Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 14
The Seven Ecumenical Councils
SECTION 121
Canon VII.
Canon VII. We have decreed that those who have once been enrolled among the clergy, or have been made monks, shall accept neither a military charge nor any secular dignity; and if they shall presume to do so and not repent in such wise as to turn again to that which they had first chosen for the love of God, they shall be anath…
1,108 wordsSECTION 122Canon IX.
Canon IX. If any Clergyman have a matter against another clergyman, he shall not forsake his bishop and run to secular courts; but let him first lay open the matter before his own Bishop, or let the matter be submitted to any person whom each of the parties may, with the Bishop's consent, select. And if any one shall contravene…
967 wordsSECTION 123Canon X.
Canon X. It shall not be lawful for a clergyman to be at the same time enrolled in the churches of two cities, that is, in the church in which he was at first ordained, and in another to which, because it is greater, he has removed from lust of empty honour. And those who do so shall be returned to their own church in which the…
980 wordsSECTION 124Canon XII.
Canon XII. It has come to our knowledge that certain persons, contrary to the laws of the Church, having had recourse to secular powers, have by means of imperial rescripts divided one Province into two, so that there are consequently two metropolitans in one province; therefore the holy Synod has decreed that for the future no…
1,238 wordsSECTION 125Canon XIII.
Canon XIII. Strange and unknown clergymen without letters commendatory from their own Bishop, are absolutely prohibited from officiating in another city. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon XIII. No cleric shall be received to communion in another city without a letter commendatory. "Unknown clergymen." I have here followed the…
792 wordsSECTION 126Canon XV.
Canon XV. A woman shall not receive the laying on of hands as a deaconess under forty years of age, and then only after searching examination. And if, after she has had hands laid on her and has continued for a time to minister, she shall despise the grace of God and give herself in marriage, she shall be anathematized and the …
955 wordsSECTION 127Canon XVIII.
Canon XVIII. The crime of conspiracy or banding together is utterly prohibited even by the secular law, and much more ought it to be forbidden in the Church of God. Therefore, if any, whether clergymen or monks, should be detected in conspiring or banding together, or hatching plots against their bishops or fellow-clergy, they …
751 wordsSECTION 128Canon XX.
Canon XX. It shall not be lawful, as we have already decreed, for clergymen officiating in one church to be appointed to the church of another city, but they shall cleave to that in which they were first thought worthy to minister; those, however, being excepted, who have been driven by necessity from their own country, and hav…
832 wordsSECTION 129Canon XXIII.
Canon XXIII. It has come to the hearing of the holy Synod that certain clergymen and monks, having no authority from their own bishop, and sometimes, indeed, while under sentence of excommunication by him, betake themselves to the imperial Constantinople, and remain there for a long time, raising disturbances and troubling the …
940 wordsSECTION 130Canon XXV.
Canon XXV. Forasmuch as certain of the metropolitans, as we have heard, neglect the flocks committed to them, and delay the ordinations of bishops the holy Synod has decided that the ordinations of bishops shall take place within three months, unless an inevitable necessity should some time require the term of delay to be prolo…
1,397 wordsSECTION 131Canon XXVII.
Canon XXVII. The holy Synod has decreed that those who forcibly carry off women under pretence of marriage, and the aiders or abettors of such ravishers, shall be degraded if clergymen, and if laymen be anathematized. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon XXVII. If a clergyman elope with a woman, let him be expelled from the Churc…
2,256 wordsSECTION 132Canon XXIX.
From the Acts of the same Holy Synod concerning Photius, Bishop of Tyre, and Eustathius, Bishop of Berytus. The most magnificent and glorious judges said: What is determined by the Holy Synod [in the matter of the Bishops ordained by the most religious Bishop Photius, but removed by the most religious Bishop Eustathius and ord…
2,238 wordsSECTION 133The same secretary read from the same codex the determination of the Second Synod. "These things the bishops decreed who assembled by the gr
The same secretary read from the same codex the determination of the Second Synod. "These things the bishops decreed who assembled by the grace of God in Constantinople from far separated provinces,...and bishops are not to go to churches which are outside the bounds of their dioceses, nor to confound the churches, but according…
2,538 wordsSECTION 134Such was the decree of Vigilius, issued upon the authority with which he was invested. But the council, after his Constitution, both raised
Such was the decree of Vigilius, issued upon the authority with which he was invested. But the council, after his Constitution, both raised a question about the Three Chapters, and decided that question was properly raised concerning the dead, and that the letter of Ibas was manifestly heretical and Nestorian, and contrary in al…
2,291 wordsSECTION 135Yesterday Vigilius sent Servus Dei, a most reverend Subdeacon of the Roman Church, and invited Belisarius, [306] Cethegus, as also Justinus
Yesterday Vigilius sent Servus Dei, a most reverend Subdeacon of the Roman Church, and invited Belisarius, [306] Cethegus, as also Justinus and Constantine the most glorious consuls, as well as bishops Theodore, Ascidas, Benignus, and Phocas, to come to him as he wished to give through them an answer to the Emperor. They came, b…
2,307 wordsSECTION 136O intolerable tongue! O the depravity of the man! O that high hand he lifted up against his Creator! For the wretched man who had promised t
O intolerable tongue! O the depravity of the man! O that high hand he lifted up against his Creator! For the wretched man who had promised to know the Scriptures, had no recollection of the words of the Prophet Hosea, "Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: they are become famous because they were impious as touching me; the…
2,295 wordsSECTION 137For this they observed in the case of Theodoret, and required him to anathematize those things of which he was accused. If therefore they we
For this they observed in the case of Theodoret, and required him to anathematize those things of which he was accused. If therefore they were willing to allow the reception of Ibas in no other manner unless he condemned the impiety which was contained in his letters, and subscribed the definition of faith adopted by the Council…
2,229 wordsSECTION 138Notes.
