CANONS OF THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA (325) - Page 2 of 2

 

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("Creeds and Councils" Section)

The Greek text below follows that in W. Bright, Canons of the first four General Councils, 2nd edn, pp. IX-XV

The Latin text is that found in Dionysius Exiguus (Migne, Patrologia Latina vol. 67, Col. 0040D).

Click here to see the Latin version of the canons found in Isidorus, Migne, Patrologia Latina vol. 84.

 

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Canon 11                                                  

ια′. Περὶ τῶν παραβάντων χωρὶς ἀνάγκης, χωρὶς ἀφαιρέσεως ὑπερχόντων, χωρὶς κινδύνου, τινος τοιούτου, γέγονεν ἐπὶ τῆς τυραννίδος Λικινίου, ἔδοξε τῃ συνόδῳ, εἰ καὶ ἀνάξιοι ἦσαν φιλανθρωπίας, ὅμως χρηστεύσασθαι εἰς αὐτούς. Ὅσοι οὖν γνησίως μεταμέλονται, τρία ἔτη ἐν ἀκροωμένοις ποιήσουσιν οἱ πιστοὶ, καὶ ἑπτὰ ἔτη ὑποπεσοῦνται, δύο δὲ ἔτη χωρὶς προσφορᾶς κοινωνήσουσι τῷ λαῷ τῶν προσευχῶν.

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XI. De his qui praevaricati sunt sine necessitate, aut facultatum ablatione, aut sine periculo, aut aliquo ejusmodi, quod factum est sub tyrannide Licinii, visum est synodo, licet misericordia indigni sint, benignitate tamen in eos uti. Quicunque ergo vere poenitent, tribus annis fideles inter audientes habeantur, et septem annis jaceant: duobus autem annis sine oblatione, populo communicent in orationibus.

                                                  

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Canon 12                                                 

ιβ′. Οἱ δὲ προσκληθέντες μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς χάριτος καὶ τὴν πρώτην ὁρμὴν ἐνδειξάμενοι, καὶ ἀποθέμενοι τὰς ζώνας, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα «ἐπὶ τὸν οἰκεῖον ἔμετον ἀναδραμόντες ὡς κύνεςὥς τινας καὶ ἀργύρια πρόεσθαι, καὶ βενεφικίοις κατορθῶσαι τὸ ἀναστρατεύσασθαι, οὗτοι δέκα ἔτη ὑποπιπτέτωσαν μετὰ τὸν τῆς τριετοῦς ἀκροάσεως χρόνον. Ἐφ᾽ ἅπασι δὲ τούτοις, προσήκει ἐξετάζειν τὴν προαίρεσιν καὶ τὸ εἶδος τῆς μετανοίας· ὅσοι μὲν γὰρ καὶ φόβῳ καὶ δάκρυσι καὶ ὑπομονῃ καὶ ἀγαθοεργίαις τὴν ἐπιστροφὴν ἔργῳ καὶ οὐ σχήματι ἐπιδείκνυνται, οὗτοι πληρώσαντες τὸν χρόνον τὸν ὡρισμένον τῆς ἀκροάσεως, εἰκότως τῶν εὐχῶν κοινωνήσουσι μετὰ τοῦ ἐξεῖναι τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ φιλανθρωπότερόν τι περὶ αὐτῶν βουλεύσασθαι. Ὅσοι δὲ ἀδιαφόρως ἤνεγκαν, καὶ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ εἰσιέναι εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἀρκεῖν ἑαυτοῖς ἡγήσαντο πρὸς τὴν ἐπιστρέφειαν, ἐξ ἁπαντος πληρούτωσαν τὸν χρόνον.

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XII. Quicunque vocati per gratiam, primum quidem ardorem fidemve suam ostenderunt, et cingulum militiae deposuerunt, postea vero ut canes ad suum vomitum reversi sunt, ita ut aliqui et pecuniam darent, et beneficiis militiam repeterent, hi decem annis jaceant, post triennii auditionis tempus. In his autem omnibus observare oportet propositum et modum poenitentiae. Quicunque enim et timore, et lacrymis, et patientia, et bonis operibus conversionem absque simulatione demonstrant, hi definitum tempus auditionis implentes, tum demum orationibus communicabunt, et postea licebit episcopo, de his aliquid humanius cogitare. Quicunque vero indifferenter tulerunt, et habitum Ecclesiam introeundi sibi arbitrati sunt ad conversionem sufficere, hi definitum tempus omnino impleant.

