Canons of the First Council of Saragossa (complete)
Latin text: PL 84 (Latin text: Migne PL 84, digital text by OpenGreekAndLatin (CC BY-SA 4.0)).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Preamble
0PL 84:316
Caesaraugusta in secretario residentibus episcopis Fitadio, Delfino, Eutychio, Ampelio, Auxentio, Lucio, Itacio, Splendonio, Valerio, Symposio, Cartherio et Idacio, ab universis dictum est: Recitentur sententiae. Lucius episcopus legit.
At Caesaraugusta, the bishops Phoebadius, Delphinus, Eutychius, Ampelius, Auxentius, Lucius, Itacius, Splendonius, Valerius, Symposius, Carterius, and Idacius sitting in the sacristy, it was said by all: Let the sentences be read. Bishop Lucius read.
Notes and citation
Summary: Opening of the council of Saragossa (380): twelve bishops meet and the proposed sentences are read.
- Caesaraugusta is Saragossa (Zaragoza). Among the bishops are Phoebadius of Agen, Delphinus of Bordeaux, Ithacius of Ossonoba and Hydatius of Mérida. The council is generally understood to be aimed at practices of the followers of Priscillian, though he is not named.
- No public-domain English translation exists; the translation was re-read against the Latin.
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I pref. (PL 84:316; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-0). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).
Chapter 1
1PL 84:316
Ut mulieres omnes Ecclesiae catholicae et fideles a virorum alienorum lectione et coetibus separentur, vel ad ipsas legentes aliae studio vel docendi vel discendi conveniant, quoniam hoc Apostolus jubet. Ab universis episcopis dictum est: Anathema futuros qui hanc concilii sententiam non observaverint.
That all the women of the catholic church, and the faithful, are to be kept apart from the reading and the meetings of men not their own, nor are other women to gather with women who read, out of zeal either for teaching or for learning, since the Apostle commands this. It was said by all the bishops: Those who do not observe this sentence of the council will be anathema.
1 Cor 14:34–35 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Tim 2:11–12 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Women are not to attend the reading meetings of men not their own or hold their own teaching meetings, as the Apostle commands.
- Heading in the edition: “That faithful women be kept apart from the meetings of men not their own.” The Apostle's command is probably 1 Cor 14:34–35 or 1 Tim 2:11–12.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip): coelibus → coetibus.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I 1 (PL 84:316; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).
Chapter 2
2PL 84:316
Item legit; Ne quis jejunet die dominica causa temporis aut persuasionis aut superstitionis, et quadragesimarum die ab ecclesiis non desint nec habitent latibula cubiculorum ac montium qui in his suspicionibus perseverant, sed exemplum et praeceptum custodiant sacerdotum et ad alienas villas agendorum conventuum causa non conveniant. Ab universis episcopis dictum est: Anathema sit qui hoc commiserit.
Likewise he read: That no one is to fast on the Lord's day for the sake of the season, or of persuasion, or of superstition; and that on the days of Lent those who persist in these suspect practices are not to be absent from the churches, nor dwell in hiding places in chambers and mountains, but are to keep the example and precept of the bishops, and are not to gather at other people's country estates to hold meetings. It was said by all the bishops: Let him be anathema who has committed this.
Notes and citation
Summary: No one is to fast on Sunday, or during Lent to stay away from church in secret retreats or private meetings.
- Heading in the edition: “That no one fast on Sundays nor be absent from church on the days of Lent.”
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip): aed exemplum → sed exemplum.
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I 2 (PL 84:316; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).
Chapter 3
3PL 84:316
Item legit: Eucharistiae gratiam si quis probatur acceptam in ecclesia non sumpsisse anathema sit in perpetuum. Ab universis episcopis dictum est: Placet.
Likewise he read: If anyone is proved not to have consumed in the church the grace of the eucharist received there, let him be anathema forever. It was said by all the bishops: It pleases.
Notes and citation
Summary: Anyone who receives the eucharist in church but does not consume it there is anathematized.
- Heading in the edition: “That one who receives the eucharist in church and does not consume it there be anathematized.”
Topics: Eucharist
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I 3 (PL 84:316; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).
