Canoni Apostolici

Can. 1 — De ordinatione episcopi.

Episcopus a duobus aut tribus episcopis ordinetur.

Can. 2 — De ordinatione presbyteri, et diaconi, et caeterorum.

Presbyter ab uno episcopo ordinetur, et diaconus, et reliqui clerici.

Can. 3 — Nihil aliud in sacrificio, praeter quod Dominus statuit, offerendum. / Quae species ad altare non ad sacrificium, sed ad benedictionem simplicem debeant exhiberi.

Si quis episcopus, aut presbyter, praeter ordinationem Domini, alia quaedam in sacrificio offerat super altare: id est aut mel, aut lac, aut pro vino siceram, et confecta quaedam, aut volatilia, aut animalia aliqua, aut legumina: contra constitutionem Domini faciens, congruo tempore deponatur. Offerri non liceat aliquid ad altare praeter novas spicas et uvas; et oleum ad luminaria, et thymiama, id est incensum: tempore quo sancta celebratur oblatio.

Can. 4 — Quod ea quae in ecclesiis offerri non possunt, ad domus sacerdotum a fidelibus deferantur.

Reliqua poma omnia ad domum primitiae episcopo et presbyteris dirigantur, nec offerantur in altari. Certum est autem quod episcopis et presbyteris dividant, et diaconis, et reliquis clericis.

Can. 5 — Ut episcopus, aut presbyter uxorem suam, quam debet caste regere, non relinquat.

Episcopus, aut presbyter uxorem propriam nequaquam sub obtentu religionis abjiciat: si vero rejecerit, excommunicetur, sed et si perseveraverit, dejiciatur.

Nota CELIBATO: Citato «can. 6» nella numerazione latina (dionisiana); nella numerazione greca degli 85 canoni è il can. 5.

Can. 6 — Ut sacerdotes, et ministri altaris saecularibus curis abstineant.

Episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus nequaquam saeculares curas assumant; sin aliter, dejiciantur.

Can. 7 — Quo tempore Pascha celebretur.

Si quis episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus sanctum Paschae diem ante vernale aequinoctium cum Judaeis celebraverit, abjiciatur.

Can. 8 — Quod ministri altaris, oblatione celebrata, debeant communicare.

Si quis episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus, vel quilibet ex sacerdotali catalogo, facta oblatione, non communicaverit: aut causam dicat, ut, si rationabilis fuerit, veniam consequatur; aut si non dixerit, communione privetur, tanquam qui populo causa laesionis exstiterit, dans suspicionem de eo qui sacrificavit, quod recte non obtulerit.

Can. 9 — Quod fideles laici, ingredientes ecclesiam, communicare debeant.

Omnes fideles qui ingrediuntur ecclesiam, et Scripturas audientes, non autem perseverant in oratione, nec sanctam communionem percipiunt, velut inquietudines Ecclesiae commoventes, convenit communione privari.

Can. 10 — Quod cum excommunicatis non sit orandum.

Si quis cum excommunicato, saltem in domo simul oraverit, iste communione privetur.

Can. 11 — Quod cum damnatis clericis non sit orandum.

Si quis cum damnato clerico, veluti cum clerico, simul oraverit, iste damnetur.

Can. 12 — Ut nullus fidelium praeter commendatitias suscipiatur epistolas.

Si quis clericus, aut laicus a communione suspensus, seu communicans ad aliam properet civitatem, et suscipiatur praeter commendatitias litteras, et qui susceperunt, et qui susceptus communione priventur.

Can. 13 — Ut nullus fidelium praeter commendatitias suscipiatur epistolas.

Excommunicato vero proteletur ipsa correptio, tanquam qui mentitus sit, et Ecclesiam Dei seduxerit.

Can. 14 — Ut ab episcopis parochia minime pervadatur.

Episcopo non licere alienam parochiam, propria relicta, pervadere, licet cogatur a plurimis. Nisi forte eum rationabilis causa compellat, tanquam qui possit ibidem constitutis plus lucri conferre, et in causa religionis aliquid profecto prospicere. Et hoc non a semetipso pertentet, sed multorum episcoporum judicio, et maxima supplicatione perficiat.