 

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Canon 13                                                 

ιγ′. Περὶ δὲ τῶν ἐξοδευόντων παλαιὸς καὶ κανονικὸς νόμος φυλαχθήσεται καὶ νῦν, ὥστε εἴτις ἐξοδεύοι, τοῦ τελευταίου καὶ ἀναγκαιοτάτου ἐφοδίου μὴ ἀποστερεῖσθαι· εἰ δὲ ἀπογνωσθεὶς, καὶ κοινωνίας πάλιν τυχὼν, πάλιν ἐν τοῖς ζῶσιν ἐξετασθῃ, μετὰ τῶν κοινωνούντων τῆς εὐχῆς μόνης ἔστω. Καθόλου δὲ καὶ περὶ πάντος οὐτινοσοῦν ἐξοδεύοντος, αἰτοῦντος δὲ μετασχεῖν εὐχαριστίας, ἐπίσκοπος μετὰ δοκιμασίας ἐπιδότω.

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XIII. De his qui vita excedunt, vetus et canonica lex nunc quoque servabitur, ut si quis vita excedat, ultimo et necessario viatico minime privetur. Si vero desperatus, et communionem assecutus supervixerit, sit inter eos qui communionem orationis tantummodo consequuntur. Generaliter autem omni cuilibet in exitu posito, et eucharistiae participationem petenti, episcopus cum examinatione oblationem impertiat.

 

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Canon 14                                                 

ιδ′. Περὶ τῶν κατηχουμένων καὶ παραπεσόντων ἔδοξε τῃ ἁγίᾳ καὶ μεγάλῃ συνόδῳ, ὥστε τριῶν ἐτῶν αὐτοὺς ἀκροωμένους μόνον, μετὰ ταῦτα εὔχεσθαι μετὰ τῶν κατηχουμένων.

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XIV. De catechumenis lapsis placuit sanctae et magnae synodo, ut ii tribus annis audientes tantum sint, postea orent cum catechumenis.

 

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Canon 15                                                 

ιε′. Διὰ τὸν πολὺν τάραχον καὶ τὰς στάσεις τὰς γινομένας, ἔδοξε παντάπασι περιαιρεθῆναι τὴν συνήθειαν τὴν παρὰ τὸν κανόνα εὑρεθεῖσαν ἔν τισι μέρεσιν, ὥστε ἀπὸ πόλεως εἰς πόλιν μὴ μεταβαίνειν μήτε ἐπισκοπον, μήτε πρεσβύτερον, μήτε διάκονον. Εἰ δέ τις μετὰ τὸν τῆς ἁγίας καὶ μεγάλης συνόδου ὅρον τοιούτῳ τινὶ ἐπιχειρήσειεν, ἐπιδοίη ἑαυτὸν πράγματι τοιούτῳ, ἀκυρωθήσεται ἐξάπαντος τὸ κατασκεύασμα, καὶ ἀποκατασταθήσεται τῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἧς ἐπίσκοπος πρεσβύτερος ἐχειροτονήθη.

[Cp. Chalc. 5]

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XV. Propter tumultus et seditiones quae fiunt, placuit omnino consuetudinem tolli, quae praeter canonem in quibusdam partibus invenitur, ut a civitate in civitatem nec episcopus, nec presbyter, nec diaconus transferatur. Si quis autem post definitionem sanctae et magnae synodi, tale quid aggressus fuerit, vel se rei ejusmodi dederit, quod factum erit omnino infirmabitur, et Ecclesiae restituetur cui fuerat episcopus, aut presbyter, vel diaconus ordinatus.

