Council of Carthage (419): acts and the Hispana canons

Contents

1. 0Heading of the council of Carthage of 25 May 419, attended by 217 bishops and the legates of the Roman church, Faustinus, Philippus and Asellus.
2. 1Aurelius opens the council and has the Nicene creed and canons and the earlier African canons read.
3. 2The Roman legate Faustinus asks that the instructions of the apostolic see on the Nicene canons be read and answered point by point.
4. 3Zosimus's instruction is read, citing as Nicene a canon on bishops' appeals to Rome; Alypius replies that the Greek copies of Nicaea lack it and asks that authentic copies be sought from Constantinople, Alexandria and Antioch.
5. 5Faustinus asks that the question be referred to the bishop of Rome to avoid conflict; the council agrees to write to Boniface.
6. 6At Novatus's request, the part of Zosimus's instruction on appeals by presbyters and deacons is read; it quotes a canon of Serdica.
7. 7Augustine and the council promise to keep these rules pending inquiry into the Nicene canons, affirming that all Nicaea decreed must be observed.
8. 8Faustinus asks that the bishop of Rome be consulted on the disputed rule about appeals of the lower clergy.
9. 9The council inserts in its acts the Nicene creed and canons brought from Nicaea by Caecilianus, and asks Aurelius to obtain authentic copies from Antioch, Alexandria and Constantinople.
10. 10The Latin text of the Nicene creed as held in Africa.
11. 11The African council writes to Boniface of Rome: Apiarius is restored but moved from Sicca; the rules on appeals cited as Nicene will be kept provisionally until authentic copies of the Nicene canons arrive from the East.
12. 12Cyril of Alexandria and Atticus of Constantinople reply to the African council, sending authentic copies of the Nicene canons; Cyril also announces the date of Easter.
13. 13The Nicene creed in the new Latin translation made from the Greek copies sent from Constantinople, as forwarded to Boniface of Rome.