Can. 15 — Ut clerici proprias Ecclesias non relinquant.

Si quis presbyter, aut diaconus, aut quilibet de numero clericorum, relinquens propriam parochiam pergat ad alienam, et omnino demigrans, praeter episcopi sui conscientiam, in aliena parochia commoretur, hunc ulterius ministrare non patimur: praecipue si, vocatus ab episcopo, vedire contempserit, in sua inquietudine perseverans. Verumtamen tanquam laicus ibi communicet.

Can. 16 — Ut episcopus qui clericos alterius susceperit, communione privetur.

Episcopus vero, apud quem memoratos esse constiterit, si contra eos decretam cessationem pro nihilo reputans, tanquam clericos forte susceperit: velut magister inquietudinis, communione privetur.

Can. 17 — Quod bigami non admittantur ad clerum.

Si quis post baptisma secundis fuerit nuptiis copulatus, aut concubinam habuerit, non potest esse episcopus, non presbyter, aut diaconus, aut prorsus ex numero eorum qui ministerio sacro deserviunt.

Can. 18 — Quod is qui viduam, vel ejectam, aut meretricem acceperit, non admittatur ad clerum.

Si quis viduam, et ejectam acceperit, aut meretricem, aut ancillam, vel aliquam de his quae publicis spectaculis mancipantur, non potest esse episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus, aut ex eo numero qui ministerio sacro deserviunt.

Can. 19 — Qui duas sorores habuerit, non admittatur ad clerum.

Qui duas in conjugium sorores acceperit, vel filiam fratris, clericus esse non poterit.

Can. 20 — Clericum fideijussorem esse non posse.

Clericus fideijussionibus inserviens abjiciatur.

Can. 21 — Quod ii qui non sponte eunuchizati sunt, suscipiantur ad clerum.

Eunuchus, si per insidias hominum factus est, vel si in persecutione ejus sunt amputata virilia, vel si ita natus est, et est dignus: efficiatur episcopus.

Can. 22 — Ut is qui se eunuchizavit, clericus non fiat.

Si quis abscidit semetipsum, id est, si quis amputavit sibi virilia, non fiat clericus, quia suus homicida est, et Dei conditionis inimicus.

Can. 23 — Ut clericus qui se eunuchizavit, abjiciatur a clero.

Si quis, cum clericus fuerit, absciderit semetipsum, omnino damnetur, quia suus est homicida.

Can. 24 — Ut laicus qui se eunuchizavit, tribus annis communione privetur.

Laicus semetipsum abscindens, annis tribus communione privetur, quia suae vitae insidiator exstitit.

Can. 25 — Quod episcopas, aut presbyter, aut diaconus, si pro criminibus damnati fuerint, minime communione priventur. / Similiter et reliqui ministri Ecclesiae.

Episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus, qui in fornicatione, aut perjurio, aut furto captus est, deponatur: non tamen communione privetur. Dicit enim Scriptura: Non vindicabit Dominus bis in idipsum. Similiter et reliqui clerici huic conditioni subjaceant.

Can. 26 — Qui clerici debeant conjugibus copulari.

Innuptis autem, qui ad clerum provecti sunt, praecipimus: ut si voluerint, uxores accipiant; sed lectores, cantoresque tantummodo.

Can. 27 — Quod episcopus, presbyter et diaconus, peccantes fideles verberare non debeant.

Episcopum, aut presbyterum, aut diaconum, percutientem fideles delinquentes, aut infideles inique agentes, et per hujusmodi volentes timeri, dejici ab officio suo praecipimus, quia nusquam nos hoc Dominus docuit. Econtrario vero ipse, cum percuteretur, non repercutiebat; cum malediceretur, non remaledicebat; cum pateretur, non comminabatur.

Can. 28 — Quod officium pristinum damnati pro criminibus usurpare non debeant.

