Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 14
The Seven Ecumenical Councils
SECTION 161
Canon XXXI.
Canon XXXI. Clerics who in oratories which are in houses offer the Holy Mysteries or baptize, we decree ought to do this with the consent of the bishop of the place. Wherefore if any cleric shall not have so done, let him be deposed. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon XXXI. Thou mayest not offer in an oratory in a private house…
1,137 wordsSECTION 162Canon XXXIII.
Canon XXXIII. Since we know that, in the region of the Armenians, only those are appointed to the clerical orders who are of priestly descent (following in this Jewish customs); and some of those who are even untonsured are appointed to succeed cantors and readers of the divine law, we decree that henceforth it shall not be law…
916 wordsSECTION 163Canon XXXVII.
Canon XXXVII. Since at different times there have been invasions of barbarians, and therefore very many cities have been subjected to the infidels, so that the bishop of a city may not be able, after he has been ordained, to take possession of his see, and to be settled in it in sacerdotal order, and so to perform and manage fo…
882 wordsSECTION 164Canon XL.
Canon XL. Since to cleave to God by retiring from the noise and turmoil of life is very beneficial, it behoves us not without examination to admit before the proper time those who choose the monastic life, but to observe respecting them the limit handed down by our fathers, in order that we may then admit a profession of the li…
1,063 wordsSECTION 165Canon XLII.
Canon XLII. Those who are called Eremites and are clothed in black robes, and with long hair go about cities and associate with the worldly both men and women and bring odium upon their profession--we decree that if they will receive the habit of other monks and wear their hair cut short, they may be shut up in a monastery and …
964 wordsSECTION 166Canon XLVI.
Canon XLVI. Those women who choose the ascetic life and are settled in monasteries may by no means go forth of them. If, however, any inexorable necessity compels them, let them do so with the blessing and permission of her who is mother superior; and even then they must not go forth alone, but with some old women who are emine…
716 wordsSECTION 167Canon L.
Canon L. No one at all, whether cleric or layman, is from this time forward to play at dice. And if any one hereafter shall be found doing so, if he be a cleric he is to be deposed, if a layman let him be cut off. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon L. A layman should not play at dice. This renews canons xlii. and xliij. of the…
1,239 wordsSECTION 168Canon LIII.
Canon LIII. Whereas the spiritual relationship is greater than fleshly affinity; and since it has come to our knowledge that in some places certain persons who become sponsors to children in holy salvation-bearing baptism, afterwards contract matrimony with their mothers (being widows), we decree that for the future nothing of …
763 wordsSECTION 169Canon LVI.
Canon LVI. We have likewise learned that in the regions of Armenia and in other places certain people eat eggs and cheese on the Sabbaths and Lord's days of the holy lent. It seems good therefore that the whole Church of God which is in all the world should follow one rule and keep the fast perfectly, and as they abstain from e…
731 wordsSECTION 170Canon LXI.
Canon LXI. Those who give themselves up to soothsayers or to those who are called hecatontarchs or to any such, in order that they may learn from them what things [376] they wish to have revealed to them, let all such, according to the decrees lately made by the Fathers concerning them, be subjected to the canon of six years. A…
737 wordsSECTION 171Canon LXIII.
Canon LXIII. We forbid to be publicly read in Church, histories of the martyrs which have been falsely put together by the enemies of the truth, in order to dishonour the martyrs of Christ and induce unbelief among those who hear them, but we order that such books be given to the flames. But those who accept them or apply their…
703 wordsSECTION 172Canon LXVI.
Canon LXVI. From the holy day of the Resurrection of Christ our God until the next Lord's day, for a whole week, in the holy churches the faithful ought to be free from labour, rejoicing in Christ with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; and celebrating the feast, and applying their minds to the reading of the holy Scriptures…
1,000 wordsSECTION 173Canon LXX.
Canon LXX. Women are not permitted to speak at the time of the Divine Liturgy; but, according to the word of Paul the Apostle, "let them be silent. For it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law also saith. But if they wish to learn anything let them ask their own husbands at home." Notes. Ancie…
705 wordsSECTION 174Canon LXXIII.
Canon LXXIII. Since the life-giving cross has shewn to us Salvation, we should be careful that we render due honour to that by which we were saved from the ancient fall. Wherefore, in mind, in word, in feeling giving veneration (proskunesin) to it, we command that the figure of the cross, which some have placed on the floor, be…
798 wordsSECTION 175Canon LXXVIII.