Notes. Hefele. (Hist. Councils, Vol. iv., p. 336.) Halloix, Garnier, Basnage, Walch and others suppose, and Vincenzi maintains with great zeal, that the name of Origen is a later insertion in this anathematism, because (a) Theodore Ascidas, the Origenist, was one of the most influential members of the Synod, and would certain…
2,329 wordsSECTION 139[312] Hefele. Hist. Councils, Vol. IV., p. 230, note.
[312] Hefele. Hist. Councils, Vol. IV., p. 230, note. [313] Hefele. Hist. Councils, Vol. IV., p. 223. [314] Speech of Ascidas in the V. Session. [315] Harnack. Hist. of Dogma, Vol. IV., n. 249 (Eng. Trans.). [316] Ibid., p. 245, note 2. [317] Ibid., p. 349. The Anathemas Against Origen. I. If anyone asserts the fabulous …
2,266 wordsSECTION 140But since Christ our God, who is the true light, whom the darkness comprehendeth not, hath removed all confusion from our minds, and hath so
But since Christ our God, who is the true light, whom the darkness comprehendeth not, hath removed all confusion from our minds, and hath so recalled peace to the whole world and to the Church, so that what things should be defined by us have been healthfully fulfilled through the revelation of the Lord and through the investiga…
2,383 wordsSECTION 141Extracts from the Acts.
Extracts from the Acts. Session I. (Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VI., col. 609 et seqq.) [After a history of the assembly of the Council, the Acts begin with the Speech of the Papal Legates, as follows:] Most benign lord, in accordance with the Sacra to our most holy Pope [325] from your God-instructed majesty, we have …
2,697 wordsSECTION 142This is the pure expression of piety. This is the true and immaculate profession of the Christian religion, not invented by human cunning, b
This is the pure expression of piety. This is the true and immaculate profession of the Christian religion, not invented by human cunning, but which was taught by the Holy Ghost through the princes of the Apostles. This is the firm and irreprehensible doctrine of the holy Apostles, the integrity of the sincere piety of which, so…
2,564 wordsSECTION 143In this disputation this venerable Father shews that when the Lord says "his own" he means the will of his humanity, and when he says not to
In this disputation this venerable Father shews that when the Lord says "his own" he means the will of his humanity, and when he says not to do "his own will," he teaches us not chiefly to seek our own wills but that through obedience we should submit our wills to the Divine Will. From all which it is evident that he had a human…
2,338 wordsSECTION 144And these things we have taken pains to insert in the tractate of our humility, for we have been afflicted and have groaned without ceasing
And these things we have taken pains to insert in the tractate of our humility, for we have been afflicted and have groaned without ceasing that such grievous errors should be entertained by bishops of the Church, who are zealous to establish their own peculiar views rather than the truth of the faith, and think that our sincere…
2,416 wordsSECTION 145Moreover we confess that one of the same holy consubstantial Trinity, God the Word, who was begotten of the Father before the worlds, in the
Moreover we confess that one of the same holy consubstantial Trinity, God the Word, who was begotten of the Father before the worlds, in the last days of the world for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Ghost, and of our Lady, the holy, immaculate, ever-virgin and glorious Mary, truly a…
2,394 wordsSECTION 146The Nicene Creed of the 318 holy Fathers.
The Nicene Creed of the 318 holy Fathers. We believe, etc. The Creed of the 150 holy Fathers assembled at Constantinople. We believe, etc. The holy and Ecumenical Synod further says, this pious and orthodox Creed of the Divine grace would be sufficient for the full knowledge and confirmation of the orthodox faith. But as the …
2,273 wordsSECTION 147Letter of the Council to St. Agatho.
