Sophia Scriptura

Canons of the Council of Riez (complete)

Anonymous · Canons of the Council of Riez · 439 · Riez · 11 passages

Latin text: Bruns (1839) (Latin text: Bruns (1839), OCR of the archive.org scan).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).

Preamble

0Bruns 2:116

Cum in voluntate domini apud Regensem ecclesiam convenissemus, et transgressionis apud Ebredunensem ecclesiam habitae remedium quaereretur, qua sacris ecclesiae canonibus ac reverendis patrum constitutionibus omni parte neglectis, absque trium episcoporum praesentia, absque comprovincialium literis, sine metropolitani auctoritate irritam ordinationis speciem a duobus temere convenientibus praesumptam esse clarebat: non minus doloris de praesumentium lapsu quam de ecclesiae ipsius convulsione in pectoribus omnium diutina collatione versatum est.

When by the will of the Lord we had assembled at the church of Riez, and a remedy was sought for the transgression committed at the church of Embrun, where it was clear that, the sacred canons of the church and the venerable constitutions of the fathers being neglected in every respect, without the presence of three bishops, without letters from the bishops of the province, without the authority of the metropolitan, an invalid semblance of an ordination had been presumed by two who rashly came together: no less grief over the fall of those who presumed than over the upheaval of that church itself was turned over in the hearts of all in a long discussion.

Notes and citation

Summary: The bishops at Riez (439) take up the invalid ordination at Embrun, performed by two bishops without the metropolitan's authority.

  • The council of Riez, 29 November 439, under Hilary of Arles, on the irregular ordination of Armentarius as bishop of Embrun. The Latin of the digitization is very poor; clear OCR slips are corrected by logged corrections, and passages that cannot be read are marked "…".

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): Regeiisem → Regensem; ecdesiam → ecclesiam; neglectiS, → neglectis,; praeseutia, → praesentia,; convenientibu, → convenientibus; cfse → esse; coUatione → collatione.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. pref. (Bruns 2:116; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-0). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 1

1Bruns 2:116

Primum itaque, quia non ulciscendi sed remediandi studium in universorum pectoribus prorsus sacerdotali consilio insederat, canonum in sermonibus singulis proprietate perspecta, placuit quod sicut reprobe praesumpta essent in irritum devocanda, ita eos qui reproba praesumpsissent, quamvis confundere censura cogeret, caritati liceret absolvere; praesertim cum hi qui tam perversa incidissent, a primo lapsus ipsius die adhibitis passim precibus culpam poenitentes aut ignorantiae aut circumscriptioni imputassent; quia etsi inveniabile crederetur sacerdotem sacerdotalia statuta nescisse, levius tamen erat quam si ore impudenti fateretur se nota calcasse. Civilius est statuta nesciri quam scita omitti. Itaque eos qui tam incondita ac tam instabilia usurpaverunt placuit misericordiae et caritatis occursu ita in communionem dilectionemque recipi ut scirent secundum recentem et saluberrimam Taurinatis synodi definitionem ad perpetuam vitae istius suffusionem, nullis se de cetero ordinationibus, nullis ordinariis interfuturos esse conciliis, quia nihil salubre ab illis statuendum exspectaretur, qui tantae corruptionis tam detestanda exempla praebuerant.

First, then, since a desire not to punish but to heal had settled wholly in the hearts of all by priestly counsel, the exact meaning of the canons in each of their words having been examined, it was decided that, just as what had been wrongly presumed must be declared void, so those who had wrongly presumed it, though censure obliged us to put them to shame, might be absolved by love; especially since those who had fallen into such perverse acts, from the first day of their fall, offering prayers everywhere and repenting, had blamed their fault either on ignorance or on deception; for although it might be thought unpardonable for a priest not to know the priestly statutes, it was still lighter than if he confessed with shameless mouth that he had trampled on what he knew. It is more excusable that statutes be unknown than that known ones be disregarded. Therefore it was decided that those who usurped things so disordered and so unstable be received, with the meeting of mercy and love, into communion and affection on these terms: that they know that, according to the recent and most salutary definition of the synod of Turin, to the lasting shame of this life of theirs, they will take part henceforth in no ordinations and in no regular councils, since nothing salutary could be expected to be decided by those who had given such detestable examples of so great a corruption.

