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Canon XXXVII. It Is Not Lawful to Receive Portions Sent from the Feasts of Jews or Heretics, nor to Feast Together with Them · Canon XLI. None of the Priesthood nor of the Clergy May Go on a Journey, Without the Bidding of the Bishop

Of the Same to the Chorepiscopi, that No Ordinations Should Be Made Contrary to the Canons

Page 691 of 706

(Found translated in Vol. VIII. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, p. 157. Epistle liv.)

Canon XC.

A letter to his Village-bishop:598 he complains of the want of discipline of the multiplying of the clergy, and that without due examination and enquiry into their morals; that they had dropped the old custom, which was for the priests and deacons to recommend to the Village Bishop, who taking the testimonial, and giving notice of it to the [City] Bishop, did afterwards admit the minister into the sacerdotal list; that the number of the inferior clergy was unreasonably increased, especially in time of war, when men got into orders to avoid the press: he orders a list of the clergy in every village to be sent to him, and who admitted him, if any have been admitted into the inferior orders by priests, that they be looked on as laymen. Let not who will, put his name into the list. Re-examine those who are there, expel the unworthy, admit none without my consent for the future; if you do he shall be counted a layman.

Notes

  1. 598

    Johnson by mistake has the singular instead of the plural.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Volume 14, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (1890–1900). Public domain. Text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.