Si quis episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus depositus juste super certis criminibus, ausus fuerit attrectare ministerium dudum sibi commissum, hic ab Ecclesia penitus abscindatur.

Can. 29 — Quod non debeant officia ecclesiastica pecuniis obtineri.

Si quis episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus per pecunias hanc obtinuerit dignitatem, dejiciatur et ipse, et ordinator ejus, et a communione modis omnibus abscindatur, sicut Simon Magus a Petro.

Can. 30 — Ut Ecclesia saeculari potentia minime pervadatur.

Si quis episcopus saeculi potestatibus usus Ecclesiam per ipsos obtineat, deponatur, et segregentur omnes qui illi communicant.

Can. 31 — De presbytero qui contra episcopum seorsum conventus congregare tentaverit.

Si quis presbyter, contemnens episcopum suum, seorsum collegerit, et altare aliud erexerit, nihil habens, quod reprehendat episcopum in causa pietatis et justitiae, deponatur, quasi principatus amator existens, est enim tyrannus; et caeteri clerici, quicunque tali consentiunt, deponantur, laici vero segregentur. Haec autem post unam, et secundam, et tertiam episcopi obtestationem fieri conveniet.

Can. 32 — Quod clerici damnati non debeant ab aliis recipi.

Si quis presbyter, aut diaconus ab episcopo suo segregetur, hunc non licere ab alio recipi, sed ab ipso, qui eum sequestraverat, nisi forsitan obierit episcopus ipse, qui eum segregasse cognoscitur.

Can. 33 — Ut nullus episcopus, presbyter, aut diaconus sine commendatitiis suscipiatur epistolis.

Nullus episcoporum peregrinorum, aut presbyterorum, aut diaconorum, sine commendatitiis suscipiatur epistolis, et cum scripta detulerint, discutiantur attentius, et ita suscipiantur, si praedicatores pietatis exstiterint minus, nec quae sunt necessaria subministrentur eis, et ad communionem nullatenus admittantur, quia per subreptionem multa proveniunt.

Can. 34 — De primatu episcoporum.

Episcopos gentium singularum scire convenit, quis inter eos primus habeatur, quem velut caput existiment, et nihil amplius praeter ejus conscientiam gerant, quam illa sola singuli, quae parochiae propriae, et villis quae sub ea sunt, competunt, sed nec ille praeter omnium conscientiam faciat aliquid, sic enim unanimitas erit, et glorificabitur Deus per Christum in Spiritu sancto.

Can. 35 — Quod non liceat episcopum in aliena provincia clericos ordinare.

Episcopum non audere extra terminos proprios ordinationes facere in civitatibus et villis quae illi nullo jure subjectae sunt: si vero convictus fuerit hoc fecisse praeter eorum conscientiam qui civitates ipsas et villas detinent, et ipse deponatur, et qui ab illo sunt ordinati.

Can. 36 — De ordinatis episcopis, nec receptis.

Si quis episcopus non susceperit officium, et curam populi sibi commissam, hic communione privetur, quoadusque consentiat obedientiam commodans; similiter autem et presbyter et diaconus. Si vero perrexerit, nec receptus fuerit, non pro sua sententia, sed pro malitia populi: ipse quidem maneat episcopus; clerici vero civitatis communione priventur, eo quod eruditores inobedientis populi non fuerunt.

Can. 37 — Ut bis in anno concilia celebrentur.

Bis in anno episcoporum concilia celebrentur; ut inter se invicem dogmata pietatis explorent, et emergentes ecclesiasticas contentiones amoveant: semel quidem quarta septimana Pentecostes; secundo vero 12 die mensis Hyperberetaei, id est juxta Romanos quarto idus Octobris.

Can. 38 — Ut tantum curam rerum ecclesiasticarum episcopus habeat.

Omnium negotiorum ecclesiasticorum curam episcopus habeat, et ea velut Deo contemplante dispenset, nec ei liceat ex his aliquid omnino contingere, aut parentibus propriis, quae Dei sunt, condonare. Quod si pauperes sunt, tanquam pauperibus subministret, nec eorum occasione Ecclesiae negotia depraedentur.