Chapter 4
4PL 84:316
Item legit: Viginti et uno die quo a xvi Kalendas Januarias usque in diem Epiphaniae qui est VIII Idus Januarias continuis diebus nulli liceat de ecclesia absentare, nec latere in domibus, nec secedere in villam, nec montes petere, nec nudis pedibus incedere, sed concurrere ad ecclesiam: quod qui non observaverit de susceptis, anathema sit in perpetuum. Ab universis episcopis dictum est: Anathema sit.
Likewise he read: For twenty-one days, from the sixteenth day before the Kalends of January until the day of Epiphany, which is the eighth day before the Ides of January, no one is permitted on consecutive days to be absent from the church, nor to hide in houses, nor to withdraw to a country estate, nor to seek the mountains, nor to walk barefoot, but all are to come together to the church. Whoever of those received does not observe this, let him be anathema forever. It was said by all the bishops: Let him be anathema.
Notes and citation
Summary: From 17 December to Epiphany (6 January) no one may withdraw from church to houses, estates or mountains or go barefoot.
- Heading in the edition: “That no one withdraw from the church in the three weeks before Epiphany.” The dates are 17 December to 6 January. “Of those received” (de susceptis) is obscure; it may mean those received into the church.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip): nee latere → nec latere; qui nen observaverit → qui non observaverit.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I 4 (PL 84:316; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).
Chapter 5
5PL 84:316
Item lectum est: Ut hi qui per disciplinam aut sententiam episcopi ab Ecclesia fuerint separati ab aliis episcopis non sint recipiendi; quod si scientes episcopi fecerint, non habeant communionem. Ab universis episcopis dictum est: Qui hoc commiserit, episcoporum non habeat communionem.
Likewise it was read: That those who have been separated from the church by the discipline or sentence of a bishop are not to be received by other bishops; and if bishops do this knowingly, they are not to have communion. It was said by all the bishops: Whoever has committed this is not to have the communion of the bishops.
Notes and citation
Summary: Those excommunicated by their own bishop may not be received by others.
- Heading in the edition: “That those deprived by their own bishops be not received by others.”
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip): Qui boc commiserit → Qui hoc commiserit.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I 5 (PL 84:316; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).
Chapter 6
6PL 84:316
Item legit: Si quis de clericis propter luxum vanitatemque praesumptam de officio suo sponte discesserit, ac se velut observationem legis in monacho videri voluerit esse quam clericum, ita de Ecclesia repellendum ut nisi rogando atque observando plurimis temporibus satisfecerit, non recipiatur. Ab universis episcopis dictum est: Ita fiat.
Likewise he read: If any of the clergy, out of luxury and presumptuous vanity, has of his own accord left his office and wishes to be seen as one keeping the law as a monk rather than as a cleric, he is to be driven from the church, so that he is not received unless he has made satisfaction by entreaty and observance for a very long time. It was said by all the bishops: So be it.
Notes and citation
Summary: A cleric who abandons his office out of vanity to pose as a monk is excluded until long satisfaction.
- Heading in the edition: “That a cleric who wishes to be a monk for the sake of licence be excommunicated.” The Latin of the middle clause is awkward; translated by sense.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I 6 (PL 84:316; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).
Chapter 7
7PL 84:317
Item lectum est: Ne quis doctoris sibi nomen imponat praeter has personas quibus concessum est, secundum id quod scriptum est. Ab universis episcopis dictum est: Placet.
Likewise it was read: That no one is to take for himself the name of teacher except those persons to whom it has been granted, according to what is written. It was said by all the bishops: It pleases.
Jas 3:1 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: No one may assume the title of teacher without authorization.
- Heading in the edition: “That no one take the name of teacher to whom it has not been granted.” “What is written” is not specified; compare 1 Cor 12:28–29 and Jas 3:1.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I 7 (PL 84:317; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).
Chapter 8
8PL 84:318
Item lectum est: Non velandas esse virgines, quae se Deo voverint, nisi quadraginta annorum probata aetate, quam sacerdos comprobaverit. Ab universis episcopis dictum est: Placet.
Likewise it was read: That virgins who have vowed themselves to God are not to be veiled unless their age of forty years has been proved, as the priest has verified. It was said by all the bishops: It pleases.
Notes and citation
Summary: Virgins vowed to God may not be veiled before the proven age of forty.
- Heading in the edition: “That consecrated virgins be not veiled before forty years.” “The priest” (sacerdos): the bishop.
Cite (SBL): Conc. Caesaraug. I 8 (PL 84:318; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-saragossa-380/0/#p-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Hispana text in Migne PL 84, OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English).