Canons of the Council of Carthage (390)

Contents

1. 0Opening fragment: the council of sixty-one bishops under Genethlius of Carthage, 16 June 390.
2. 1Genethlius opens the council with a confession of the Trinity, which all the bishops affirm.
3. 2Bishops, presbyters, and deacons, as servants of the altar, are to abstain from their wives.
4. 3Presbyters may not make the chrism, consecrate virgins, or reconcile penitents at the public Mass.
5. 4A penitent in danger of death may be reconciled by a presbyter at the bishop's command.
6. 5Districts that never had a bishop are not to receive one except with the consent of the bishop to whom they belong.
7. 6Persons guilty of crimes may not bring accusations against presbyters or bishops.
8. 7A bishop or cleric who receives into communion someone expelled from the church for crimes shares his guilt.
9. 8A presbyter who, after being disciplined, sets up a separate altar is anathematized and expelled from the city; his complaint against his bishop goes to the neighbouring bishops.
10. 9Presbyters may not celebrate the Eucharist in private houses without consulting the bishop.
11. 10An accused bishop is tried by twelve bishops, a presbyter by six, a deacon by three with his own bishop.
12. 11No bishop may encroach on another bishop's people or territory.
13. 12No bishop may be ordained without the command of the primate of the province; in necessity three bishops may ordain with his command.
14. 13The bishops agree that all the decrees be kept and subscribe them.