Notes and citation

Summary: The two bishops who performed the ordination are received into communion but barred for life from ordinations and councils, following the synod of Turin.

  • "The synod of Turin" (398), probably canon 3, on bishops who ordain irregularly.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): quia Don ulciscendi → quia non ulciscendi; studiuui → studium; nu,u damini → in; umreraorum → universorum; peotojira → pectoribus; socerdotali → sacerdotali; con silio → consilio; canonum.in → canonum in; sermpnibujs → sermonibus; p,oprietate → proprietate; aicut → sicut; coniundere → confundere; lapsua → lapsus; ipius → ipsius; qpia → quia; neacisse, → nescisse,; usurpaverunt → usurpaverunt; cqmmunionem → communionem; dUectionemque → dilectionemque; recipi → recipi; de&aitionem → definitionem; suffusionem,. → suffusionem,; interfiituros → interfuturos; statpendum → statuendum; detestanda. → detestanda.

Extrabiblical texts: Conc. Taur. 3 (Canons of the Council of Turin; allusion)

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 1 (Bruns 2:116; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 2

2Bruns 2:116

Ebredunensi ecclesiae ante omnia mature visum est consulendum, quia quatuor de biennio mensibus sacerdote legitimo destituta hoc gravius aegrotaverat, quod clerus innocens ac disciplinae, ut probatum est, memor quorumdam laicorum insolentia ac varia perturbatione vexatus etiam in sacerdotibus ac ministris minas ac jurgia et vim acerbissimam periculose perniciosa nuper caede pertulerat, nec poterat differri bonorum ac disciplinae memorum exspectatio, ne viderentur contumacium et inquietorum vota palpari, quorum conspirationes iniquae machinationesque et in praeteritum quantum deprehendi possint animadversione ecclesiastica puniendae et in futurum anticipandae erant. Itaque ordinationem, quam canones irritam definiunt, nos quoque evacuandam esse censuimus; in qua praetermissa trium praesentia nec expetitis comprovincialium literis metropolitani quoque voluntate neglecta prorsus nihil quod episcopum faceret ostensum est. Itaque jlimmt 'ia Tfldfmtale domini, retti to m '^ d perpmni as- Bumptus eittfc e,itdoptis, fieri omfaio fim,tuli coMtlUHioneiii eoctesiaatica traditione servata.

Above all, it seemed right to provide promptly for the church of Embrun, because, deprived of a lawful priest for four months short of two years, it had suffered the more grievously in that the clergy, innocent and mindful of discipline, as was proved, troubled by the insolence and various disturbances of certain laymen, had even endured threats, quarrels, and most bitter violence against priests and ministers, recently in a dangerous and deadly slaughter; nor could the expectation of the good and of those mindful of discipline be put off, lest the wishes of the stubborn and restless seem to be indulged, whose wicked conspiracies and machinations were to be punished by church discipline in the past, as far as they could be detected, and forestalled for the future. Therefore the ordination, which the canons define as void, we too have judged must be annulled; in it, the presence of three being passed over, and the letters of the bishops of the province not sought, and the will of the metropolitan also neglected, absolutely nothing was shown that would make a bishop. Therefore … in the will of the Lord … the ecclesiastical constitution being kept according to tradition.

Notes and citation

Summary: The ordination at Embrun is annulled as invalid, since none of the canonical requirements were met.

  • The last sentence is unreadable in the digitization; it probably provided for the canonical ordination of a new bishop for Embrun. Marked "…".

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): Ebreduneosi → Ebredunensi; meusibus → mensibus; aegrotaverat,, → aegrotaverat,; derus → clerus; disciplmae, → disciplinae,; etiatn → etiam; ninistris minas ae jurgia el vim → ministris minas ac jurgia et vim; discipKnae → disciplinae; conspiratioues → conspirationes; ordihationem, → ordinationem,; censuimus j → censuimus;; ostensum est, Itaque → ostensum est. Itaque; servata. ' → servata..

