# Canons of the Council of Neocaesarea

- Author: Anonymous
- Latin title: *Concilium Neocaesariense*
- Date: ca. 315 (approximate) (approximate)
- Source: Nikodemos the Hagiorite and Agapios, eds., Πηδάλιον τῆς νοητῆς νηὸς τῆς μιᾶς ἁγίας καθολικῆς καὶ ἀποστολικῆς τῶν ὀρθοδόξων ἐκκλησίας (Leipzig: Breitkopf, 1800; reprinted Athens and Zakynthos), text as transcribed on Greek Wikisource (raw wikitext, canon text only) (Greek text: the Pedalion (Nikodemos the Hagiorite and Agapios, 1800), transcription on Greek Wikisource, CC BY-SA)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Editions and translations: Hermann Theodor Bruns, ed., Canones apostolorum et conciliorum veterum selecti, vol. 1 (Berlin: Reimer, 1839); Friedrich Lauchert, ed., Die Kanones der wichtigsten altkirchlichen Concilien (Freiburg i. B.: Mohr, 1896); Périclès-Pierre Joannou, ed., Discipline générale antique (IVe-IXe s.), vol. 1.2 (Grottaferrata: Tipografia Italo-Orientale, 1962)
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/
- Passages: 15

## Canon 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-1
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A presbyter who marries after ordination is removed from his rank; one guilty of sexual sin is expelled and put to penance.

### Greek text

Πρεσβύτερος, ἐὰν γήμῃ, τῆς τάξεως αὐτὸν μετατίθεσθαι· ἐὰν δὲ πορνεύσῃ, ἢ μοιχεύσῃ, ἐξωθεῖσθαι αὐτὸν τέλεον, καὶ ἄγεσθαι εἰς μετάνοιαν.

### English translation (Claude)

If a presbyter marries, he is to be removed from his order; and if he commits sexual immorality or adultery, he is to be driven out completely and brought to penance.

### Translation notes

- The canon concerns marriage after ordination.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 1 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-1).

## Canon 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-2
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A woman who marries two brothers in turn is excluded until death, unless at death she promises to dissolve the marriage if she recovers.

### Greek text

Γυνή, ἐὰν γήμηται δύο ἀδελφοῖς, ἐξωθείσθω μέχρι θανάτου· πλὴν ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ διὰ τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν εἰποῦσα, ὡς ὑγιάνασα λύσει τὸν γάμον, ἕξει τὴν μετάνοιαν. Ἐὰν δὲ τελευτήσῃ ἡ γυνὴ ἐν τοιούτῳ γάμῳ οὖσα, ἤτοι ὁ ἀνήρ, δυσχερὴς τῷ μείναντι ἡ μετάνοια.

### English translation (Claude)

If a woman has married two brothers, let her be driven out until death; except that at death, out of kindness, if she says that, should she recover, she will dissolve the marriage, she shall have penance. But if the woman, being in such a marriage, dies, or the man, penance is difficult for the one who remains.

### Translation notes

- “She shall have penance”: she will be admitted to penance and so to reconciliation.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 2 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-2).

## Canon 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-3
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: Those married many times do the fixed penance, which may be shortened by their conduct and faith.

### Greek text

Περὶ τῶν πλείστοις γάμοις περιπιπτόντων ὁ μὲν χρόνος σαφὴς ὁ ὡρισμένος, ἡ δὲ ἀναστροφὴ καὶ ἡ πίστις αὐτῶν συντέμνει τὸν χρόνον.

### English translation (Claude)

Concerning those who fall into very many marriages: the time appointed is clear, but their conduct and faith shorten the time.

### Translation notes

- “Very many marriages”: successive marriages after the death of spouses; the length of the penance is not stated here.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 3 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-3).

## Canon 4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-4
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A man who intended adultery but did not commit it appears to have been saved by grace.

### Greek text

Ἐὰν πρόθηταί τις, ἐπιθυμήσας γυναικός, συγκαθευδῆσαι μετ᾽ αὐτῆς, μὴ ἔλθῃ δὴ εἰς ἔργον αὐτοῦ ἡ ἐνθύμησις, φαίνεται ὅτι ὑπὸ τῆς χάριτος ἐρρύσθη.

### English translation (Claude)

If anyone, having desired a woman, resolves to sleep with her, but his intention does not come to the deed, it appears that he has been rescued by grace.

### Scripture references

- Matt 5:28: echo, low confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 4 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-4).

## Canon 5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-5
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A catechumen who sins is moved down to the hearers, and expelled if he goes on sinning.

