Canons of the Council of Neocaesarea (complete)
Greek text: Pedalion (1800) (Greek text: the Pedalion (Nikodemos the Hagiorite and Agapios, 1800), transcription on Greek Wikisource, CC BY-SA).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Chapter 1
1Pedalion
Πρεσβύτερος, ἐὰν γήμῃ, τῆς τάξεως αὐτὸν μετατίθεσθαι· ἐὰν δὲ πορνεύσῃ, ἢ μοιχεύσῃ, ἐξωθεῖσθαι αὐτὸν τέλεον, καὶ ἄγεσθαι εἰς μετάνοιαν.
Presbyteros, ean gēmę̄, tēs taxeōs auton metatithesthai; ean de porneusę̄, ē moicheusę̄, exōtheisthai auton teleon, kai agesthai eis metanoian.
If a presbyter marries, he is to be removed from his order; and if he commits sexual immorality or adultery, he is to be driven out completely and brought to penance.
Notes and citation
Summary: A presbyter who marries after ordination is removed from his rank; one guilty of sexual sin is expelled and put to penance.
- The canon concerns marriage after ordination.
Topics: Church office, Marriage
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 1 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 2
2Pedalion
Γυνή, ἐὰν γήμηται δύο ἀδελφοῖς, ἐξωθείσθω μέχρι θανάτου· πλὴν ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ διὰ τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν εἰποῦσα, ὡς ὑγιάνασα λύσει τὸν γάμον, ἕξει τὴν μετάνοιαν. Ἐὰν δὲ τελευτήσῃ ἡ γυνὴ ἐν τοιούτῳ γάμῳ οὖσα, ἤτοι ὁ ἀνήρ, δυσχερὴς τῷ μείναντι ἡ μετάνοια.
Gynē, ean gēmētai dyo adelphois, exōtheisthō mechri thanatou; plēn en tǭ thanatǭ dia tēn philanthrōpian eipousa, hōs hygianasa lysei ton gamon, hexei tēn metanoian. Ean de teleutēsę̄ hē gynē en toioutǭ gamǭ ousa, ētoi ho anēr, dyscherēs tǭ meinanti hē metanoia.
If a woman has married two brothers, let her be driven out until death; except that at death, out of kindness, if she says that, should she recover, she will dissolve the marriage, she shall have penance. But if the woman, being in such a marriage, dies, or the man, penance is difficult for the one who remains.
Notes and citation
Summary: A woman who marries two brothers in turn is excluded until death, unless at death she promises to dissolve the marriage if she recovers.
- “She shall have penance”: she will be admitted to penance and so to reconciliation.
Topics: Marriage, Remarriage, Divorce and remarriage
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 2 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 3
3Pedalion
Περὶ τῶν πλείστοις γάμοις περιπιπτόντων ὁ μὲν χρόνος σαφὴς ὁ ὡρισμένος, ἡ δὲ ἀναστροφὴ καὶ ἡ πίστις αὐτῶν συντέμνει τὸν χρόνον.
Peri tōn pleistois gamois peripiptontōn ho men chronos saphēs ho hōrismenos, hē de anastrophē kai hē pistis autōn syntemnei ton chronon.
Concerning those who fall into very many marriages: the time appointed is clear, but their conduct and faith shorten the time.
Notes and citation
Summary: Those married many times do the fixed penance, which may be shortened by their conduct and faith.
- “Very many marriages”: successive marriages after the death of spouses; the length of the penance is not stated here.
Topics: Marriage, Remarriage, Divorce and remarriage
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 3 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 4
4Pedalion
Ἐὰν πρόθηταί τις, ἐπιθυμήσας γυναικός, συγκαθευδῆσαι μετ᾽ αὐτῆς, μὴ ἔλθῃ δὴ εἰς ἔργον αὐτοῦ ἡ ἐνθύμησις, φαίνεται ὅτι ὑπὸ τῆς χάριτος ἐρρύσθη.
Ean prothētai tis, epithymēsas gynaikos, synkatheudēsai met᾽ autēs, mē elthę̄ dē eis ergon autou hē enthymēsis, phainetai hoti hypo tēs charitos errysthē.