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 2 (Bruns 2:116; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 3

3Bruns 2:117

Verum quia haec sancta synodus non disciplinae tantum curam sed et misericordiae gessit, cumque occurreret quod se Armentarius diebus proximis eidem ecclesiae multa assentatorum insolentia retulisset, occurrebat tamen quod ante admonitionem discessisset, quod a nonnullis sacerdotum in hoc ipsum confirmatus se etiam privatae domui reddidisset, quod epistolas ad clerum ipsum emiserat, quibus episcopatui quem se non indeptum agnoscebat aperte renunciaverat, errati sui veniam petens, et hoc ipsum quod instabiliter in se praesumptum erat jam tunc inordinatum et irritum factum protestaturum esse confirmans in illam potius partem declinata sententia est, ut juveni educato in timore domini plus suffragaretur, quod in actu vitiosissimo interdum sana sensisset, quam quod juvenilibus titillationibus in aliqua parte cessisset. Itaque praetermissis iis, quae in ingressu ipsius eum absque ullius excusationis effugio societate culpae resperserant; velut innocentem eumdem praeterire sacerdotes domini, qui huic concilio aderant, damnatione nimium maluerunt. Quod ergo in quibusdam schismaticis magis quam haereticis recipiendis Nicaenum concilium statuit a singulis per territoria sua hoc etiam praesens conventus in hoc statuit ab omnibus debere servari: id est ut cuicumque de fratribus tale aliquid caritatis consilia dictaverint, liceat ei unam parochiarum suarum ecclesiam cedere, in qua aut chorepiscopi nomine, ut idem canon loquitur, aut peregrina ut ajunt communione foveatur. Primum itaque statuitur, ut hoc in qualibet provincia praeterquam in Alpina maritima liceat; quam si in aliqua parte accesserit, ut malorum incitator et quietis impatiens damnationi quam in se provocaverat subjacebit. Sed et si quis eidem quidquam ex his quae statuta sunt transgredienti communicaverit, a communione omnium fiat alienus. Deinde ut quolibet in loco praeterquam in publico agat, nec quis ei locus decernatur quem curiae et civitatis species aut ordo nobilitat. Additur, ne unquam in civitatibus vel sub episcoporum absentia offerre praesumat, nec ordinare vel ultimum clericum, nisi in ea quidem ecclesia quae illi cujuscumque misericordia fuerit attributa. Nec ulli episcoporum vel succedente aetate assumpto in rudimentis suis huic in aliquo quasi pro aetatis reverentia cedere liceat; nec usquam ipsi quidquam de episcopalibus officiis usurpare, praeterquam in ecclesia quam cujusquam misericordia fuerit indeptus, in qua ei solum neophytos confirmare et ante presbyteros offerre conceditur; Quod si unquam aliquid caritate alterius provocatus de habitationis commutatione variaverit non aliter in alia ecclesia requirat, accipiat quam in priori habuit cui renunciaverat, nec omnino unquam duarum ecclesiarum gubernationem obtineat, cui etiam in ea quae ipsi conceditur ministros a civitatis episcopo necesse est ordinari.

