The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Title Page

Preface.

General Introduction. I. Method of Treatment.

II. Concerning Ecumenical Councils in General.

III. The Number of the Ecumenical Synods.

Bibliographical Introduction.

Appended Note on the Eastern Editions of Synodical Literature.

Bibliograficeskij Ukazatel' Pecatnyh Izdanij Apostol'skih I Sobornyh Pravil Na Slavjanskom I Russkom Jazykah.

A Bibliographical Index of the Printed Editions of the Canons of the Apostles and of the Councils in the Slavonic and Russian Languages.

Excursus on the History of the Roman Law and Its Relation to the Canon Law.

The First Ecumenical Council. The First Council of Nice.

Historical Introduction.

The Nicene Creed.

Excursus on the Word Homousios.

Excursus on the Words gennethenta ou poiethenta .

The Canons of the 318 Holy Fathers Assembled in the City of Nice, in Bithynia. Canon I.

Excursus on the Use of the Word "Canon."

Canon II. Forasmuch as, either from necessity, or through the urgency of individuals…

Canon III. The great Synod has stringently forbidden any bishop, presbyter…

Canon IV. It is by all means proper that a bishop should be appointed by all the…

Canon V. Concerning those, whether of the clergy or of the laity…

Excursus on the Word Prospherein .

Canon VI. Let the ancient customs in Egypt, Libya and Pentapolis prevail…

Excursus on the Extent of the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome Over the Suburbican Churches.

Canon VII. Since custom and ancient tradition have prevailed that the Bishop of Ælia i.…

Excursus on the Rise of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Canon VIII. Concerning those who call themselves Cathari, if they come over to the Catholic and Apostolic…

Excursus on the Chorepiscopi.

Canon IX. If any presbyters have been advanced without examination, or if upon examination they have made…

Canon X. If any who have lapsed have been ordained through the ignorance…

Canon XI. Concerning those who have fallen without compulsion, without the spoiling of their property…

Excursus on the Public Discipline or Exomologesis of the Early Church.

Canon XII. As many as were called by grace, and displayed the first zeal…

Canon XIII. Concerning the departing, the ancient canonical law is still to be maintained…

Excursus on the Communion of the Sick.

Canon XIV. Concerning catechumens who have lapsed, the holy and great Synod has decreed that…

Canon XV. On account of the great disturbance and discords that occur…

Excursus on the Translation of Bishops.

Canon XVI. Neither presbyters, nor deacons, nor any others enrolled among the clergy…

Canon XVII. Forasmuch as many enrolled among the Clergy, following covetousness and lust of gain…

Excursus on Usury.

Canon XVIII. It has come to the knowledge of the holy and great Synod that…

Canon XIX. Concerning the Paulianists who have flown for refuge to the Catholic Church…

Excursus on the Deaconess of the Early Church.

Canon XX. Forasmuch as there are certain persons who kneel on the Lord's Day and in the…

Excursus on the Number of the Nicene Canons.

The Captions of the Arabic Canons Attributed to the Council of Nice.

Proposed Action on Clerical Celibacy.

The Synodal Letter.

On the Keeping of Easter.

Excursus on the Subsequent History of the Easter Question.

The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods.

Introductory Note to the Canons of the Provincial Synods which in this

The Council of Ancyra.

Historical Note.

The Canons of the Council of Ancyra.