If anyone, having desired a woman, resolves to sleep with her, but his intention does not come to the deed, it appears that he has been rescued by grace.
Matt 5:28 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A man who intended adultery but did not commit it appears to have been saved by grace.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 4 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 5
5Pedalion
Κατηχούμενος, ἐὰν εἰσερχόμενος εἰς Κυριακόν, ἐν τῇ τῶν κατηχουμένων τάξει στήκῃ, οὗτος δὲ ἁμαρτάνῃ, ἐὰν μὲν γόνυ κλίνων, ἀκροάσθω μηκέτι ἁμαρτάνων· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἀκροώμενος ἔτι ἁμαρτάνῃ, ἐξωθείσθω.
Katēchoumenos, ean eiserchomenos eis Kyriakon, en tę̄ tōn katēchoumenōn taxei stēkę̄, houtos de hamartanę̄, ean men gony klinōn, akroasthō mēketi hamartanōn; ean de kai akroōmenos eti hamartanę̄, exōtheisthō.
A catechumen who, entering the church, stands in the order of the catechumens, but this one sins: if he is a kneeler, let him become a hearer, sinning no more; but if he still sins even while a hearer, let him be driven out.
Notes and citation
Summary: A catechumen who sins is moved down to the hearers, and expelled if he goes on sinning.
- Catechumens too were divided into grades: “kneelers” (who stayed for the prayer over them) and “hearers” (who heard only the readings and sermon).
Topics: Baptism
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 5 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 6
6Pedalion
Περὶ κυοφορούσης, ὅτι δεῖ φωτίζεσθαι, ὁπότε βούλεται· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐν τούτῳ κοινωνεῖ ἡ τίκτουσα τῷ τικτομένῳ· διὰ τὸ ἑκάστου ἰδίαν τὴν προαίρεσιν τὴν ἐπὶ τῇ ὁμολογίᾳ δείκνυσθαι.
Peri kyophorousēs, hoti dei phōtizesthai, hopote bouletai; ouden gar en toutǭ koinōnei hē tiktousa tǭ tiktomenǭ; dia to hekastou idian tēn proairesin tēn epi tę̄ homologią deiknysthai.
Concerning a pregnant woman: that she should be illuminated whenever she wishes; for in this the one giving birth has nothing in common with the one being born, because each one's own choice is shown in the confession.
Notes and citation
Summary: A pregnant woman may be baptized when she wishes, since her baptism does not extend to the unborn child.
- “Illuminated”: baptized.
Topics: Baptism
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 6 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 7
7Pedalion
Πρεσβύτερον εἰς γάμους διγαμούντων μὴ ἑστιᾶσθαι· ἐπεὶ μετάνοιαν αἰτοῦντος τοῦ διγάμου, τίς ἔσται ὁ πρεσβύτερος, ὁ διὰ τῆς ἑστιάσεως συγκατατιθέμενος τοῖς γάμοις;
Presbyteron eis gamous digamountōn mē hestiasthai; epei metanoian aitountos tou digamou, tis estai ho presbyteros, ho dia tēs hestiaseōs synkatatithemenos tois gamois?
A presbyter is not to feast at the weddings of those marrying a second time; for when the twice-married man asks for penance, who will the presbyter be who by feasting gave his consent to the marriage?
Notes and citation
Summary: A presbyter should not attend the wedding feast of a second marriage, since such a marriage requires penance.
Topics: Church office, Marriage, Remarriage, Divorce and remarriage
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 7 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 8
8Pedalion
Γυνή τινος μοιχευθεῖσα λαϊκοῦ ὄντος, ἐὰν ἐλεγχθῇ φανερῶς, ὁ τοιοῦτος εἰς ὑπηρεσίαν ἐλθεῖν οὐ δύναται. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ μετὰ τὴν χειροτονίαν μοιχευθῇ, ὀφείλει ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν· ἐὰν δὲ συζῇ, οὐ δύναται ἔχεσθαι τῆς ἐγχειρισθείσης αὐτῷ ὑπηρεσίας.
