Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 14
The Seven Ecumenical Councils
SECTION 201
Canon XIX. (Greek xxii.) [425]
Canon XIX. (Greek xxii.) [425] That if any bishop is accused the cause should be brought before the primate of his own province. Aurelius, the bishop, said: Whatever bishop is accused the accuser shall bring the case before the primates of the province to which the accused belongs, and he shall not be suspended from communion …
711 wordsSECTION 202Canon XXII. (Greek xxv.)
Canon XXII. (Greek xxv.) That bishops or other clergymen shall give nothing to those who are not Catholics. And that to those who are not Catholic Christians, even if they be blood relations, neither bishops nor clergymen shall give anything at all by way of donation of their possessions. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon XXII…
853 wordsSECTION 203Canon XXVI. (Greek xxix.)
Canon XXVI. (Greek xxix.) That no one should take from the possessions of the Church. [428] Likewise it seemed good that no one should sell anything belonging to the Church: that if there was no revenue, and other great necessity urged thereto, this might be brought before the Metropolitan of the province that he might deliber…
810 wordsSECTION 204Canon XXIX. (Greek xxxii.)
Canon XXIX. (Greek xxxii.) If anyone who is excommunicated shall receive communion before his cause is heard he brings damnation on himself. [432] Likewise it pleased the whole Council that he who shall have been excommunicated for any neglect, whether he be bishop, or any other cleric, and shall have presumed while still unde…
716 wordsSECTION 205Canon XXXIII. (Greek xxxvi.)
Canon XXXIII. (Greek xxxvi.) That presbyters should not sell the goods of the Church in which they are constituted; and that no bishop can rightly use anything the title to which vests in the ecclesiastical maternal centre (matrikos). It also seemed good that presbyters should not sell the ecclesiastical property where they ar…
912 wordsSECTION 206Canon XXXIV. (Greek xxxvii.)
Canon XXXIV. (Greek xxxvii.) That nothing of those things enacted in the Synod of Hippo is to be corrected. Bishop Epigonius said: In this summary (Breviarium) which was adopted at the Synod of Hippo, we think nothing should be amended, nor anything added thereto except that the day on which the holy Feast of Easter falls shou…
732 wordsSECTION 207Canon XXXIX. (Greek xlii.)
Canon XXXIX. (Greek xlii.) That a bishop should not be called the chief of the priests. [441] That the bishop of the first see shall not be called Prince of the Priests or High Priest (Summus Sacerdos) or any other name of this kind, but only Bishop of the First See. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon XXXIX. The first bishop s…
715 wordsSECTION 208Canon XLIII. (Greek xlvi.)
Canon XLIII. (Greek xlvi.) Concerning penitents. That to penitents the times of their penance shall be assigned by the will of the bishop according to the difference of their sins; and that a presbyter shall not reconcile a penitent without consulting the bishop, unless the absence of the bishop urges him necessarily thereto. …
968 wordsSECTION 209Canon XLVIII. (Greek lii.)
Canon XLVIII. (Greek lii.) Of rebaptisms, reordinations, and translations of bishops. But we suggest that we decree what was set forth by the wisdom of the plenary synod at Capua, that no rebaptisings, nor reordinations should take place, and that bishops should not be translated. For Cresconius, bishop of Villa Regis, left hi…
880 wordsSECTION 210Canon L. (Greek liv.)
Canon L. (Greek liv.) How many bishops should be added to the number of those ordaining, if any opposition had been made to the one to be ordained. But this should be decreed, that when we shall have met together to choose a bishop, if any opposition shall arise, because such things have been treated by us, the three shall not…
875 wordsSECTION 211Canon LIII. (Greek lvii.)
Canon LIII. (Greek lvii.) That dioceses should not receive a bishop except by the consent of its own bishop. Epigonius, the bishop, said: In many councils it has been decreed by the sacerdotal assembly that such communities as are contained in other dioceses and ruled by their bishops, and which never had any bishops of their …
1,028 wordsSECTION 212Canon LV. (Greek lix.)
Canon LV. (Greek lix.) That it be lawful for the bishop of Carthage to ordain a cleric whenever he wishes. Aurelius, the bishop, said: My brethren, pray allow me to speak. It often happens that ecclesiastics who are in need seek deacons [præpositis in the Latin], or presbyters or bishops from me: and I, bearing in mind what th…
738 wordsSECTION 213Canon LVI. (Greek lx.)
Canon LVI. (Greek lx.) That bishops who were ordained for dioceses shall not choose for themselves dioceses [in the Greek provinces]. Honoratus and Urban, the bishops, said: We have heard that it has been decreed that dioceses should not be deemed fit to receive bishops, unless with the consent of their founder: but in our pro…
1,166 wordsSECTION 214Canon LVII. (Greek lxi.)