But since this holy synod took care not of discipline only but also of mercy, and since it was noted that Armentarius had in recent days betaken himself back to that same church with much insolence of flatterers, it was also noted that he had left before being admonished; that, confirmed in this very thing by some of the priests, he had also returned to private life; that he had sent letters to the clergy themselves, in which he had openly renounced the episcopate which he acknowledged he had not obtained, asking pardon for his error, and affirming that he would declare that what had been unstably presumed upon him was even then disordered and void: the sentence inclined rather to this side, that it should count more in favour of a young man brought up in the fear of the Lord that in a most faulty act he had sometimes thought soundly, than that he had in some part yielded to youthful stirrings. Therefore, passing over the things which at his entry had stained him, without any escape of excuse, with a share in the guilt, the priests of the Lord who were present at this council preferred to pass him by, as innocent, rather than condemn him too much. What, then, the Council of Nicaea decreed should be observed by each bishop in his own territory in receiving certain schismatics rather than heretics, this the present assembly has decreed should be observed by all in this case: that is, that to whichever of the brothers the counsels of love may suggest such a thing, he may be allowed to give up to him one church of his parishes, in which he may be supported either with the name of chorepiscopus, as the same canon says, or with "foreign communion", as they say. First, then, it is decreed that this may be done in any province except the Maritime Alps; and if he comes into any part of that province, he will be subject, as an instigator of evils and one impatient of quiet, to the condemnation he has brought upon himself. And if anyone communicates with him when he transgresses any of these statutes, let him become a stranger to the communion of all. Next, that he may act in any place except in public, and that no place be assigned to him which the dignity of a council chamber and city, or rank, makes distinguished. It is added that he is never to presume to offer in cities, even in the absence of bishops, nor to ordain even the lowest cleric, except in that church which has been assigned to him by someone's mercy. Nor may any bishop, even one taken up later in age in the beginnings of his office, give way to him in anything as if out of reverence for his age; nor may he himself anywhere usurp anything of the episcopal offices, except in the church which he has obtained by someone's mercy, in which alone he is allowed to confirm the newly baptized and to offer before the presbyters. And if ever, invited by the love of another, he changes his place of dwelling, he is not to seek or accept anything in another church other than what he had in the former one, which he renounced; nor is he ever to obtain the government of two churches at all; and in the one granted to him the ministers must be ordained by the bishop of the city.

Notes and citation

Summary: Armentarius, 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.

  • "What the Council of Nicaea decreed … in receiving certain schismatics": Nicaea, canon 8 (on the Novatians), which allows a bishop to give a converted Novatian bishop the place of a chorepiscopus. "Foreign communion" (peregrina communio): the status of a cleric received as a visitor, without his own office.
  • "To offer": to celebrate the Eucharist. Several clauses are loosely constructed in the Latin; translated by sense.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): Veiiim → Verum; sanota → sancta; tantnm → tantum; qaod → quod; tameo → tamen; nonnuUis sacerdotum iu hoc → nonnullis sacerdotum in hoc; Ijuod → quod; episcopatoi → episcopatui; indemptum → indeptum; interdura → interdum; praetermissis YA, quae → praetermissis iis, quae; resperseraut; → resperserant;; huio → huic; concili,. → concilio; viMnium → nimium; maluerunt/ → maluerunt.; Qood → Quod; quam. → quam; re- ^ipjeodis → recipiendis; coucilium → concilium; tenitoria → territoria; convbntus → conventus; id,.est → id est; uuam → unam; suanim → suarum; peregriua → peregrina; commuuione → communione; quajibet → qualibet; communiciaverit, → communicaverit,; comniunione → communione; dvitatis → civitatis; i,ut → aut; ord, → ordo; nobilitat.. → nobilitat.; episco-: porum → episcoporum; clencum, nec iti ea → clericum, nisi in ea; eeclfenia → ecclesia; ilti → illi; cujuseumque → cujuscumque; attribnta. nec vlU {liscoporum → attributa. Nec ulli episcoporum; assumjpto → assumpto; buic → huic; quidqufim → quidquam; oiBciis → officiis; neo-> phytos → neophytos; oiFerre → offerre; Qnod 81 unquam → Quod si unquam; prpvpca,us → provocatus; l,iabitatiQnis > → habitationis; reqai, - → requirat,; renunciaverat> uec omniQp → renunciaverat, nec omnino; ecdesiarum → ecclesiarum; gubernationem obtineat, oui etiamt → gubernationem obtineat, cui etiam; concculitur → conceditur.

Extrabiblical texts: Conc. Nic. 8 (Creed and Canons of the Council of Nicaea (325); allusion)

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 3 (Bruns 2:117; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 4

4Bruns 2:118

Sane quia ministrorum mentio facta est et nonnulli ab ipso inventi excommunicati temere in clero provecti dicuntur, statutum est eos qui ita assumpti sunt deponendos; quibus autem nulla conversationis macula praejudicaverit, prout Ebredunensi sacerdoti constituendum visum esset, aut in ecclesiae suae ministerio tenendos, aut ad ipsum quocumque habitasset transferendos. Plebi quam acceperit ex constitutionis hujus permissu benedicere; et, ut supra definitum est, in una eademque ecclesia neophytos confirmare; in castellis ac vicis totum illi ante presbyteros sicubi venerit liceat, quod in civitatibus omnino praescribitur.