Can. 39 — De dignitate pontificis, et quod rerum suarum habeat potestatem.

Presbyteri et diaconi praeter episcopum nihil agere pertentent. Nam Domini populus ipsi commissus est, et pro animabus eorum hic redditurus est rationem.

Can. 40 — De dignitate pontificis, et quod rerum suarum habeat potestatem.

Sint autem manifestae res propriae episcopi (si tamen habet proprias), et manifestae Dominicae, ut potestatem habeat, de propriis moriens episcopus, sicut voluerit, et quibus voluerit derelinquere. Nec sub occasione ecclesiasticarum rerum, quae episcopi esse probantur, intercidant; fortassis enim aut uxorem habet, aut filios, aut propinquos, aut servos. Et justum est hoc apud Deum et homines, ut nec Ecclesia detrimentum patiatur, ignoratione rerum pontificis, nec episcopus, vel ejus propinqui sub obtentu Ecclesiae proscribantur, et in causas incidant, qui ad eum pertinent, morsque ejus injuriis et malae famae subjaceat.

Can. 41 — Quod episcopus ecclesiasticarum rerum pro dispensatione pauperum habeat potestatem.

Praecipimus ut in potestate sua episcopus Ecclesiae res habeat. Si enim animae hominum pretiosae illi sunt creditae, multo magis oportet eum curam pecuniarum gerere, ita ut potestate ejus indigentibus omnia dispensentur per presbyteros et diaconos, et cum timore, omnique sollicitudine ministrentur. Ex his autem quae indiget (si tamen indiget) ad suas necessitates, et ad peregrinorum fratrum usus ipse percipiat, ut nihil eis possit omnino deesse. Lex enim Dei praecipit, ut qui altari deserviunt, de altari pascantur, quia nec miles stipendiis propriis contra hostes arma sustulit.

Can. 42 — Quod episcopus, presbyter, et aiaconus, aleator et ebriosus esse non debeat.

Episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus aleae atque ebrietati deserviens, aut desinat, aut certe damnetur.

Can. 43 — Similiter clerici et laici, si permanserint in alea, communione priventur.

Subdiaconus, aut lector, aut cantor, similia faciens, aut desinat, aut communione privetur; similiter etiam laici.

Can. 44 — Quod episcopus, presbyter, aut diaconus non debeant usuras accipere.

Episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus usuras a debitoribus exigens, aut desinat, aut certe damnetur.

Can. 45 — Quod non debeat episcopus, presbyter, aut diaconus cum haereticis orare.

Episcopus, presbyter et diaconus, qui eum haereticis oraverit, tantummodo communione privetur: si vero tanquam clericos hortatus eos fuerit agere, vel orare, damnetur.

Can. 46 — Quod non debeant haereticorum baptismata comprobari.

Episcopum, aut presbyterum haereticorum suscipientem baptisma damnari praecipimus: quae enim conventio Christi ad Belial? aut quae pars fideli cum infideli?

Can. 47 — Quod Ecclesiae baptismate baptizatus denuo baptizari non debeat, et non ita baptizatus debeat baptizari.

Episcopus, aut presbyter, si eum, qui secundum veritatem habuerit baptisma, denuo baptizaverit, aut pollutum ab impiis non baptizaverit, deponatur, tanquam deridens crucem et mortem Domini, nec sacerdotes a falsis sacerdotibus jure discernens.

Can. 48 — Laicum pellentem suam conjugem communione privandum.

Si quis laicus uxorem propriam pellens alteram, vel ab alio dimissam duxerit, communione privetur.

Can. 49 — Quod in nomine Trinitatis debeat baptizari.

Si quis episcopus, aut presbyter juxta praeceptum Domini non baptizaverit in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus sancti, sed in tribus sine initio principiis, aut in tribus Filiis, aut in tribus Paracletis, abjiciatur.