Gynē tinos moicheutheisa laïkou ontos, ean elenchthę̄ phanerōs, ho toioutos eis hypēresian elthein ou dynatai. Ean de kai meta tēn cheirotonian moicheuthę̄, opheilei apolysai autēn; ean de syzę̄, ou dynatai echesthai tēs encheiristheisēs autǭ hypēresias.
If the wife of anyone who is a layman has committed adultery and has been openly convicted, such a man cannot enter the ministry. And if she commits adultery after his ordination, he must put her away; but if he lives with her, he cannot keep the ministry entrusted to him.
Notes and citation
Summary: A man whose wife was convicted of adultery cannot be ordained, and a cleric whose wife commits adultery must put her away or give up his ministry.
Topics: Church office, Marriage, Divorce, Divorce and remarriage
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 8 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 9
9Pedalion
Πρεσβύτερος, ἐὰν προημαρτηκῶς σώματι προαχθῇ, καὶ ὁμολογήσῃ, ὅτι ἥμαρτε πρὸ τῆς χειροτονίας, μὴ προσφερέτω, μένων ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς, διὰ τὴν ἄλλην σπουδήν· τὰ γὰρ λοιπὰ ἁμαρτήματα ἔφασαν οἱ πολλοὶ καὶ τὴν χειροθεσίαν ἀφιέναι. Ἐὰν δὲ αὐτὸς μὴ ὁμολογῇ, ἐλεγχθῆναι δὲ φανερῶς μὴ δυνηθῇ, ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ ἐκείνῳ ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν.
Presbyteros, ean proēmartēkōs sōmati proachthę̄, kai homologēsę̄, hoti hēmarte pro tēs cheirotonias, mē prospheretō, menōn en tois loipois, dia tēn allēn spoudēn; ta gar loipa hamartēmata ephasan hoi polloi kai tēn cheirothesian aphienai. Ean de autos mē homologę̄, elenchthēnai de phanerōs mē dynēthę̄, ep᾽ autǭ ekeinǭ poieisthai tēn exousian.
If a presbyter who had sinned in the body before is promoted and confesses that he sinned before his ordination, let him not offer, though he remains in his other functions because of his zeal in other respects; for many have said that ordination also remits the other sins. But if he does not confess himself and cannot be openly convicted, the decision is to be left to himself.
Notes and citation
Summary: A presbyter who confesses a sexual sin committed before ordination may not celebrate the eucharist but keeps his other duties.
- “Sinned in the body”: sexual sin. “The other sins”: sins other than this one, which many held ordination to forgive.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 9 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 10
10Pedalion
Ὁμοίως καὶ διάκονος, ἐὰν τῷ αὐτῷ ἁμαρτήματι περιπέσῃ, τὴν τοῦ ὑπηρέτου τάξιν ἐχέτω.
Homoiōs kai diakonos, ean tǭ autǭ hamartēmati peripesę̄, tēn tou hypēretou taxin echetō.
Likewise also a deacon, if he falls into the same sin, let him have the rank of an attendant.
Notes and citation
Summary: A deacon in the same case is reduced to the rank of an attendant.
- “Attendant” (ὑπηρέτης): a lower minister, often identified with the subdeacon.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 10 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 11
11Pedalion
Πρεσβύτερος πρὸ τῶν τριάκοντα ἐτῶν μὴ χειροτονείσθω, ἐὰν καὶ πάνυ ᾖ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἄξιος, ἀλλὰ ἀποτηρείσθω. Ὁ γὰρ Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν τῷ τριακοστῷ ἔτει ἐβαπτίσθη, καὶ ἤρξατο διδάσκειν.
Presbyteros pro tōn triakonta etōn mē cheirotoneisthō, ean kai pany ę̄ ho anthrōpos axios, alla apotēreisthō. Ho gar Kyrios Iēsous Christos en tǭ triakostǭ etei ebaptisthē, kai ērxato didaskein.
Let no one be ordained presbyter before thirty years of age, even if the man is altogether worthy, but let him wait. For the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized in the thirtieth year, and began to teach.