### Greek text

Κατηχούμενος, ἐὰν εἰσερχόμενος εἰς Κυριακόν, ἐν τῇ τῶν κατηχουμένων τάξει στήκῃ, οὗτος δὲ ἁμαρτάνῃ, ἐὰν μὲν γόνυ κλίνων, ἀκροάσθω μηκέτι ἁμαρτάνων· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἀκροώμενος ἔτι ἁμαρτάνῃ, ἐξωθείσθω.

### English translation (Claude)

A catechumen who, entering the church, stands in the order of the catechumens, but this one sins: if he is a kneeler, let him become a hearer, sinning no more; but if he still sins even while a hearer, let him be driven out.

### Translation notes

- Catechumens too were divided into grades: “kneelers” (who stayed for the prayer over them) and “hearers” (who heard only the readings and sermon).

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 5 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-5).

## Canon 6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-6
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A pregnant woman may be baptized when she wishes, since her baptism does not extend to the unborn child.

### Greek text

Περὶ κυοφορούσης, ὅτι δεῖ φωτίζεσθαι, ὁπότε βούλεται· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐν τούτῳ κοινωνεῖ ἡ τίκτουσα τῷ τικτομένῳ· διὰ τὸ ἑκάστου ἰδίαν τὴν προαίρεσιν τὴν ἐπὶ τῇ ὁμολογίᾳ δείκνυσθαι.

### English translation (Claude)

Concerning a pregnant woman: that she should be illuminated whenever she wishes; for in this the one giving birth has nothing in common with the one being born, because each one's own choice is shown in the confession.

### Translation notes

- “Illuminated”: baptized.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 6 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-6).

## Canon 7

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-7
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A presbyter should not attend the wedding feast of a second marriage, since such a marriage requires penance.

### Greek text

Πρεσβύτερον εἰς γάμους διγαμούντων μὴ ἑστιᾶσθαι· ἐπεὶ μετάνοιαν αἰτοῦντος τοῦ διγάμου, τίς ἔσται ὁ πρεσβύτερος, ὁ διὰ τῆς ἑστιάσεως συγκατατιθέμενος τοῖς γάμοις;

### English translation (Claude)

A presbyter is not to feast at the weddings of those marrying a second time; for when the twice-married man asks for penance, who will the presbyter be who by feasting gave his consent to the marriage?

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 7 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-7).

## Canon 8

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-8
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A man whose wife was convicted of adultery cannot be ordained, and a cleric whose wife commits adultery must put her away or give up his ministry.

### Greek text

Γυνή τινος μοιχευθεῖσα λαϊκοῦ ὄντος, ἐὰν ἐλεγχθῇ φανερῶς, ὁ τοιοῦτος εἰς ὑπηρεσίαν ἐλθεῖν οὐ δύναται. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ μετὰ τὴν χειροτονίαν μοιχευθῇ, ὀφείλει ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν· ἐὰν δὲ συζῇ, οὐ δύναται ἔχεσθαι τῆς ἐγχειρισθείσης αὐτῷ ὑπηρεσίας.

### English translation (Claude)

If the wife of anyone who is a layman has committed adultery and has been openly convicted, such a man cannot enter the ministry. And if she commits adultery after his ordination, he must put her away; but if he lives with her, he cannot keep the ministry entrusted to him.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 8 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-8).

## Canon 9

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-9
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A presbyter who confesses a sexual sin committed before ordination may not celebrate the eucharist but keeps his other duties.

### Greek text

Πρεσβύτερος, ἐὰν προημαρτηκῶς σώματι προαχθῇ, καὶ ὁμολογήσῃ, ὅτι ἥμαρτε πρὸ τῆς χειροτονίας, μὴ προσφερέτω, μένων ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς, διὰ τὴν ἄλλην σπουδήν· τὰ γὰρ λοιπὰ ἁμαρτήματα ἔφασαν οἱ πολλοὶ καὶ τὴν χειροθεσίαν ἀφιέναι. Ἐὰν δὲ αὐτὸς μὴ ὁμολογῇ, ἐλεγχθῆναι δὲ φανερῶς μὴ δυνηθῇ, ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ ἐκείνῳ ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν.

### English translation (Claude)

If a presbyter who had sinned in the body before is promoted and confesses that he sinned before his ordination, let him not offer, though he remains in his other functions because of his zeal in other respects; for many have said that ordination also remits the other sins. But if he does not confess himself and cannot be openly convicted, the decision is to be left to himself.

### Translation notes

- “Sinned in the body”: sexual sin. “The other sins”: sins other than this one, which many held ordination to forgive.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 9 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-9).