Can. 50 — Quod non debeat una mersio in baptismate, quasi in morte Domini, provenire.

Si quis episcopus, aut presbyter non trinam mersionem unius mysterii celebret, sed semel mergat in baptismate, quod dari videtur in Domini morte, deponatur. Non enim dixit nobis Dominus, In morte mea baptizate, sed, Euntes docete omnes gentes, baptizantes eos in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus sancti.

Can. 51

If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon, or any one of the sacerdotal list, abstains from marriage, or flesh, or wine, not by way of religious restraint, but as abhorring them, forgetting that God made all things very good, and that he made man male and female, and blaspheming the work of creation, let him be corrected, or else be deposed, and cast out of the Church. In like manner a layman.

Can. 52

If any bishop or presbyter, does not receive him who turns away from his sin, but rejects him, let him be deposed; for he grieveth Christ who said, "There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth."

Can. 53

If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon, does not on festival days partake of flesh and wine, from an abhorrence of them, and not out of religious restraint, let him be deposed, as being seared in his own conscience, and being the cause of offence to many.

Can. 54

If any of the clergy be found eating in a tavern, let him be excommunicated, unless he has been constrained by necessity, on a journey, to lodge in an inn.

Can. 55

If any of the clergy insult the bishop, let him be deposed: for "thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."

Can. 56

If any of the clergy insult a presbyter, or deacon, let him be excommunicated.

Can. 57

If any of the clergy mock the lame, or the deaf, or the blind, or him who is infirm in his legs, let him be excommunicated. In like manner any of the laity.

Can. 58

If any bishop or presbyter neglects the clergy or the people, and does not instruct them in the way of godliness, let him be excommunicated, and if he persists in his negligence and idleness, let him be deposed.

Can. 59

If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon, when any of the clergy is in want, does not supply him with what he needs, let him be excommunicated; but if he persists, let him be deposed, as one who has killed his brother.

Can. 60

If any one reads publicly in the church the falsely inscribed books of impious men, as if they were holy Scripture, to the destruction of the people and clergy, let him be deposed.

Can. 61

If any accusation be brought against a believer of fornication or adultery, or any forbidden action, and he be convicted, let him not be promoted to the clergy.

Can. 62

If any of the clergy, through fear of men, whether Jew, heathen, or heretic, shall deny the name of Christ, let him be cast out. If he deny the name of a clergyman, let him be deposed. If he repent, let him be received as a layman.

Can. 63

If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon, or any one of the sacerdotal order, shall eat flesh, with the blood of the life thereof, or anything killed by beasts, or that dies of itself, let him be deposed. For the law has forbidden this. If he be a layman, let him be excommunicated.

Can. 64

If any clergyman or layman shall enter into a synagogue of Jews or heretics to pray, let the former be deposed and let the latter be excommunicated.

Can. 65

If any clergyman shall strike anyone in a contest, and kill him with one blow, let him be deposed for his violence. If a layman do so, let him be excommunicated.

Can. 66

If any of the clergy be found fasting on the Lord's day, or on the Sabbath, excepting the one only, let him be deposed. If a layman, let him be excommunicated.

Can. 67

If anyone shall force and keep a virgin not espoused, let him be excommunicated. And he may not take any other, but must retain her whom he has chosen, though she be a poor person.

Can. 68

If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon, shall receive from anyone a second ordination, let both the ordained and the ordainer be deposed; unless indeed it be proved that he had his ordination from heretics; for those who have been baptized or ordained by such persons cannot be either of the faithful or of the clergy.

Can. 69

If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon, or reader, or singer, does not fast the holy Quadragesimal fast of Easter, or the fourth day, or the day of Preparation, let him be deposed, unless he be hindered by some bodily infirmity. If he be a layman, let him be excommunicated.

Can. 70

If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon, or any one of the list of clergy, keeps fast or festival with the Jews, or receives from them any of the gifts of their feasts, as unleavened bread, any such things, let him be deposed. If he be a layman, let him be excommunicated.