Canon I. With regard to those presbyters who have offered sacrifices and afterwards returned to the conflict…

Canon II. It is likewise decreed that deacons who have sacrificed and afterwards resumed the conflict…

Canon III. Those who have fled and been apprehended, or have been betrayed by their servants…

Canon IV. Concerning those who have been forced to sacrifice, and who…

Canon V. As many, however, as went up in mourning attire and sat down and ate…

Canon VI. Concerning those who have yielded merely upon threat of penalties and of the confiscation of…

Canon VII. Concerning those who have partaken at a heathen feast in a place appointed for heathens…

Canon VIII. Let those who have twice or thrice sacrificed under compulsion…

Canon IX. As many as have not merely apostatized, but have risen against their brethren and forced…

Canon X. They who have been made deacons, declaring when they were ordained that they must marry…

Canon XI. It is decreed that virgins who have been betrothed…

Canon XII. It is decreed that they who have offered sacrifice before their baptism…

Canon XIII. It is not lawful for Chorepiscopi to ordain presbyters or deacons…

Canon XIV. It is decreed that among the clergy, presbyters and deacons who abstain from flesh shall…

Canon XV. Concerning things belonging to the church, which presbyters may have sold when there was no…

Canon XVI. Let those who have been or who are guilty of bestial lusts…

Canon XVII. Defilers of themselves with beasts, being also leprous, who have infected others with the leprosy…

Canon XVIII. If any who have been constituted bishops, but have not been received by the parish…

Canon XIX. If any persons who profess virginity shall disregard their profession…

Excursus on Second Marriages, Called Digamy.

Canon XX. If the wife of anyone has committed adultery or if any man commit adultery it…

Canon XXI. Concerning women who commit fornication, and destroy that which they have conceived…

Canon XXII. Concerning wilful murderers let them remain prostrators; but at the end of life let them…

Canon XXIII. Concerning involuntary homicides, a former decree directs that they be received to full communion after…

Canon XXIV. They who practice divination, and follow the customs of the heathen…

Canon XXV. One who had betrothed a maiden, corrupted her sister…

The Council of Neocæsarea.

Historical Note.

The Canons of the Holy and Blessed Fathers Who Assembled at Neocæsarea, Which are Indeed Later in Date Than Those Made at Ancyra, But More Ancient Than the Nicene: However, the Synod of Nice Has Been Placed Before Them on Account of Its Peculiar Dignity.

Canon I. If a presbyter marry, let him be removed from his order…

Canon II. If a woman shall have married two brothers, let her be cast out i.…

Canon III. Concerning those who fall into many marriages, the appointed time of penance is well known…

Canon IV. If any man lusting after a woman purposes to lie with her…

Canon V. If a catechumen coming into the Church have taken his place in the order of…

Canon VI. Concerning a woman with child, it is determined that she ought to be baptized whensoever…

Canon VII. A presbyter shall not be a guest at the nuptials of persons contracting a second…

Canon VIII. If the wife of a layman has committed adultery and been clearly convicted…

Canon IX. A presbyter who has been promoted after having committed carnal sin…

Canon X. Likewise, if a deacon have fallen into the same sin…

Canon XI. Let not a presbyter be ordained before he is thirty years of age…

Canon XII. If any one be baptized when he is ill…

Canon XIII. Country presbyters may not make the oblation in the church of the city when the…

Canon XIV. The chorepiscopi, however, are indeed after the pattern of the Seventy…

Canon XV. The deacons ought to be seven in number, according to the canon…

The Council of Gangra.

Historical Introduction.

Synodical Letter of the Council of Gangra.

The Canons of the Holy Fathers Assembled at Gangra, Which Were Set Forth After the Council of Nice . Canon I.

Canon II. If any one shall condemn him who eats flesh…

Canon III. If any one shall teach a slave, under pretext of piety…

Canon IV. If any one shall maintain, concerning a married presbyter…

Canon V. If any one shall teach that the house of God and the assemblies held therein…

Canon VI. If any one shall hold private assemblies outside of the Church…

Canon VII. If any one shall presume to take the fruits offered to the Church…

Canon VIII. If anyone, except the bishop or the person appointed for the stewardship of benefactions…

Canon IX. If any one shall remain virgin, or observe continence…

Canon X. If any one of those who are living a virgin life for the Lord's sake…

Canon XI. If anyone shall despise those who out of faith make love-feasts and invite the brethren…

Canon XII. If any one, under pretence of asceticism, should wear a peribolæum and…

