He seized (according to Zosimus) the funds bestowed by the public for the expense of sacrifices.

The public sacrifices ceased, not because they were positively prohibited, but because the public treasury would no longer bear the expense.

The public and the private sacrifices in the provinces, which were not under the same regulations with those of the capital, continued to take place.

In Rome itself, many pagan ceremonies, which were without sacrifice, remained in full force.

The gods, therefore, were invoked, the temples were frequented, the pontificates inscribed, according to ancient usage, among the family titles of honor; and it cannot be asserted that idolatry was completely destroyed by Theodosius.