Indeed, since mention has been made of ministers, and some found to be excommunicated are said to have been rashly promoted to the clergy by him, it was decreed that those so taken up are to be deposed; but those whom no stain of conduct has prejudiced are, as the priest of Embrun may decide, either to be kept in the ministry of his church or transferred to him wherever he may live. He may bless the people whom he receives by permission of this constitution; and, as was defined above, confirm the newly baptized in one and the same church; in fortified towns and villages he may do everything before the presbyters, wherever he comes, which is wholly forbidden in cities.

Notes and citation

Summary: Clerics 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.

  • "He" in the second part is Armentarius. The sentence about blessing is partly garbled in the digitization; translated by sense.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): fkctsi → facta; sunt. → sunt; nuUa → nulla; Ebrednnensi → Ebredunensi; ecdesiae → ecclesiae; quiam → quam; coustitutionis → constitutionis; ®3 benedicprp.^ ^t, ut → benedicere; et, ut; s.upra → supra; ueophytOs → neophytos; confirmare/in → confirmare; in; lideat, → liceat,.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 4 (Bruns 2:118; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 5

5Bruns 2:118

Et inter minutas has discussiones et indefinitas visum est, omni presbytero per familias, per agros, per privatas domos pro desiderio fidelium facultatem benedictionis aperire, quod nonnullas jam provincias habere succurrit, Huic autem etiam in ecclesiarum plebibus per loca tamen magis quam per urbes hoc idem visum est esse tribuendum. In ecclesia quoque in qua ordinatus fuerit consecrandi virginem, sicut confirmandi neophytum jus habebit, et per omnia ut sit multae indulgentiae testimonium, semper se inferiorem episcopo, superiorem presbytero agat; mandatis votisque omnium sanctorum prosequentibus vivat in timore domini, quietem colat, deo serviat, syttodi oiret se beAevoIeiitiae gralifts gtt, semperque indignum se indultis et negatis imparem esse fateatur.

And among these minute and undefined discussions it seemed good to open to him the faculty of blessing, as to every presbyter, in households, in the fields, in private houses, at the desire of the faithful, which some provinces already have, as we recall. To him, moreover, it seemed that this same thing should be granted also among the peoples of the churches, in the countryside rather than in the cities. In the church, too, in which he has been ordained, he will have the right of consecrating a virgin, as of confirming the newly baptized; and in all things, that it may be a testimony of great indulgence, let him always act as inferior to a bishop and superior to a presbyter; let him live in the fear of the Lord, accompanied by the commands and prayers of all the saints; let him cultivate quiet, serve God, … give thanks for the goodwill of the synod, and always confess himself unworthy of what has been granted and unequal to what has been denied.

Notes and citation

Summary: Armentarius may bless and consecrate virgins in his church, ranking below a bishop and above a presbyter.

  • A few words are unreadable in the digitization ("syttodi oiret se beAevoIeiitiae gralifts gtt"); translated by sense with "…".

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): £t inter → Et inter; indefinitas. → indefinitas; nounullas → nonnullas; au-. tem → autem; ec- " clesia → ecclesia; fnerit → fuerit; yptisque → votisque; sanctonim → sanctorum; BMrviat, → serviat,; esee → esse; fateator. → fateatur..

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 5 (Bruns 2:118; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 6

6Bruns 2:118

In commune autem omnes qui convenerant sacerdotes sibimetipsis contra hujusmodi scandala praecavendum censuerunt Itaque propter ejusmodi temeritatem tali definitione consultum est, ut de cetero observaretur ne quis ad eam ecclesiam, quae episcopum perdidisset, nisi vicinae ecclesiae episcopus exequiarum tempore accederet: qui visitatoris vice tamen statim ecclesiae ipsius curam districtissime gereret, ne quid ante ordinationem discordantium in novitatibus clericorum subversioni liceret Itaque cum tale aliquid accidit, vicinis vicinarum ecclesiarum inspectio recensio descriptioque mandatur.