## Canon 10

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-10
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A deacon in the same case is reduced to the rank of an attendant.

### Greek text

Ὁμοίως καὶ διάκονος, ἐὰν τῷ αὐτῷ ἁμαρτήματι περιπέσῃ, τὴν τοῦ ὑπηρέτου τάξιν ἐχέτω.

### English translation (Claude)

Likewise also a deacon, if he falls into the same sin, let him have the rank of an attendant.

### Translation notes

- “Attendant” (ὑπηρέτης): a lower minister, often identified with the subdeacon.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 10 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-10).

## Canon 11

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-11
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: No one is to be ordained presbyter before thirty, the age at which Christ was baptized and began to teach.

### Greek text

Πρεσβύτερος πρὸ τῶν τριάκοντα ἐτῶν μὴ χειροτονείσθω, ἐὰν καὶ πάνυ ᾖ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἄξιος, ἀλλὰ ἀποτηρείσθω. Ὁ γὰρ Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν τῷ τριακοστῷ ἔτει ἐβαπτίσθη, καὶ ἤρξατο διδάσκειν.

### English translation (Claude)

Let no one be ordained presbyter before thirty years of age, even if the man is altogether worthy, but let him wait. For the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized in the thirtieth year, and began to teach.

### Scripture references

- Luke 3:23: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 11 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-11).

## Canon 12

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-12
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: Someone baptized on a sickbed is not normally to be ordained presbyter, unless his later zeal and a lack of candidates justify it.

### Greek text

Ἐὰν νοσῶν τις φωτισθῇ, εἰς πρεσβυτέριον ἄγεσθαι οὐ δύναται· οὐκ ἐκ προαιρέσεως γὰρ ἡ πίστις αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· εἰμὴ τάχα διὰ τὴν μετὰ ταῦτα αὐτοῦ σπουδὴν καὶ πίστιν, καὶ διὰ σπάνιν ἀνθρώπων.

### English translation (Claude)

If anyone is illuminated while ill, he cannot be advanced to the presbyterate; for his faith is not from choice but from necessity; unless perhaps on account of his later zeal and faith, and on account of a shortage of men.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 12 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-12).

## Canon 13

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-13
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: Country presbyters may not celebrate or give communion in the city church when city clergy are present.

### Greek text

Ἐπιχώριοι πρεσβύτεροι ἐν τῷ Κυριακῷ τῆς πόλεως προσφέρειν οὐ δύνανται, παρόντος ἐπισκόπου, ἢ πρεσβυτέρων πόλεως· οὔτε μὴν ἄρτον διδόναι ἐν εὐχῇ, οὐδὲ ποτήριον· ἐὰν δὲ ἀπῶσι, καὶ εἰς εὐχήν κληθῇ μόνος, δίδωσιν.

### English translation (Claude)

Country presbyters cannot offer in the church of the city when the bishop or the presbyters of the city are present; nor indeed give the bread in the prayer, nor the cup. But if they are absent, and he alone is called to the prayer, he gives it.

### Translation notes

- “The prayer”: the eucharistic prayer.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 13 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-13).

## Canon 14

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-14
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: Country bishops correspond to the Seventy and, honored for their care of the poor, may celebrate the eucharist.

### Greek text

Οἱ δὲ χωρεπίσκοποι, εἰσὶ μὲν εἰς τύπον τῶν ἑβδομήκοντα· ὡς δὲ συλλειτουργοί, διὰ τὴν σπουδὴν τὴν εἰς τοὺς πτωχοὺς προσφέρουσι τιμώμενοι.

### English translation (Claude)

The country bishops are after the pattern of the Seventy; and as fellow ministers, because of their zeal for the poor, they offer, being held in honor.

### Scripture references

- Luke 10:1: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- “The Seventy”: the disciples sent out by Jesus in Luke 10.

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 14 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-14).

## Canon 15

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-15
- Source: Pedalion
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-15

Summary: A city should have seven deacons, however large, following the book of Acts.

### Greek text

Διάκονοι ἑπτὰ ὀφείλουσιν εἶναι κατὰ τὸν κανόνα, κἂν πάνυ μεγάλη ᾖ ἡ πόλις. Πεισθήσῃ δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς βίβλου τῶν Πράξεων.

### English translation (Claude)

There ought to be seven deacons according to the canon, even if the city is very large. You will be persuaded of this from the book of the Acts.

### Scripture references

- Acts 6:3: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Conc. Neocaes. 15 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-neocaesarea/1/#p-15).