Canon XIII. If any woman, under pretence of asceticism, shall change her apparel and…

Canon XIV. If any woman shall forsake her husband, and resolve to depart from him because she…

Canon XV. If anyone shall forsake his own children and shall not nurture them…

Canon XVI. If, under any pretence of piety, any children shall forsake their parents…

Canon XVII. If any woman from pretended asceticism shall cut off her hair…

Canon XVIII. If any one, under pretence of asceticism, shall fast on Sunday…

Canon XIX. If any of the ascetics, without bodily necessity, shall behave with insolence and disregard the…

Canon XX. If any one shall, from a presumptuous disposition, condemn and abhor the assemblies in honour.…

Epilogue.

The Synod of Antioch in Encæniis.

Historical Introduction.

The Synodal Letter.

The Canons of the Blessed and Holy Fathers Assembled at Antioch in Syria.

Canon I. Whosoever shall presume to set aside the decree of the holy and great Synod which…

Canon II. All who enter the church of God and hear the Holy Scriptures…

Canon III. If any presbyter or deacon, or any one whatever belonging to the priesthood…

Canon IV. If any bishop who has been deposed by a synod…

Canon V. If any presbyter or deacon, despising this own bishop…

Canon VI. If any one has been excommunicated by his own bishop…

Canon VII. No stranger shall be received without letters pacifical.…

Canon VIII. Let not country presbyters give letters canonical, or let them send such letters only to…

Canon IX. It behoves the bishops in every province to acknowledge the bishop who presides in the…

Canon X. The Holy Synod decrees that persons in villages and districts…

Canon XI. If any bishop, or presbyter, or any one whatever of the canon shall presume to…

Canon XII. If any presbyter or deacon deposed by his own bishop…

Canon XIII. No bishop shall presume to pass from one province to another…

Canon XIV. If a bishop shall be tried on any accusations…

Canon XV. If any bishop, lying under any accusation, shall be judged by all the bishops in…

Canon XVI. If any bishop without a see shall throw himself upon a vacant church and seize…

Canon XVII. If any one having received the ordination of a bishop…

Canon XVIII. If any bishop ordained to a parish shall not proceed to the parish to which…

Canon XIX. A bishop shall not be ordained without a synod and the presence of the metropolitan…

Canon XX. With a view to the good of the Church and the settlement of disputes…

Canon XXI. A bishop may not be translated from one parish to another…

Canon XXII. Let not a bishop go to a strange city…

Canon XXIII. It shall not be lawful for a bishop, even at the close of life…

Canon XXIV. It is right that what belongs to the Church be preserved with all care to…

Canon XXV. Let the bishop have power over the funds of the Church…

Synod of Laodicea.

Historical Introduction.

The Canons of the Synod Held in the City of Laodicea, in Phrygia Pacatiana, in which Many Blessed Fathers from Divers Provinces of Asia Were Gathered Together.

Canon I. It is right, according to the ecclesiastical Canon, that the Communion should by indulgence be…

Canon II. They who have sinned in divers particulars, if they have persevered in the prayer of…

Canon III. He who has been recently baptized ought not to be promoted to the sacerdotal order.…

Canon IV. They who are of the sacerdotal order ought not to lend and receive usury…

Canon V. Ordinations are not to be held in the presence of hearers.…

Canon VI. It is not permitted to heretics to enter the house of God while they continue…

Canon VII. Persons converted from heresies, that is, of the Novatians…

Canon VIII. Persons converted from the heresy of those who are called Phrygians…

Canon IX. The members of the Church are not allowed to meet in the cemeteries…

Canon X. The members of the Church shall not indiscriminately marry their children to heretics.…

Canon XI. Presbytides, as they are called, or female presidents, are not to be appointed in the…

Canon XII. Bishops are to be appointed to the ecclesiastical government by the judgment of the metropolitans…

Canon XIII. The election of those who are to be appointed to the priesthood is not to…

Canon XIV. The holy things are not to be sent into other dioceses at the feast of…

Canon XV. No others shall sing in the Church, save only the canonical singers…

Canon XVI. The Gospels are to be read on the Sabbath i.…

Canon XVII. The Psalms are not to be joined together in the congregations…

Canon XVIII. The same service of prayers is to be said always both at nones and at…

Excursus on the Choir Offices of the Early Church.

