Canonical Epistle
Epistola canonica · Ἐπιστολὴ κανονική
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Contents
- 1Captives who ate the barbarians' food are not defiled, since it was not offered to idols; women raped in captivity are not to be blamed unless their earlier life was already immoral.
- 2Those who profited from the invasion by plunder are to be excommunicated, lest God's wrath fall on the whole people and on the bishops who fail to act.
- 3Plundering a fellow Christian's goods during the invasion is like Achan's theft of the devoted thing, which brought wrath on all Israel.
- 4Keeping goods one has found is forbidden by the law of Deuteronomy and Exodus, all the more when their owners have fled from enemies.
- 5Taking others' property as compensation for one's own losses is like the barbarians' plunder; Gregory sends the presbyter Euphrosynus to guide the inquiries and exclusions.
- 6Those who forcibly detain escaped captives are to be investigated without delay.
- 7Christians who joined the invaders and killed or betrayed their neighbours are excluded even from the hearers until a synod decides their case.
- 8Those who broke into others' houses during the invasion are excluded from the hearers if convicted, but placed among the kneelers if they confess and make restitution.
- 9Those who kept things the barbarians left behind are placed among the kneelers if convicted, but admitted to the prayers if they confess and give them back.
- 10Those who return lost property must not demand any reward for it.
- 11A description of the four grades of public penance (weeping, hearing, kneeling, standing together) and the final restoration to communion.