In common, moreover, all the priests who had assembled judged that they must take precautions among themselves against scandals of this kind. Therefore, because of such rashness, it was provided by this definition, to be observed henceforth, that no one should come to a church that had lost its bishop except the bishop of the neighbouring church at the time of the funeral; who, in the role of visitor, should at once take charge of that church most strictly, lest anything be allowed before the ordination, among innovations by discordant clerics, to its subversion. Therefore, when such a thing happens, the inspection, review, and inventory are entrusted to the neighbours of the neighbouring churches.

Notes and citation

Summary: When 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.

  • The heading of the next canon ("That no one come to an ordination unless invited by letters of the metropolitan") had been left at the end of this ref and is removed.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): s3rimetipsis → sibimetipsis; censuerant → censuerunt; ecdesiam, → ecclesiam,; ecdesiae → ecclesiae; [visitatoris → visitatoris; dmcorum → clericorum; Kceret → liceret; accidit) → accidit,; vidnis → vicinis; vicinafum → vicinarum; ecdesiarmn → ecclesiarum; inspectio → inspectio; mandatur.. VIL Ne jais ad ordinationem veniat nisi metropofiiani Uteris invitatu. → mandatur..

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 6 (Bruns 2:118; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-council-riez-439-6) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 7

7Bruns 2:118

Haec autem omnia exequiarum tempore usque ad septimam defuncti diem aget. Exin se ecclesiae regens mandatum metropolitani, simul cum omnibus sanctis episcopis opperietur. Nec quisquam ad ecclesiam quae summum amiserat sacerdotem nisi metropolitani literis invitatus accedat, ne a plebe decipiatur et vim pati voluisse videatur

He shall do all these things during the funeral, until the seventh day after the death. From then, governing the church, he shall await the mandate of the metropolitan, together with all the holy bishops. And let no one come to a church that has lost its chief priest unless invited by letters of the metropolitan, lest he be deceived by the people and seem to have wished to suffer violence.

Notes and citation

Summary: The visiting bishop governs a vacant church until the metropolitan's mandate; no bishop may come to a vacant church unless invited by the metropolitan.

  • "Seem to have wished to suffer violence": lest a bishop be seized by the people and ordained against the canons, as at Embrun, and appear to have consented.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): Haee → Haec; ezequiarum → exequiarum; temfoio → tempore; us,pie → usque; sepii, mam → septimam; deftincti → defuncti; refiorens → regens; ma datum → mandatum; siimul → simul; episeepis → episcopis; aeeedat, → accedat,.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 7 (Bruns 2:118; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 8

8Bruns 2:118

Quae voluntate communi in voluntate domini constituta omnes communi consensu conservanda neque quod absit, sine offensa omnium ac dei a quoquam transgredienda definiunt: adjicientes ut secundum antiquam constitutionem, si quies temporum erit, bis in anno conventus agant, ac certe inter quaslibet anxietates, neglectis propriis ac domesticis necessitatibus simul gratias agentes deo solum ecclesiae remedium remota ultionis prurigine atque omni animositate quaerant.

These things, established by common will in the will of the Lord, all define by common consent as to be kept, and not, God forbid, to be transgressed by anyone without offence to all and to God; adding that, according to the ancient constitution, if the times are quiet, they should hold assemblies twice a year; and certainly, amid any anxieties, neglecting their own and domestic needs, giving thanks to God together, they should seek only the remedy of the church, putting aside every itch for revenge and all animosity.

Notes and citation

Summary: The bishops bind themselves to the decrees and to hold councils twice a year in quiet times.

  • "The ancient constitution": Nicaea, canon 5.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): ooBStituta → constituta; consefvanda → conservanda; nequoi → neque; abdt, → absit,; transgredieuda → transgredienda; anxietateSy → anxietates,; domestids → domesticis; necessitatibus → necessitatibus; deo → deo; uhionis → ultionis; onuii → omni; animositatie → animositate.

Extrabiblical texts: Conc. Nic. 5 (Creed and Canons of the Council of Nicaea (325); allusion)

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 8 (Bruns 2:118; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 9

9Bruns 2:119

Perventum est huic sanctae synodo quod aliqui ignoti institutiones canonum fastu superbiae editiones antiqui hostis consilio emutilare nituntur, qui non humiles sed superbi seditionemque ecclesiis dei vel ejus sacerdotibus persistunt: placuit omni synodo hos tales ab ecclesia dei et a coetu catholicorum segregari ac excommunicatos exilio relegari, ut post correcti satisfactione poenitentiae ad sanctam communionem possint iidem admitti, non ad clerum.