Canon XIX. After the sermons of the Bishops, the prayer for the catechumens is to be made…

Excursus on the Worship of the Early Church.

Canon XX. It is not right for a deacon to sit in the presence of a presbyter…

Canon XXI. The subdeacons have no right to a place in the Diaconicum…

Canon XXII. The subdeacon has no right to wear an orarium i.…

Excursus on the Vestments of the Early Church.

Canon XXIII. The readers and singers have no right to wear an orarium…

Canon XXIV. No one of the priesthood, from presbyters to deacons…

Excursus on the Minor Orders of the Early Church.

Canon XXV. A subdeacon must not give the Bread, nor bless the Cup.…

Canon XXVI. They who have not been promoted to that office.…

Canon XXVII. Neither they of the priesthood, nor clergymen, nor laymen…

Canon XXVIII. It is not permitted to hold love feasts, as they are called…

Canon XXIX. Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath…

Canon XXX. None of the priesthood, nor clerics of lower rank.…

Canon XXXI. It is not lawful to make marriages with all sorts of.…

Canon XXXII. It is unlawful to receive the eulogiæ of heretics…

Canon XXXIII. No one shall join in prayers with heretics or schismatics.…

Canon XXXIV. No Christian shall forsake the martyrs of Christ, and turn to FALSE martyrs…

Canon XXXV. Christians must not forsake the Church of God, and go away and invoke angels and…

Canon XXXVI. They who are of the priesthood, or of the clergy…

Canon XXXVII. It is not lawful to receive portions sent from the feasts of Jews or heretics…

Canon XXXVIII. It is not lawful to receive unleavened bread from the Jews…

Canon XXXIX. It is not lawful to feast together with the heathen…

Canon XL. Bishops called to a synod must not be guilty of contempt…

Canon XLI. None of the priesthood nor of the clergy may go on a journey…

Canon XLII. None of the priesthood nor of the clergy may travel without letters canonical.…

Canon XLIII. The subdeacons may not leave the doors to engage in the prayer…

Canon XLIV. Women may not go to the altar.…

Canon XLV. Candidates. for baptism are not to be received after the second week in Lent.…

Canon XLVI. They who are to be baptized must learn the faith Creed.…

Canon XLVII. They who are baptized in sickness and afterwards recover…

Canon XLVIII. They who are baptized must after Baptism be anointed with the heavenly chrism…

Canon XLIX. During Lent the Bread must not be offered except on the Sabbath Day and on…

Canon L. The fast must not be broken on the fifth day of the last week in…

Canon LI. The nativities of Martyrs are not to be celebrated in Lent…

Canon LII. Marriages and birthday feasts are not to be celebrated in Lent.…

Canon LIII. Christians, when they attend weddings, must not join in wanton dances…

Canon LIV. Members of the priesthood and of the clergy must not witness the plays at weddings…

Canon LV. Neither members of the priesthood nor of the clergy…

Canon LVI. Presbyters may not enter and take their seats in the bema before the entrance of…

Canon LVII. Bishops must not be appointed in villages or country districts…

Canon LVIII. The Oblation must not be made by bishops or presbyters in any private houses.…

Canon LIX. No psalms composed by private individuals nor any uncanonical books may be read in the…

Canon LX. These are all the books of Old Testament appointed to be read…

The Second Ecu

Bible LibraryInterlinear BibleBible CommentariesBible ConcordanceTopical BibleBible SummaryBible OutlineBible TimelineChildren's BibleBible Hub Homepage
Title Page
Top of Page
Top of Page