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Kim, Young Richard, The Cambridge Companion to the Council of Nicaea (Cambridge Companions to Religion - 2021) |
Canon 1
If any one in sickness has been subjected by physicians to a surgical operation,
or if he has been castrated by barbarians, let him remain among the clergy; but,
if any one in sound health has castrated himself, it behoves that such an one,
if [already] enrolled among the clergy, should cease [from his ministry], and
that from henceforth no such person should be promoted. But, as it is evident
that this is said of those who wilfully do the thing and presume to castrate
themselves, so if any have been made eunuchs by barbarians, or by their masters,
and should otherwise be found worthy, such men the Canon admits to the clergy.
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Canon 2
Forasmuch as, either from necessity, or through the urgency of individuals, many
things have been done contrary to the Ecclesiastical canon, so that men just
converted from heathenism to the faith, and who have been instructed but a
little while, are straightway brought to the spiritual laver, and as soon as
they have been baptized, are advanced to the episcopate or the presbyterate, it
has seemed right to us that for the time to come no such thing shall be done.
For to the catechumen himself there is need of time and of a longer trial after
baptism. For the apostolical saying is clear, “Not a novice; lest, being lifted
up with pride, he fall into condemnation and the snare of the devil.” But if, as
time goes on, any sensual sin should be found out about the person, and he
should be convicted by two or three witnesses, let him cease from the clerical
office. And whoso shall transgress these [enactments] will imperil his own
clerical position, as a person who presumes to disobey the great Synod.
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Canon 3
The great Synod has stringently forbidden any bishop, presbyter, deacon, or any
one of the clergy whatever, to have a subintroducta dwelling with him, except
only a mother, or sister, or aunt, or such persons only as are beyond all
suspicion.
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Canon 4
It is by all means proper that a bishop should be appointed by all the bishops
in the province; but should this be difficult, either on account of urgent
necessity or because of distance, three at least should meet together, and the
suffrages of the absent [bishops] also being given and communicated in writing,
then the ordination should take place. But in every province the ratification of
what is done should be left to the Metropolitan.
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Canon 5
Concerning those, whether of the clergy or of the laity, who have been
excommunicated in the several provinces, let the provision of the canon be
observed by the bishops which provides that persons cast out by some be not
readmitted by others. Nevertheless, inquiry should be made whether they have
been excommunicated through captiousness, or contentiousness, or any such like
ungracious disposition in the bishop. And, that this matter may have due
investigation, it is decreed that in every province synods shall be held twice a
year, in order that when all the bishops of the province are assembled together,
such questions may by them be thoroughly examined, that so those who have
confessedly offended against their bishop, may be seen by all to be for just
cause excommunicated, until it shall seem fit to a general meeting of the
bishops to pronounce a milder sentence upon them. And let these synods be held,
the one before Lent, (that the pure Gift may be offered to God after all
bitterness has been put away), and let the second be held about autumn.
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Canon 6
Let the ancient customs in Egypt, Libya and Pentapolis prevail, that the Bishop
of Alexandria have jurisdiction in all these, since the like is customary for
the Bishop of Rome also. Likewise in Antioch and the other provinces, let the
Churches retain their privileges. And this is to be universally understood, that
if any one be made bishop without the consent of the Metropolitan, the great
Synod has declared that such a man ought not to be a bishop. If, however, two or
three bishops shall from natural love of contradiction, oppose the common
suffrage of the rest, it being reasonable and in accordance with the
ecclesiastical law, then let the choice of the majority prevail.
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Canon 7
Since custom and ancient tradition have prevailed that the Bishop of Aelia
[i.e., Jerusalem] should be honoured, let him, saving its due dignity to the
Metropolis, have the next place of honour.
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Canon 8
Concerning those who call themselves Cathari, if they come over to the Catholic
and Apostolic Church, the great and holy Synod decrees that they who are
ordained shall continue as they are in the clergy. But it is before all things
necessary that they should profess in writing that they will observe and follow
the dogmas of the Catholic and Apostolic Church; in particular that they will
communicate with persons who have been twice married, and with those who having
lapsed in persecution have had a period [of penance] laid upon them, and a time
[of restoration] fixed so that in all things they will follow the dogmas of the
Catholic Church. Wheresoever, then, whether in villages or in cities, all of the
ordained are found to be of these only, let them remain in the clergy, and in
the same rank in which they are found. But if they come over where there is a
bishop or presbyter of the Catholic Church, it is manifest that the Bishop of
the Church must have the bishop’s dignity; and he who was named bishop by those
who are called Cathari shall have the rank of presbyter, unless it shall seem
fit to the Bishop to admit him to partake in the honour of the title. Or, if
this should not be satisfactory, then shall the bishop provide for him a place
as Chorepiscopus, or presbyter, in order that he may be evidently seen to be of
the clergy, and that there may not be two bishops in the city.
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Canon 9
If any presbyters have been advanced without examination, or if upon examination
they have made confession of crime, and men acting in violation of the canon
have laid hands upon them, notwithstanding their confession, such the canon does
not admit; for the Catholic Church requires that [only] which is blameless.
