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Canon 1
The Faith of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Fathers assembled at Nice in
Bithynia shall not be set aside, but shall remain firm. And every heresy shall
be anathematized, particularly that of the Eunomians or [Anomæans, the Arians
or] Eudoxians, and that of the Semi-Arians or Pneumatomachi, and that of the
Sabellians, and that of the Marcellians, and that of the Photinians, and that of
the Apollinarians.
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Canon 2
The bishops are not to go beyond their dioceses to churches lying outside of
their bounds, nor bring confusion on the churches; but let the Bishop of
Alexandria, according to the canons, alone administer the affairs of Egypt; and
let the bishops of the East manage the East alone, the privileges of the Church
in Antioch, which are mentioned in the canons of Nice, being preserved; and let
the bishops of the Asian Diocese administer the Asian affairs only; and the
Pontic bishops only Pontic matters; and the Thracian bishops only Thracian
affairs. And let not bishops go beyond their dioceses for ordination or any
other ecclesiastical ministrations, unless they be invited. And the aforesaid
canon concerning dioceses being observed, it is evident that the synod of every
province will administer the affairs of that particular province as was decreed
at Nice. But the Churches of God in heathen nations must be governed according
to the custom which has prevailed from the times of the Fathers.
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Canon 3
The Bishop of Constantinople, however, shall have the prerogative of honour
after the Bishop of Rome; because Constantinople is New Rome.
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Canon 4
Concerning Maximus the Cynic and the disorder which has happened in
Constantinople on his account, it is decreed that Maximus never was and is not
now a Bishop; that those who have been ordained by him are in no order whatever
of the clergy; since all which has been done concerning him or by him, is
declared to be invalid.
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Canon 5
In regard to the tome of the Western [Bishops], we receive those in Antioch also
who confess the unity of the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost.
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Canon 6
Forasmuch as many wishing to confuse and overturn ecclesiastical order, do
contentiously and slanderously fabricate charges against the orthodox bishops
who have the administration of the Churches, intending nothing else than to
stain the reputation of the priests and raise up disturbances amongst the
peaceful laity; therefore it seemed right to the Holy Synod of Bishops assembled
together in Constantinople, not to admit accusers without examination; and
neither to allow all persons whatsoever to bring accusations against the rulers
of the Church, nor, on the other hand, to exclude all. If then, any one shall
bring a private complaint against the Bishop, that is, one relating to his own
affairs, as, for example, that he has been defrauded, or otherwise unjustly
treated by him, in such accusations no examination shall be made, either of the
person or of the religion of the accuser; for it is by all means necessary that
the conscience of the Bishop should be free, and that he who says he has been
wronged should meet with righteous judgment, of whatever religion he may be. But
if the charge alleged against the Bishop be that of some ecclesiastical offence,
then it is necessary to examine carefully the persons of the accusers, so that,
in the first place, heretics may not be suffered to bring accusations touching
ecclesiastical matters against orthodox bishops. And by heretics we mean both
those who were aforetime cast out and those whom we ourselves have since
anathematized, and also those professing to hold the true faith who have
separated from our canonical bishops, and set up conventicles in opposition [to
them]. Moreover, if there be any who have been condemned for faults and cast out
of the Church, or excommunicated, whether of the clergy or the laity, neither
shall it be lawful for these to bring an accusation against the bishop, until
they have cleared away the charge against themselves. In like manner, persons
who are under previous accusations are not to be permitted to bring charges
against a bishop or any other clergyman, until they shall have proved their own
innocence of the accusation brought against them. But if any, being neither
heretics, nor excommunicate, nor condemned, nor under previous accusation for
alleged faults, should declare that they have any ecclesiastical charge against
the bishop, the Holy Synod bids them first lay their charges before all the
Bishops of the Province, and before them prove the accusations, whatsoever they
may be, which they have brought against the bishop. And if the comprovincials
should be unable rightly to settle the charges brought against the bishop, then
the parties must betake themselves to a greater synod of the bishops of that
diocese called together for this purpose; and they shall not produce their
allegations before they have promised in writing to undergo an equal penalty to
be exacted from themselves, if, in the course of the examination, they shall be
proved to have slandered the accused bishop. And if anyone, despising what has
been decreed concerning these things, shall presume to annoy the ears of the
Emperor, or the courts of temporal judges, or, to the dishonour of all the
Bishops of his Province, shall trouble an Ecumenical Synod, such an one shall by
no means be admitted as an accuser; forasmuch as he has cast contempt upon the
Canons, and brought reproach upon the order of the Church.
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Canon 7
Those who from heresy turn to orthodoxy, and to the portion of those who are
being saved, we receive according to the following method and custom: Arians,
and Macedonians, and Sabbatians, and Novatians, who call themselves Cathari or
Aristori, and Quarto-decimans or Tetradites, and Apollinarians, we receive, upon
their giving a written renunciation [of their errors] and anathematize every
heresy which is not in accordance with the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church
of God. Thereupon, they are first sealed or anointed with the holy oil upon the
forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, and ears; and when we seal them, we say, “The
Seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost.” But Eunomians, who are baptized with only
one immersion, and Montanists, who are here called Phrygians, and Sabellians,
who teach the identity of Father and Son, and do sundry other mischievous
things, and [the partisans of] all other heresies—for there are many such here,
particularly among those who come from the country of the Galatians:—all these,
when they desire to turn to orthodoxy, we receive as heathen. On the first day
we make them Christians; on the second, catechumens; on the third, we exorcise
them by breathing thrice in their face and ears; and thus we instruct them and
oblige them to spend some time in the Church, and to hear the Scriptures; and
then we baptize them.
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