Luke 3:23 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: No one is to be ordained presbyter before thirty, the age at which Christ was baptized and began to teach.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 11 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 12
12Pedalion
Ἐὰν νοσῶν τις φωτισθῇ, εἰς πρεσβυτέριον ἄγεσθαι οὐ δύναται· οὐκ ἐκ προαιρέσεως γὰρ ἡ πίστις αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· εἰμὴ τάχα διὰ τὴν μετὰ ταῦτα αὐτοῦ σπουδὴν καὶ πίστιν, καὶ διὰ σπάνιν ἀνθρώπων.
Ean nosōn tis phōtisthę̄, eis presbyterion agesthai ou dynatai; ouk ek proaireseōs gar hē pistis autou, all᾽ ex anankēs; eimē tacha dia tēn meta tauta autou spoudēn kai pistin, kai dia spanin anthrōpōn.
If anyone is illuminated while ill, he cannot be advanced to the presbyterate; for his faith is not from choice but from necessity; unless perhaps on account of his later zeal and faith, and on account of a shortage of men.
Notes and citation
Summary: Someone baptized on a sickbed is not normally to be ordained presbyter, unless his later zeal and a lack of candidates justify it.
Topics: Baptism, Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 12 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 13
13Pedalion
Ἐπιχώριοι πρεσβύτεροι ἐν τῷ Κυριακῷ τῆς πόλεως προσφέρειν οὐ δύνανται, παρόντος ἐπισκόπου, ἢ πρεσβυτέρων πόλεως· οὔτε μὴν ἄρτον διδόναι ἐν εὐχῇ, οὐδὲ ποτήριον· ἐὰν δὲ ἀπῶσι, καὶ εἰς εὐχήν κληθῇ μόνος, δίδωσιν.
Epichōrioi presbyteroi en tǭ Kyriakǭ tēs poleōs prospherein ou dynantai, parontos episkopou, ē presbyterōn poleōs; oute mēn arton didonai en euchę̄, oude potērion; ean de apōsi, kai eis euchēn klēthę̄ monos, didōsin.
Country presbyters cannot offer in the church of the city when the bishop or the presbyters of the city are present; nor indeed give the bread in the prayer, nor the cup. But if they are absent, and he alone is called to the prayer, he gives it.
Notes and citation
Summary: Country presbyters may not celebrate or give communion in the city church when city clergy are present.
- “The prayer”: the eucharistic prayer.
Topics: Church office, Eucharist
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 13 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-13). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 14
14Pedalion
Οἱ δὲ χωρεπίσκοποι, εἰσὶ μὲν εἰς τύπον τῶν ἑβδομήκοντα· ὡς δὲ συλλειτουργοί, διὰ τὴν σπουδὴν τὴν εἰς τοὺς πτωχοὺς προσφέρουσι τιμώμενοι.
Hoi de chōrepiskopoi, eisi men eis typon tōn hebdomēkonta; hōs de sylleitourgoi, dia tēn spoudēn tēn eis tous ptōchous prospherousi timōmenoi.
The country bishops are after the pattern of the Seventy; and as fellow ministers, because of their zeal for the poor, they offer, being held in honor.
Luke 10:1 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Country bishops correspond to the Seventy and, honored for their care of the poor, may celebrate the eucharist.
- “The Seventy”: the disciples sent out by Jesus in Luke 10.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 14 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-14). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.
Chapter 15
15Pedalion
Διάκονοι ἑπτὰ ὀφείλουσιν εἶναι κατὰ τὸν κανόνα, κἂν πάνυ μεγάλη ᾖ ἡ πόλις. Πεισθήσῃ δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς βίβλου τῶν Πράξεων.
Diakonoi hepta opheilousin einai kata ton kanona, kan pany megalē ę̄ hē polis. Peisthēsę̄ de apo tēs biblou tōn Praxeōn.
There ought to be seven deacons according to the canon, even if the city is very large. You will be persuaded of this from the book of the Acts.
Acts 6:3 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A city should have seven deacons, however large, following the book of Acts.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip; the canon reads Πεισθήσῃ (“you will be persuaded”)): Πεισθείσῃ → Πεισθήσῃ.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Neocaes. 15 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-15). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek (Pedalion text); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.