Canon LVII. (Greek lxi.) That persons baptized when children by the Donatists may be ordained clergymen in the Catholic Church. Since in the former council it was decreed, as your unanimity remembers as well as I do, that those who as children were baptized by the Donatists, and not yet being able to know the pernicious charac…
799 wordsSECTION 215Canon LIX. (Greek lxiii.)
Canon LIX. (Greek lxiii.) That clerics be not compelled to give testimony in public concerning the cognizance of their own judgment. It should be petitioned also that they deign to decree, that if perchance any shall have been willing to plead their cause in any church according to the Apostolic law imposed upon the Churches, …
710 wordsSECTION 216Canon LXII. (Greek lxv.)
Canon LXII. (Greek lxv.) Of condemned clerics. And this should be sought, that they deign to decree that if any clergyman of whatever rank shall have been condemned by the judgment of the bishops for any crime, he may not be defended either by the churches over which he presided, nor by anyone whatever, under pain of loss both…
868 wordsSECTION 217Canon LXVI. (Greek lxix.)
Canon LXVI. (Greek lxix.) That the Donatists are to be treated leniently. Then when all things had been considered and treated of which seem to conduce to the advantage of the church, the Spirit of God suggesting and admonishing us, we determined to act leniently and pacifically with the before-mentioned men, although they wer…
1,278 wordsSECTION 218Canon LXIX. (Greek lxxii.)
Canon LXIX. (Greek lxxii.) That a legation be sent to the Donatists for the sake of making peace. It further seemed good, that when these things were done, legates should be sent from our number to those of the Donatists whom they hold as bishops, or to the people, for the sake of preaching peace and unity, without which Chris…
751 wordsSECTION 219Canon LXXIII. (Greek lxxvi.)
Canon LXXIII. (Greek lxxvi.) The date of Easter and the date of the Council should be announced. Item, it seemed good that the day of the venerable Easter should be intimated to all by the subscription of formed letters; and that the same should be observed with regard to the date of the Council, according to the decree of the…
730 wordsSECTION 220Canon LXXVII. (Greek lxxx.)
Canon LXXVII. (Greek lxxx.) Of Cresconius. Concerning Cresconius of Villa Regis this seemed good to all, that the Primate of Numidia should be informed on this matter so that he should by his letters summon the aforementioned Cresconius in order that at the next plenary Council of Africa he should not put off making an appeara…
717 wordsSECTION 221Canon LXXXI. (Greek lxxxiv.)
Canon LXXXI. (Greek lxxxiv.) Of bishops who appoint heretics or heathens as their heirs. Item, it was ordained that if any bishop should prefer to his Church strangers to blood relationship with him, or his heretical relatives, or pagans as his heirs, he shall be anathematized even after his death, and his name shall by no mea…
1,104 wordsSECTION 222Canon LXXXVI. (Greek lxxxix.)
Canon LXXXVI. (Greek lxxxix.) Of the order of bishops, that those ordained more recently do not dare to take precedence of those ordained before them. Valentine, the bishop, said: If your good patience will permit, I follow the things which were done in time past in the Church of Carthage, and which were illustrious having bee…
783 wordsSECTION 223Canon LXXXVIII. (Greek xci.)
Canon LXXXVIII. (Greek xci.) Of Maximian, the bishop. But in the case of Maximian of Vagai [467] it seemed good that letters be sent from the council both to him and to his people; that he should vacate the bishoprick, and that they should request another to be appointed for them. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon LXXXVIII. L…
1,085 wordsSECTION 224Canon XCI. (Greek xciv.)
Canon XCI. (Greek xciv.) Of holding meetings with the Donatists. Aurelius, the bishop, said: What has come out in the handling of your charity, I think this should be confirmed by ecclesiastical acts. For the profession of all of you shews that each one of us should call together in his city the chiefs of the Donatists either …
809 wordsSECTION 225Canon XCIII. (Greek xcvi.)
Canon XCIII. (Greek xcvi.) The character of the Commonitory which the legates received against the Donatists. The Commonitorium for our brothers Theasius and Evodius, sent as legates from the Council of Carthage to the most glorious and most religious princes. When by the help of the Lord they are come into the presence of the…
1,252 wordsSECTION 226Canon XCIV. (Greek xcvii.)
Canon XCIV. (Greek xcvii.) Summary of Chapters. That a free delegation be sent to the council from all the provinces to Mizoneum. Legates [475] and letters were ordered to be sent for the purpose of directing the free legation: that became the unity had been made only at Carthage, letters should also be given to the judges, th…
1,098 wordsSECTION 227Canon XCVIII. (Greek cii.)
Canon XCVIII. (Greek cii.) Of the peoples which never had bishops. It seemed good that such peoples as had never had bishops of their own should in no way receive such unless it had been decreed in a plenary council of each province and by the primates, and with the consent of the bishop of that diocese to which the church bel…
727 wordsSECTION 228Canon CII. (Greek cv.)