Canon LXXVIII. It behoves those who are illuminated to learn the Creed by heart and to recite it to the bishop or presbyters on the Fifth Feria of the Week. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon LXXVIII. He that is illuminated is to recite (apangelleto ) the faith on the fifth feria of the week. This is a renewal of canon xlvi. o…
1,165 wordsSECTION 176Canon LXXXII.
Canon LXXXII. In some pictures of the venerable icons, a lamb is painted to which the Precursor points his finger, which is received as a type of grace, indicating beforehand through the Law, our true Lamb, Christ our God. Embracing therefore the ancient types and shadows as symbols of the truth, and patterns given to the Churc…
709 wordsSECTION 177Canon LXXXVII.
Canon LXXXVII. She who has left her husband is an adulteress if she has come to another, according to the holy and divine Basil, who has gathered this most excellently from the prophet Jeremiah: "If a woman has become another man's, her husband shall not return to her, but being defiled she shall remain defiled;" and again, "He…
774 wordsSECTION 178Canon XCI.
Canon XCI. Those who give drugs for procuring abortion, and those who receive poisons to kill the foetus, are subjected to the penalty of murder. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon XCI. Whoever gives or receives medicine to produce abortion is a homicide. See Canon XXI. of Ancyra, and Canon II. of St. Basil; to wit, "She who p…
1,233 wordsSECTION 179Canon XCVI.
Canon XCVI. Those who by baptism have put on Christ have professed that they will copy his manner of life which he led in the flesh. Those therefore who adorn and arrange their hair to the detriment of those who see them, that is by cunningly devised intertwinings, and by this means put a bait in the way of unstable souls, we t…
701 wordsSECTION 180Canon XCIX.
Canon XCIX. We have further learned that, in the regions of the Armenians, certain persons boil joints of meat within the sanctuary and offer portions to the priests, distributing it after the Jewish fashion. Wherefore, that we may keep the church undefiled, we decree that it is not lawful for any priest to seize the separate p…
702 wordsSECTION 181Canon CII.
Canon CII. It behoves those who have received from God the power to loose and bind, to consider the quality of the sin and the readiness of the sinner for conversion, and to apply medicine suitable for the disease, lest if he is injudicious in each of these respects he should fail in regard to the healing of the sick man. For t…
1,947 wordsSECTION 182Canon I.
Canon I. (Greek.) Hosius, bishop of the city of Corduba, said: A prevalent evil, or rather most mischievous corruption must be done away with from its very foundations. Let no bishop be allowed to remove from a small city to a different one: as there is an obvious reason for this fault, accounting for such attempts; since no b…
1,135 wordsSECTION 183Canon III.
Canon III. (Greek.) Bishop Hosius said: This also it is necessary to add,--that no bishop pass from his own province to another province in which there are bishops, unless indeed he be called by his brethren, that we seem not to close the gates of charity. And this case likewise is to be provided for, that if in any province …
1,140 wordsSECTION 184Canon IV.
Canon IV. (Greek.) Bishop Gaudentius said: If it seems good to you, it is necessary to add to this decision full of sincere charity which thou hast pronounced, that [390] if any bishop be deposed by the sentence of these neighbouring bishops, and assert that he has fresh matter in defence, a new bishop be not settled in his se…
1,181 wordsSECTION 185Canon VI.
Canon VI. (Greek.) Bishop Hosius said: If it happen that in a province in which there are very many bishops one bishop should stay away and by some negligence should not come to the council and assent to the appointment made by the bishops, but the people assemble and pray that the ordination of the bishop desired by them take…
1,054 wordsSECTION 186Canon VII.
Canon VII. (Greek.) Bishop Hosius said: Our importunity and great pertinacity and unjust petitions have brought it about that we do not have as much favour and confidence as we ought to enjoy. For many of the bishops do not intermit resorting to the imperial Court, especially the Africans, who, as we have learned from our belo…
812 wordsSECTION 187Canon VIII.
Canon VIII. (Greek.) Bishop Hosius said: This also let your sagacity determine, that [391] --inasmuch as this was decreed in order that a bishop might not fall under censure by going to the Court--that if any have such petitions as we mentioned above, they should send these by one of their deacons. For the person of a subordin…
1,150 wordsSECTION 188Canon X.
