Canons of the Council of Arles (314)
The whole work on one page. Select a passage number to open that passage with its notes, Scripture references, and citation.
Preamble (synodal letter to Silvester)
0Lauchert, 26
Domino sanctissimo fratri Silvestro Marinus vel coetus episcoporum qui adunati fuerunt in oppido Arelatensi. Quid decreverimus communi consilio caritati tuae significamus, ut omnes sciant quid in futurum observare debeant.
To the most holy lord and brother Silvester, Marinus and the assembly of bishops who were gathered in the town of Arles. What we have decreed by common counsel we make known to your charity, so that all may know what they ought to observe in future.
Chapter 1
1Lauchert, 26
Primo loco de observatione paschae domini, ut uno die et uno tempore per omnem orbem a nobis observetur et iuxta consuetudinem litteras ad omnes tu dirigas.
In the first place, concerning the observance of the Lord's Pascha: that it be observed by us on one day and at one time throughout the whole world, and that you, according to custom, send letters to all.
Chapter 2
2Lauchert, 26
De his qui in quibuscumque locis ordinati fuerint ministri, in ipsis locis perseverent.
Concerning those who have been ordained ministers in any places: let them remain in those same places.
Chapter 3
3Lauchert, 26
De his qui arma proiciunt in pace, placuit abstineri eos a communione.
Concerning those who throw away their arms in peace: it is decided that they be kept from communion.
Chapter 4
4Lauchert, 26
De agitatoribus qui fideles sunt, placuit eos quamdiu agitant a communione separari.
Concerning charioteers who are believers: it is decided that they be separated from communion as long as they drive.
Chapter 5
5Lauchert, 27
De theatricis, et ipsos placuit quamdiu agunt a communione separari.
Concerning theater people: it is decided that they too be separated from communion as long as they perform.
Chapter 6
6Lauchert, 27
De his qui in infirmitate credere volunt, placuit eis debere manum imponi.
Concerning those who wish to believe when ill: it is decided that hands ought to be laid on them.
Chapter 7
7Lauchert, 27
De praesidibus qui fideles ad praesidatum prosiliunt, placuit, ut cum promoti fuerint, litteras accipiant ecclesiasticas communicatorias, ita tamen ut in quibuscumque locis gesserint, ab episcopo eiusdem loci cura illis agatur, et cum coeperint contra disciplinam agere, tum demum a communione excludantur. Similiter et de his qui rem publicam agere volunt.
Concerning governors who are believers and come forward to the governorship: it is decided that, when they have been promoted, they receive ecclesiastical letters of communion, but in such a way that in whatever places they hold office the bishop of that place take care of them; and when they begin to act against discipline, then at last they are to be excluded from communion. Likewise also concerning those who wish to hold public office.
Chapter 8
8Lauchert, 27
De Afris quod propria lege sua utuntur ut rebaptizent, placuit, ut si ad ecclesiam aliquis de haeresi venerit, interrogent eum symbolum; et si perviderint eum in patre et filio et spiritu sancto esse baptizatum, manus ei tantum imponatur ut accipiat spiritum sanctum. Quod si interrogatus non responderit hanc trinitatem, baptizetur.
Concerning the Africans, since they use their own law of rebaptizing: it is decided that, if anyone comes to the church from a heresy, they ask him the creed; and if they see clearly that he has been baptized in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, only a hand is to be laid on him, so that he may receive the Holy Spirit. But if, when asked, he does not answer this Trinity, let him be baptized.
Chapter 9
9Lauchert, 27
De his qui confessorum litteras afferunt, placuit, ut sublatis eis litteris alias accipiant communicatorias.
Concerning those who bring letters of confessors: it is decided that those letters be taken away and that they receive other letters of communion.
Chapter 10
10Lauchert, 27
De his qui coniuges suas in adulterio deprehendunt, et iidem sunt adolescentes fideles et prohibentur nubere, placuit, ut in quantum possit consilium eis detur, ne viventibus uxoribus suis, licet adulteris, alias accipiant.
Concerning those who catch their wives in adultery, and are themselves young believers and are forbidden to marry: it is decided that, as far as possible, counsel be given them not to take other wives while their own wives, though adulteresses, are living.
Chapter 11
11Lauchert, 27
De puellis fidelibus quae gentilibus iunguntur, placuit, ut aliquanto tempore a communione separentur.
