The emperors of the 4th century made several attempts to stamp out by
edict the old pagan religion, which, with its accompaniment of
festivals, oracles and mysteries, still maintained an outward appearance
of vigour, and, along with the philosophy in which the intellectual
classes found comfort, retained the affection of the Greeks. Except for
the decree of Theodosius I. by which the Olympian games were interdicted
(394), these measures had no great effect, and indeed were not
rigorously enforced. Paganism survived in Greece till about 600, but the
interchange of ideas and practices which the long-continued contact with
Christianity had effected considerably modified its character. Hence the
Christian religion, though slow in making its way, eventually gained a
sure footing among a nation which accepted it spontaneously. The hold of
the Church upon the Greeks was strengthened by the judicious manner in
which the clergy, unsupported by official patronage and often out of
sympathy with the Arian emperors, identified itself with the interests
of the people. Though in the days when the orthodox Church found favour
at court corruption spread among its higher branches, the clergy as a
whole rendered conspicuous service in opposing the arbitrary
interferences of the central government and in upholding the use of the
Hellenic tongue, together with some rudiments of Hellenic culture.