Canon X. (Greeks.) Bishop Hosius said: This also I think necessary. [393] Ye should consider with all thoroughness and care, that if some rich man or professional advocate be desired for bishop, he be not ordained until he have fulfilled the ministry of reader, deacon, and presbyter, in order that, passing by promotion through…
1,207 wordsSECTION 189Canon XII.
Canon XII. (Greek.) Bishop Hosius said: Since no case should be left unprovided for, let this also be decreed. [395] Some of our brethren and fellow-bishops are known to possess very little private property in the cities in which they are placed as bishops, but have great possessions in other places, with which they are, moreo…
824 wordsSECTION 190Canon XIV.
Canon XIV. (Greek.) Bishop Hosius said: I must not fail to speak of a matter which constantly urgeth me. [397] If a bishop be found quick to anger (which ought not to sway such a man), and he, suddenly moved against a presbyter or deacon, be minded to cast him out of the Church, provision must be made that such a one be not co…
787 wordsSECTION 191Canon XVIII. (Of the Latin.)
Canon XVIII. (Of the Latin.) Bishop Januarius said: Let your holiness also decree this, that no bishop be allowed to try to gain for himself a minister in the church of a bishop of another city and ordain him to one of his own parishes. All said: Such is our pleasure, inasmuch as discord is apt to spring from contentions in th…
841 wordsSECTION 192Canon XVII.
Canon XVII. (Greek.) At the suggestion moreover of our brother Olympius, [401] we are pleased to decree this also: That if a bishop suffer violence and is unjustly cast out either on account of his discipline or for his confession of [the faith of] the Catholic Church or for his defence of the truth, and, fleeing from danger, …
1,470 wordsSECTION 193Canon XII. (Of the Latin Texts.)
Canon XII. (Of the Latin Texts.) Bishop Hosius said: But some discretion is here requisite, brethren dearly beloved, in case some should come to those cities which are on the highway still ignorant of what has been decreed in the council. The bishop of such a city ought therefore to admonish him [a bishop so arriving], and inst…
2,202 wordsSECTION 194Commonly Called
Commonly Called The Code of Canons of the African Church. a.d. 419. Elenchus. Introductory Note. The Canons with the Ancient Epitome and Notes. Introductory Note. An attempt to write a commentary upon all the canons of the African Code, would have meant nothing less than the preparation of one volume or more on the canon …
2,371 wordsSECTION 195Faustinus the bishop, legate of the Roman Church, said: Let not your holiness do dishonour to the Roman Church, either in this matter or in
Faustinus the bishop, legate of the Roman Church, said: Let not your holiness do dishonour to the Roman Church, either in this matter or in any other, by saying the canons are doubtful, as our brother and fellow-bishop Alypius has vouchsafed to say: but do you deign to write these things to our holy and most blessed pope, so tha…
1,235 wordsSECTION 196Canon I.
Canon I. That the statutes of the Nicene Council are to be scrupulously observed. Aurelius the bishop said: Such are the statutes of the Nicene Council, which our fathers at that time brought back with them: and preserving this form, let these things which follow, adopted and confirmed by us, be kept firm. Notes. Ancient Epi…
919 wordsSECTION 197Canon VI.
Canon VI. That the chrism should not be made by presbyters. Fortunatus the bishop, said: In former councils we remember that it was decreed that the chrism or the reconciliation of penitents, as also the consecration of virgins be not done by presbyters: but should anyone be discovered to have done this, what ought we to decre…
751 wordsSECTION 198Canon X.
Canon X. Of presbyters who are corrected by their own bishops. Alypius the bishop, a legate of the province of Numidia, said: Nor should this be passed over; if by chance any presbyter when corrected by his bishop, inflamed by self-conceit or pride, has thought fit to offer sacrifices to God separately [from the authority of t…
777 wordsSECTION 199Canon XIII.
Canon XIII. That a bishop should not be ordained except by many bishops, but if there should be necessity he may be ordained by three. Bishop Aurelius said: What says your holiness on this matter? By all the bishops it was answered: The decrees of the ancients must be observed by us, to wit, that without the consent of the Pri…
764 wordsSECTION 200Canon XVI.
Canon XVI. That no bishop, presbyter or deacon should be a "conductor;" and that Readers should take wives; and that the clergy should abstain from usury; and at what age they or virgins should be consecrated. Likewise it seemed good that bishops, presbyters, and deacons should not be "conductors" or "procurators;" nor seek th…
905 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.