in 363-364 the Council of Laodicea, a Christian synod of 30 clerics from Asia Minor, regulated the conduct of church members by decrees in the form of written rules. These include:

• Determining the church order and behaviour of bishops, clerics and laypeople
• Regulating the approach to heretics and Jews
• Outlawing the keeping of the Sabbath (resting on Saturday) to distinguish themselves from "Jewish practices"
• Encouraging rest on Sundays
• Outlining liturgical practices
• Setting restrictions during Lent (a religious observance before Easter Sunday)
• Defining the process of how individuals are prepared for baptism and admission to the church
• Specifying the biblical canon