Concerning believing girls who are joined to pagans: it is decided that they be separated from communion for some time.
Chapter 12
12Lauchert, 28
De ministris qui foenerant, placuit eos iuxta formam divinitus datam a communione abstineri.
Concerning ministers who lend at interest: it is decided that they be kept from communion according to the rule divinely given.
Chapter 13
13Lauchert, 28
De his qui scripturas sanctas tradidisse dicuntur vel vasa dominica vel nomina fratrum suorum, placuit nobis, ut quicumque eorum ex actis publicis fuerit detectus, non verbis nudis, ab ordine cleri amoveatur; nam si iidem aliquos ordinasse fuerint deprehensi, et hi quos ordinaverunt rationales subsistunt, non illis obsit ordinatio. Et quoniam multi sunt qui contra ecclesiasticam regulam pugnare videntur et per testes redemptos putant se ad accusationem admitti debere, omnino non admittantur, nisi, ut supra diximus, actis publicis docuerint.
Concerning those who are said to have handed over the holy Scriptures, or the Lord's vessels, or the names of their brothers: it is decided by us that whoever of them is exposed by public records, not by bare words, be removed from the order of the clergy; for if the same are found to have ordained some, and those whom they ordained remain worthy, their ordination is not to harm them. And since there are many who are seen to fight against the church's rule and think they ought to be admitted to accuse through bribed witnesses, let them not be admitted at all, unless, as we said above, they prove it by public records.
Chapter 14
14Lauchert, 28
De his qui falso accusant fratres suos, placuit eos usque ad exitum non communicare.
Concerning those who falsely accuse their brothers: it is decided that they not communicate until their death.
Chapter 15
15Lauchert, 28
De diaconibus quos cognovimus multis locis offerre, placuit minime fieri debere.
Concerning deacons, who we have learned offer in many places: it is decided that this ought by no means to be done.
Chapter 16
16Lauchert, 28
De his qui pro delicto suo a communione separantur, placuit, ut in quibuscumque locis fuerint exclusi, in eisdem communionem consequantur.
Concerning those who are separated from communion for their offense: it is decided that in whatever places they were excluded, in those same places they obtain communion.
Chapter 17
17Lauchert, 28
Ut nullus episcopus alium episcopum inculcet.
That no bishop trample on another bishop.
Chapter 18
18Lauchert, 28–29
De diaconibus urbicis, ut non sibi tantum praesumant, sed honorem presbyteris reservent, ut sine conscientia ipsorum nihil tale faciant.
Concerning the deacons of the city: that they not presume so much for themselves, but reserve honor to the presbyters, so that they do nothing of this kind without their knowledge.
Chapter 19
19Lauchert, 29
De episcopis peregrinis qui in urbem solent venire, placuit eis locum dari, ut offerant.
Concerning foreign bishops who are accustomed to come into the city: it is decided that a place be given them to offer.
Chapter 20
20Lauchert, 29
De his qui usurpant sibi quod soli debeant episcopos ordinare, placuit, ut nullus hoc sibi praesumat nisi assumptis secum aliis septem episcopis. Si tamen non potuerit septem, infra tres non audeat ordinare.
Concerning those who claim for themselves that they ought to ordain bishops alone: it is decided that no one presume this unless he has taken with him seven other bishops. If, however, he cannot have seven, let him not dare to ordain with fewer than three.
Chapter 21
21Lauchert, 29
De presbyteris aut diaconibus qui solent dimittere loca sua in quibus ordinati sunt et ad alia loca se transferunt, placuit, ut eis locis ministrent, quibus praefixi sunt. Quod si relictis locis suis ad alium se locum transferre voluerint, deponantur.
Concerning presbyters or deacons who are accustomed to leave their places in which they were ordained and transfer themselves to other places: it is decided that they minister in those places to which they were appointed. But if they wish to leave their places and transfer themselves to another place, let them be deposed.
Chapter 22
22Lauchert, 29
De his qui apostatant et nunquam se ad ecclesiam repraesentant, ne quidem poenitentiam agere quaerunt, et postea infirmitate arrepti petunt communionem, placuit eis non dandam communionem, nisi revaluerint et egerint dignos fructus poenitentiae.
Concerning those who apostatize and never present themselves at the church, nor even seek to do penance, and afterward, when seized by illness, ask for communion: it is decided that communion is not to be given them unless they recover and bring forth worthy fruits of repentance.