Canons of the Council of Riez

Contents

1. 0The bishops at Riez (439) take up the invalid ordination at Embrun, performed by two bishops without the metropolitan's authority.
2. 1The two bishops who performed the ordination are received into communion but barred for life from ordinations and councils, following the synod of Turin.
3. 2The ordination at Embrun is annulled as invalid, since none of the canonical requirements were met.
4. 3Armentarius, the young man irregularly ordained for Embrun, is spared condemnation; a bishop may give him one rural church, outside the Maritime Alps, where he may confirm and celebrate but not ordain.
5. 4Clerics ordained by Armentarius who were excommunicate are deposed; the rest stay or follow him as the bishop of Embrun decides; Armentarius may bless and confirm in his church and act above presbyters in the countryside.
6. 5Armentarius may bless and consecrate virgins in his church, ranking below a bishop and above a presbyter.
7. 6When a bishop dies, only the neighbouring bishop is to come to the church, for the funeral, and he takes charge of it as visitor until the new ordination.
8. 7The visiting bishop governs a vacant church until the metropolitan's mandate; no bishop may come to a vacant church unless invited by the metropolitan.
9. 8The bishops bind themselves to the decrees and to hold councils twice a year in quiet times.
10. 9Those who tamper with the canons and stir up sedition against the church are excommunicated; after penance they may return to communion but not to the clergy.
11. 10Provincial councils are to meet twice a year, in the fourth week after Easter and on 15 October.