 

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Canon 16                                                 

ις′. Ὅσοι ῥιψοκινδύνως μήτε τὸν φόβον τοῦ Θεοῦ πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν ἔχοντες, μήτε τὸν ἐκκλησιαστικὸν κανόνα εἰδότες, ἀναχωρήσουσι τῆς ἐκκλησίας, πρεσβύτεροι διάκονοι, ὅλως ἐν τῷ κανόνι ἐξεταζόμενοι, οὗτοι οὐδαμῶς δεκτοὶ ὀφείλουσιν εἶναι ἐν ἑτέρᾳ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἀλλὰ πᾶσαν αὐτοῖς ἀνάγκην ἐπάγεσθαι χρὴ, ἀναστρέφειν εἰς τὰς ἑαυτῶν παροικίας· ἐπιμένοντας, ἀκοινωνήτους εἶναι προσήκει. Εἰ δὲ καὶ τολμήσειέ τις ὑφαρπάσαι τὸν τῷ ἑτέρῳ διαφέροντα, καὶ χειροτονῆσαι ἐν τῃ αὑτοῦ ἐκκλησίᾳ, μὴ συγκατατιθεμένου τοῦ ἰδὶου ἐπισκόπου οὗ ἀνεχώρησεν ἐν τῷ κανόνι ἐξεταζόμενος, ἄκυρος ἔστω χειροτονία.

[Cp. Chalc. 20]

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XVI. Quicunque temere et inconsiderate nec Dei timorem prae oculis habentes, nec ecclesiasticum canonem agnoscentes, ab Ecclesia discesserint presbyteri vel diaconi, vel quicunque omnino in canone recensentur, hi nequaquam debent in aliam ecclesiam recipi, sed omnino cogendi sunt in suas ipsorum paroecias redire: vel si perseverent, eos a communione privari oportet. Si quis etiam ausus fuerit eum qui ad alium pertinet, surripere, et in sua ecclesia ordinare, non consentiente proprio episcopo, a quo recessit qui in canone censetur, ordinatio hujusmodi irrita erit.

 

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Canon 17                                                 

ιζ′. Ἐπειδὴ πολλοὶ ἐν τῷ κανόνι ἐξεταζόμενοι τὴν πλεονεξίαν καὶ τὴν αἰσχροκερδείαν διώκοντες, ἐπελάθοντο τοῦ θείου γράμματος λέγοντος, «τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔδωκεν ἐπὶ τόκῳκαὶ δανείζοντες ἑκατοστὰς ἀπαιτοῦσιν, ἐδικαίωσεν ἁγία καὶ μεγάλη σύνοδος, ὡς, εἴτις εὑρεθείη μετὰ τὸν ὅρον τοῦτον τόκους λαμβάνειν, ἐκ μεταχειρίσεως ἄλλως μετερχόμενος τὸ πρᾶγμα, ἡμιολίας ἀπαιτῶν, ὅλως ἕτερόν τι ἐπινοῶν αἰσχροῦ κέρδους ἕνεκα, καθαιρεθήσεται τοῦ κλήρου, καὶ ἀλλότριος τοῦ κανόνος ἔσται.

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XVII. Quoniam plerique qui in canone recensentur avaritiam et turpem quaestum sectantes, obliviscuntur divinae Scripturae dicentis: Pecuniam suam non dedit ad usuram (Psalm 14 (15).5), et foenerantes centesimas exigunt, aequum censuit sancta et magna synodus, ut si quis inventus fuerit post hanc definitionem usuras sumere ex mutuo, vel aliter eam rem consectari aut sescupla exigere, vel omnino aliquid aliud excogitare turpis lucri gratia, e clero deponatur, et alienus a canone existat.

 

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Canon 18                                                 

ιη′. Ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν και μεγάλην σύνοδον, ὅτι ἔν τισι τόποις καὶ πόλεσι, τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις τὴν εὐχαριστίαν οἱ διάκονοι διδόασιν, ὥσπερ οὔτε κανὼν οὔτε συνήθεια παρέδωκεν, τοὺς ἐξουσίαν μὴ ἔχοντας προσφέρειν τοῖς προσφέρουσι διδόναι τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ· κἀκεῖνο δὲ ἐγνωρίσθη, ὅτι ἤδη τινὲς τῶν διακόνων καὶ πρὸ τῶν ἐπισκόπων τῆς εὐχαριστίας ἅπτονται. Ταῦτα οὖν πάντα περιῃρήσθω· καὶ ἐμμενέτωσαν οἱ διάκονοι τοῖς ἰδίοις μέτροις, εἰδότες ὅτι τοῦ μὲν ἐπισκόπου ὑπηρέται εἰσὶν, τῶν δὲ πρεσβυτέρων ἐλάττους τυγχάνουσι· λαμβανέτωσαν δὲ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν τὴν εὐχαριστίαν μετὰ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους, τοῦ ἐπισκόπου διδόντος αὐτοῖς, τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου· ἀλλὰ μὴδὲ καθῆσθαι ἐν μέσῳ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἐξέστω τοῖς διακόνοις· παρα κανόνα γὰρ καὶ παρὰ τάξιν ἐστὶ τὸ γινόμενον. Εἰ δέ τις μὴ θέλοι πειθαρχεῖν καὶ μετὰ τούτους τοὺς ὅρους, πεπαύσθω τῆς διακονίας.