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Canon 10
If any who have lapsed have been ordained through the ignorance, or even with
the previous knowledge of the ordainers, this shall not prejudice the canon of
the Church; for when they are discovered they shall be deposed.
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Canon 11
Concerning those who have fallen without compulsion, without the spoiling of
their property, without danger or the like, as happened during the tyranny of
Licinius, the Synod declares that, though they have deserved no clemency, they
shall be dealt with mercifully. As many as were communicants, if they heartily
repent, shall pass three years among the hearers; for seven years they shall be
prostrators; and for two years they shall communicate with the people in
prayers, but without oblation.
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Canon 12
As many as were called by grace, and displayed the first zeal, having cast aside
their military girdles, but afterwards returned, like dogs, to their own vomit,
(so that some spent money and by means of gifts regained their military
stations); let these, after they have passed the space of three years as
hearers, be for ten years prostrators. But in all these cases it is necessary to
examine well into their purpose and what their repentance appears to be like.
For as many as give evidence of their conversions by deeds, and not pretence,
with fear, and tears, and perseverance, and good works, when they have fulfilled
their appointed time as hearers, may properly communicate in prayers; and after
that the bishop may determine yet more favourably concerning them. But those who
take [the matter] with indifference, and who think the form of [not] entering
the Church is sufficient for their conversion, must fulfil the whole time.
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Canon 13
Concerning the departing, the ancient canonical law is still to be maintained,
to wit, that, if any man be at the point of death, he must not be deprived of
the last and most indispensable Viaticum. But, if any one should be restored to
health again who has received the communion when his life was despaired of, let
him remain among those who communicate in prayers only. But in general, and in
the case of any dying person whatsoever asking to receive the Eucharist, let the
Bishop, after examination made, give it him.
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Canon 14
Concerning catechumens who have lapsed, the holy and great Synod has decreed
that, after they have passed three years only as hearers, they shall pray with
the catechumens.
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Canon 15
On account of the great disturbance and discords that occur, it is decreed that
the custom prevailing in certain places contrary to the Canon, must wholly be
done away; so that neither bishop, presbyter, nor deacon shall pass from city to
city. And if any one, after this decree of the holy and great Synod, shall
attempt any such thing, or continue in any such course, his proceedings shall be
utterly void, and he shall be restored to the Church for which he was ordained
bishop or presbyter.
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Canon 16
Neither presbyters, nor deacons, nor any others enrolled among the clergy, who,
not having the fear of God before their eyes, nor regarding the ecclesiastical
Canon, shall recklessly remove from their own church, ought by any means to be
received by another church; but every constraint should be applied to restore
them to their own parishes; and, if they will not go, they must be
excommunicated. And if anyone shall dare surreptitiously to carry off and in his
own Church ordain a man belonging to another, without the consent of his own
proper bishop, from whom although he was enrolled in the clergy list he has
seceded, let the ordination be void.
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Canon 17
Forasmuch as many enrolled among the Clergy, following covetousness and lust of
gain, have forgotten the divine Scripture, which says, “He hath not given his
money upon usury,” and in lending money ask the hundredth of the sum [as monthly
interest], the holy and great Synod thinks it just that if after this decree any
one be found to receive usury, whether he accomplish it by secret transaction or
otherwise, as by demanding the whole and one half, or by using any other
contrivance whatever for filthy lucre’s sake, he shall be deposed from the
clergy and his name stricken from the list.
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Canon 18
It has come to the knowledge of the holy and great Synod that, in some districts
and cities, the deacons administer the Eucharist to the presbyters, whereas
neither canon nor custom permits that they who have no right to offer should
give the Body of Christ to them that do offer. And this also has been made
known, that certain deacons now touch the Eucharist even before the bishops. Let
all such practices be utterly done away, and let the deacons remain within their
own bounds, knowing that they are the ministers of the bishop and the inferiors
of the presbyters. Let them receive the Eucharist according to their order,
after the presbyters, and let either the bishop or the presbyter administer to
them. Furthermore, let not the deacons sit among the presbyters, for that is
contrary to canon and order. And if, after this decree, any one shall refuse to
obey, let him be deposed from the diaconate.
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Canon 19
Concerning the Paulianists who have flown for refuge to the Catholic Church, it
has been decreed that they must by all means be rebaptized; and if any of them
who in past time have been numbered among their clergy should be found blameless
and without reproach, let them be rebaptized and ordained by the Bishop of the
Catholic Church; but if the examination should discover them to be unfit, they
ought to be deposed. Likewise in the case of their deaconesses, and generally in
the case of those who have been enrolled among their clergy, let the same form
be observed. And we mean by deaconesses such as have assumed the habit, but who,
since they have no imposition of hands, are to be numbered only among the laity.
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Canon 20
Forasmuch as there are certain persons who kneel on the Lord’s Day and in the
days of Pentecost, therefore, to the intent that all things may be uniformly
observed everywhere (in every parish), it seems good to the holy Synod that
prayer be made to God standing.
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