It has come to this holy synod that some unknown persons, out of the pride of arrogance, try by the counsel of the ancient enemy to mutilate the institutions and editions of the canons; who, not humble but proud, persist in sedition against the churches of God or his priests. It was decided by the whole synod that such persons be separated from the church of God and from the assembly of catholics and, excommunicated, be banished into exile; so that afterwards, corrected by the satisfaction of penance, they may be admitted to holy communion, but not to the clergy.

Notes and citation

Summary: Those 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.

  • This and the following item are printed by Bruns after the acts of Riez; their origin is uncertain (item 10 is a Latin version of Antioch, canon 20).

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): Perveoiom → Perventum; qaod → quod; caaomiin → canonum; hostis. → hostis; nituiitur, → nituntur,; wpeifoi.seditionemque → superbi seditionemque; ecclesiabus → ecclesiis; onini → omni; synodb → synodo; cocta → coetu; ca ' tholicbrum → catholicorum; poeniteuUae → poenitentiae; conmiu-^ nionem → communionem; po,sint → possint.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 9 (Bruns 2:119; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 10

10Bruns 2:119

Sufficere visum est bis in anno per singulas provincias episcoporum concilium fieri, semel quidem post tertiam hebdomadam paschalis festivitatis, ita ut in quarta quaque hebdomada quae consequitur, id est media pentecoste concilium compleatur. Admoneant autem comprovinciales episcopi ii qui peramplioribus id est in metropolitanis civitatibus degunt. Secundum vero condlium Idibus Octobribus pro vindemiae temporibus habeatur, qui dies apud Graecos Hyperberetaei mensis decimus invenitur. In ipsis autem conciliis et presbyteros et diacones et judices, sive curiales ac privatos praesentes esse oportet, et omnes quotquot se laesos existimant causas enarrent et synodicam expectent sententiam Nec liceat aliquibus apud semelipsos concilia metropolitanorum queat esse praesentia et absque metropolitanorum episcoporum conscientia facere, quibus de omnibus causis veridicum ac fidelissimum constat emissum esse sanctionis judicium.

It seemed sufficient that a council of bishops be held twice a year in each province: once after the third week of the paschal feast, so that the council be completed in the fourth week that follows, that is, at mid-Pentecost. Let those bishops who live in the larger, that is the metropolitan, cities give notice to the bishops of the province. The second council is to be held on the Ides of October, on account of the time of the vintage, which day is found among the Greeks to be the tenth of the month Hyperberetaeus. At these councils presbyters and deacons and judges, or curials and private persons, ought to be present, and all who think themselves wronged should set out their cases and await the synod's sentence. Nor may any hold councils among themselves … without the knowledge of the metropolitan bishops, to whom it is established that a truthful and most faithful judgment of decision has been given in all causes.

Notes and citation

Summary: Provincial councils are to meet twice a year, in the fourth week after Easter and on 15 October.

  • A Latin version of Antioch (341), canon 20. One clause is garbled in the digitization ("concilia metropolitanorum queat esse praesentia"); marked "…".

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR debris or slip in the digital text (line-start quotation marks, note letters, broken words, misread letters)): siugulas → singulas; episcoponun → episcoporum; t,rtiam → tertiam; pentecoste condlium compleatur. → pentecoste concilium compleatur.; Octobnbus → Octobribus; Gtaecos → Graecos; HyperbeletMi → Hyperberetaei; concUiis → conciliis; judiceS, → judices,; existi-. mant → existimant; lioeat → liceat; fidelistfimum → fidelissimum; judicium. ^ → judicium..

Extrabiblical texts: Conc. Antioch. 20 (Canons of the Council of Antioch (in Encaeniis); quotation)

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Reg. 10 (Bruns 2:119; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-riez-439/0/#p-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (Bruns 1839, vol. 2; poor OCR, unreadable passages marked …); no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Latin.