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XVIII. Pervenit ad sanctum magnumque concilium, quod in quibusdam locis et civitatibus, diaconi presbyteris eucharistiam praebeant; quod neque canon, neque consuetudo tradidit, ut qui potestatem offerendi non habent, his qui offerunt corpus Christi porrigant. Illud etiam innotuit quod jam quidam ex diaconis etiam ante episcopos eucharistiam attingant. Omnia igitur ista auferantur, et diaconi intra propriam mensuram maneant, scientes quod ministri sunt episcoporum, et presbyteris inferiores existant: accipiant autem suo ordine eucharistiam post presbyteros, vel episcopo dante vel presbytero; sed nec sedere in medio presbyterorum diaconis liceat, id enim fit praeter canonem et ordinem. Si quis autem obedire noluerit post has definitiones, desinat esse diaconus.

 

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Canon 19                                                 

ιθ′. Περὶ τῶν Παυλιανισάντων, εἶτα προσφυγόντων τῃ καθολικῃ ἀκκλησίᾳ, ὅρος ἐκτέθειται ἀναβαπτίζεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἐξάπαντος. Εἰ δέ τινες ἐν τῷ παρεληλυθότι χρόνῳ ἐν τῷ κλήρῳ ἐξητάσθησαν, εἰ μὲν ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀνεπίληπτοι φανεῖεν, ἀναβαπτισθέντες χειροτονείσθωσαν ὑπὸ τοῦ τῆς καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐπισκόπου· εἰ δὲ ἀνάκρισις ἀνεπιτηδείους αὐτοὺς εὑρίσκοι, καθαιρεῖσθαι αὐτοὺς προσήκει. Ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ περὶ τῶν διακονισσῶν, καὶ ὅλως περὶ τῶν ἐν τῷ κλήρῳ κανόνι ἐξεταζομένων, αὐτὸς τύπος παραφυλαχθήσεται· ἐμνήσθημεν δὲ διακονισσῶν τῶν ἐν τῷ σχήματι ἐξετασθεισῶν, ἐπεὶ μηδὲ χειροθεσίαν τινὰ ἔχουσιν, ὥστε ἐξάπαντος ἐν τοῖς λαϊκοῖς αὐτὰς ἐξετάζεσθαι.

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XIX. De Paulianistis, si ad Ecclesiam catholicam confugerint, definitum est eos omnino rebaptizari. Si qui vero praeterito tempore in clero fuerint, si quidem inculpati et irreprehensibiles, rebaptizati ordinentur ab episcopo catholicae Ecclesiae. Si vero examinati, minus apti deprehensi fuerint, deponi eos convenit: similiter autem et de diaconissis, et omnino de his qui sub canone versantur, eadem forma servabitur. Diaconissarum autem meminimus, quae in habitu quidem esse censentur, quia vero nullam manus impositionem habent, ut omnino inter laicos ipsae deputentur.

 

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Canon 20                                                 

κ′. Ἐπειδή τινές εἰσιν ἐν τῃ κυριακῃ γόνυ κλίνοντες, καὶ ἐν ταῖς τῆς πεντηκοστῆς ἡμέραις· ὑπὲρ τοῦ πάντα ἐν πάσῃ παροικίᾳ ὁμοίως παραφυλάττεσθαι, ἑστῶτας ἔδοξε τῃ ἁγίᾳ συνόδῳ τὰς εὐχὰς ἀποδιδόναι τῷ Θεῷ.

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XX. Quoniam sunt quidam, qui die dominico genua flectunt, et in diebus Pentecostes, ut omnia similiter in omni paroecia serventur, visum est sanctae synodo, stantes Deo orationes persolvere.

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