Canon CII. (Greek cv.) Of those who put away their wives or husbands, that so they remain. It seemed good that according to evangelical and apostolical discipline a man who had been put away from his wife, and a woman put away from her husband should not be married to another, but so should remain, or else be reconciled the on…
964 wordsSECTION 229Canon CVII. (Greek cx. continued.)
Canon CVII. (Greek cx. continued.) A Council concerning a bishop taking cognizance. In the consulate of the most glorious Emperors Honorius for the VII^th time and Theodosius for the IIId, Augusti, xvii. Calends of July, a synod was held at Carthage in the basilica of the second region. In this council it seemed good that no o…
912 wordsSECTION 230Canon CXI. (Greek cxiij.)
Canon CXI. (Greek cxiij.) That the grace of God not only gives remission of sins, but also affords aid that we sin no more. Likewise it seemed good, that whoever should say that the grace of God, by which a man is justified through Jesus Christ our Lord, avails only for the remission of past sins, and not for assistance agains…
795 wordsSECTION 231Canon CXV. (Greek cxvi.)
Canon CXV. (Greek cxvi.) That in the Lord's Prayer the Saints say for themselves: "Forgive us our trespasses." It has seemed good that whoever should say that when in the Lord's prayer, the saints say, "forgive us our trespasses," they say this not for themselves, because they have no need of this petition, but for the rest wh…
957 wordsSECTION 232Canon CXIX. (Greek cxx.)
Canon CXIX. (Greek cxx.) That if a bishop shall possess a diocese which he has snatched from heresy for three years, no one may take it from him. Item, it seemed good that if anyone after the laws should convert any place to Catholic unity and retain it for three years without opposition, it should not be taken away from him a…
785 wordsSECTION 233Canon CXXII. (Greek cxxiii.)
Canon CXXII. (Greek cxxiii.) The sentence of the elected judges ought not to be spurned. From the judges chosen by common consent of the parties, no appeal can be taken; and whoever shall be found to have carried such an appeal and contumaciously to be unwilling to submit to the judges, when this has been proved to the primate…
776 wordsSECTION 234Canon CXXVII. (Greek cxxviii.)
Canon CXXVII. (Greek cxxviii.) That bishops be not detained too long in council, let them choose three judges from themselves of the singular provinces. Item, it seemed good, lest all the bishops who are assembled at a council be kept too long, that the whole synod should choose three judges of the several provinces; and they …
875 wordsSECTION 235Canon CXXX. (Greek cxxxi.)
Canon CXXX. (Greek cxxxi.) That he who has failed to prove one charge shall not be allowed to give evidence to another. So, too, it seemed good that as often as many crimes were laid to clerics by their accusers, and one of the first examined could not be proved, [484] they should not be allowed to go on giving evidence on the…
2,017 wordsSECTION 236Canon CXXXV. (Not numbered in the Greek.)
Canon CXXXV. (Not numbered in the Greek.) Here begin the rescripts to the African Council from Cyril bishop of Alexandria in which he sends the authentic proceedings of the Nicene Council, [490] translated from the Greek by Innocent the presbyter: these letters with the same Nicene council were also sent through the aforementio…
799 wordsSECTION 237Canon CXXXVIII. (Not numbered in the Greek.)
Canon CXXXVIII. (Not numbered in the Greek.) Here beginneth the epistle of the African synod to Pope Celestine, bishop of the City of Rome. To the lord and most beloved and our honourable brother Celestine, Aurelius, Palatinus, Antony, Totus, Servusdei, Terentius, Fortunatus, Martin, Januarius, Optatus, Ceticius, Donatus, Thea…
1,166 wordsSECTION 238Council of Constantinople held under Nectarius.
Council of Constantinople held under Nectarius. a.d. 394. Elenchus. Introductory Note. Extracts from the Acts. Ancient Epitome and Notes. Introductory Note. The acts of this Council are found in Balsamon, page 761 of the Paris edition, with Hervetus's translation. Labbe [498] has taken Balsamon's text and inserted it into…
2,120 wordsSECTION 239Epistle LXX.
Epistle LXX. Cyprian, Liberalis, Caldonius, etc., to their brethren Januarius, etc. Greeting. When we were together in council, dearest brethren, we read the letter which you addressed to us respecting those who are thought to be baptized by heretics and schismatics, whether, when they come to the one true Catholic Church, the…
1,056 wordsSECTION 240Introduction.
Introduction. The Sacra to Hadrian. The Sacra read at Session I. Extracts from the Acts, Session I. Session II. Session III. Session IV. Session VI. containing the Epitome of the decree of the iconoclastic Conciliabulum. Excursus On the Conciliabulum. The dogmatic Decree of the Synod. Excursus On the present teaching o…
2,202 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.