Can. 71

If any Christian brings oil into a temple of the heathen or into a synagogue of the Jews at their feast, or lights lamps, let him be excommunicated.

Can. 72

If any clergyman or layman takes away wax or oil from the holy Church, let him be excommunicated, [and let him restore a fifth part more than he took.]

Can. 73

Let no one convert to his own use any vessel of gold or silver, or any veil which has been sanctified, for it is contrary to law; and if anyone be detected doing so, let him be excommunicated.

Can. 74

If any bishop has been accused of anything by men worthy of credit, he must be summoned by the bishops; and if he appears, and confesses, or is convicted, a suitable punishment must be inflicted upon him. But if when he is summoned he does not attend, let him be summoned a second time, two bishops being sent to him, for that purpose. [If even then he will not attend, let him be summoned a third time, two bishops being again sent to him. ] But if even then he shall disregard the summons and not come, let the synod pronounce such sentence against him as appears right, that he may not seem to profit by avoiding judgment.

Can. 75

An heretic is not to be received as witness against a bishop, neither only one believer; for "in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established."

Can. 76

A bishop must not out of favour to a brother or a son, or any other relation, ordain whom he will to the episcopal dignity; for it is not right to make heirs of the bishopric, giving the things of God to human affections. Neither is it fitting to subject the Church of God to heirs. But if anyone shall do so let the ordination be void, and the ordainer himself be punished with excommunication.

Can. 77

If any one be deprived of an eye, or lame of a leg, but in other respects be worthy of a bishopric, he may be ordained, for the defect of the body does not defile a man, but the pollution of the soul.

Can. 78

But if a man be deaf or blind, he may not be made a bishop, not indeed as if he were thus defiled, but that the affairs of the Church may not be hindered.

Can. 79

If anyone has a devil, let him not be made a clergyman, neither let him pray with the faithful; but if he be freed, let him be received into communion, and if he is worthy he may be ordained.

Can. 80

It is not allowed that a man who has come over from an heathen life, and been baptized or who has been converted from an evil course of living, should be immediately made a bishop, for it is not right that he who has not been tried himself should be a teacher of others. Unless indeed this be done upon a special manifestation of Divine grace in his favour.

Can. 81

We have said that a bishop or presbyter must not give himself to the management of public affairs, but devote himself to ecclesiastical business. Let him then be persuaded to do so, or let him be deposed, for no man can serve two masters, according to the Lord's declaration.

Can. 82

We do not allow any servants to be promoted to the clergy without the consent of their masters, [to the troubling of their houses. ] But if any servant should appear worthy of receiving an order, as our Onesimus appeared, and his masters agree and liberate him, and send him out of their house, he may be ordained.

Can. 83

If a bishop, presbyter, or deacon, shall serve in the army, and wish to retain both the Roman magistracy and the priestly office, let him be deposed; for the things of Cæsar belong to Cæsar, and those of God to God.

Can. 84

Whosoever shall insult the King, or a ruler, contrary to what is right, let him suffer punishment. If he be a clergyman, let him be deposed; if a layman, excommunicated.

Can. 85

Let the following books be counted venerable and sacred by all of you, both clergy and Laity. Of the Old Testament, five books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; of Joshua the Son of Nun, one; of the Judges, one; of Ruth, one; of the Kings, four; of the Chronicles of the book of the days, two; of Ezra, two; of Esther, one; [some texts read "of Judith, one";] of the Maccabees, three; of Job, one; of the Psalter, one; of Solomon, three, viz.: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs; of the Prophets, twelve; of Isaiah, one; of Jeremiah, one; of Ezekiel, one; of Daniel, one. But besides these you are recommended to teach your young persons the Wisdom of the very learned Sirach. Our own books, that is, those of the New Testament, are: the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; fourteen Epistles of Paul; two Epistles of Peter; three of John; one of James, and one of Jude. Two Epistles of Clemens, and the Constitutions of me Clemens, addressed to you Bishops, in eight books, which are not to be published to all on account of the mystical things in them. And the Acts of us the Apostles.