[Then follow numerous compliments to the Emperor and prayers for his preservation.] Letter of the Council to St. Agatho. (Found in Migne, Pat. Lat., Tom. LXXXVII., col. 1247 et seqq.; and Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VI., col. 1071 et seqq.) A copy of the letter sent by the holy and Ecumenical Sixth Council to Agatho, th…
2,224 wordsSECTION 14811. Honorius's name was found in the Roman copy of the Acts. This is evident from Anastasius's life of Leo II. (Vita Leonis II.)
11. Honorius's name was found in the Roman copy of the Acts. This is evident from Anastasius's life of Leo II. (Vita Leonis II.) 12. The Papal Oath as found in the Liber Diurnus [338] taken by each new Pope from the fifth to the eleventh century, in the form probably prescribed by Gregory II., "smites with eternal anathema the …
2,219 wordsSECTION 149Canon I.
Upon this passage of Gratian's the Roman Correctors have a long and interesting note, with quotations from Anastasius, which should be read with care by the student but is too long to cite here. I close with some eminently wise remarks by Prof. Michaud. (E. Michaud, Discussion sur les Sept Conciles OEcuméniques, p. 272.) Upon…
1,769 wordsSECTION 150Canon II.
Canon II. It has also seemed good to this holy Council, that the eighty-five canons, received and ratified by the holy and blessed Fathers before us, and also handed down to us in the name of the holy and glorious Apostles should from this time forth remain firm and unshaken for the cure of souls and the healing of disorders. A…
924 wordsSECTION 151Canon III.
Canon III. Since our pious and Christian Emperor has addressed this holy and ecumenical council, in order that it might provide for the purity of those who are in the list of the clergy, and who transmit divine things to others, and that they may be blameless ministrants, and worthy of the sacrifice of the great God, who is bot…
1,199 wordsSECTION 152Canon IV.
Canon IV. If any bishop, presbyter, deacon, sub-deacon, lector, cantor, or door-keeper has had intercourse with a woman dedicated to God, let him be deposed, as one who has corrupted a spouse of Christ, but if a layman let him be cut off. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon IV. A cleric coupled to a spouse of God shall be depose…
2,379 wordsSECTION 153Canon VII.
"There is no question of the nullity of the marriages contracted by clerics before 1139. At the Council of the Lateran of that year, Innocent II. declared that these marriages contracted in contempt of the ecclesiastical law are not true marriages in his eyes. His successors do not seem to have insisted much upon this new dirime…
1,137 wordsSECTION 154Canon VIII.
Canon VIII. Since we desire that in every point the things which have been decreed by our holy fathers may also be established and confirmed, we hereby renew the canon which orders that synods of the bishops of each province be held every year where the bishop of the metropolis shall deem best. But since on account of the incur…
799 wordsSECTION 155Canon XII.
Canon XII. Moreover this also has come to our knowledge, that in Africa and Libya and in other places the most God-beloved bishops in those parts do not refuse to live with their wives, even after consecration, thereby giving scandal and offence to the people. Since, therefore, it is our particular care that all things tend to …
1,478 wordsSECTION 156Canon XIV.
Canon XIV. Let the canon of our holy God-bearing Fathers be confirmed in this particular also; that a presbyter be not ordained before he is thirty years of age, even if he be a very worthy man, but let him be kept back. For our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized and began to teach when he was thirty. In like manner let no deacon b…
1,042 wordsSECTION 157Canon XVII.
Canon XVII. Since clerics of different churches have left their own churches in which they were ordained and betaken themselves to other bishops, and without the consent of their own bishop have been settled in other churches, and thus they have proved themselves to be insolent and disobedient; we decree that from the month of …
809 wordsSECTION 158Council of Trent.
Council of Trent. (Sess. V., c. 2.) The preaching of the Gospel is the chief work of bishops. Convocation of Canterbury, a.d. 1571. (Cardwell. Synodalia, Vol. I., p. 126.) The clergy will be careful to teach nothing in their sermons to be religiously held and believed by the people except what is agreeable to the doctrine o…
731 wordsSECTION 159Canon XXIV.
Canon XXIV. No one who is on the priestly catalogue nor any monk is allowed to take part in horse-races or to assist at theatrical representations. But if any clergyman be called to a marriage, as soon as the games begin let him rise up and go out, for so it is ordered by the doctrine of our fathers. And if any one shall be con…
703 wordsSECTION 160Canon XXVIII.
Canon XXVIII. Since we understand that in several churches grapes are brought to the altar, according to a custom which has long prevailed, and the ministers joined this with the unbloody sacrifice of the oblation, and distributed both to the people at the same time, we decree that no priest shall do this for the future, but sh…
950 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.