Canons of the Council of Sardica (Latin)

Bishop Osius said: A bad custom, no less than a pernicious corruption, must be rooted out from its foundations, so that no bishop may be permitted to pass from his own city to another city. For the reason why they attempt this is plain, since no bishop has been found in this matter who would pass from a greater city to a lesser. Hence it appears that they are inflamed with the heat of avarice and serve ambition, and seek to exercise domination. If it pleases all, let such a pest be punished more severely and sternly, so that one who is such shall not have even lay communion. All answered: It pleases.

Bishop Osius said: Even if someone should prove so rash as perhaps to offer an excuse, asserting that he has received letters from the people, since it is plain that a few, who do not have a sincere faith, could have been corrupted by reward and payment, so as to shout in the church and seem to ask for him as bishop: I judge that these frauds must be wholly condemned, so that such a one does not receive lay communion even at the end. If it pleases you all, decree it. The synod answered: It pleases.

Bishop Osius said: This too must necessarily be added, that bishops are not to pass from their own province to another province in which there are bishops, unless perhaps invited by their brothers, so that we may not seem to shut the door of love. And if in any province some bishop has a suit against his brother bishop, neither of the two is to call in a bishop from another province as judge. And if any of the bishops has been judged in some case and thinks he has a good case, so that the hearing may be renewed: if it pleases you, let us honor the memory of the holy apostle Peter, so that those who examined the case write to Julius, the Roman bishop; and if he judges that the trial should be renewed, let it be renewed, and let him appoint judges; but if he finds the case to be such that what has been done should not be reopened, what he has decreed shall be confirmed. Does this please all? The synod answered: It pleases.

Bishop Gaudentius said: Let there be added, if it pleases, to this sentence which you have pronounced, full of holiness, that when any bishop has been deposed by the judgment of the bishops who dwell in neighboring places, and has declared that his case is to be heard in the city of Rome, another bishop is by no means to be ordained to his see after the appeal of him who appears to be deposed, unless the case has been determined in the judgment of the Roman bishop.

Bishop Osius said: If it happens that in a province in which there were very many bishops only one bishop perhaps remains, and he through negligence will not ordain a bishop, and the people have come together, the bishops of the neighboring province ought first to approach that bishop who stays in that province and show him that the people are asking for a ruler for themselves, and that it is right that they too should come and ordain a bishop together with him. But if, though approached by letter, he keeps silent and pretends not to notice and writes nothing back, the people must be satisfied, so that bishops come from the neighboring province and ordain a bishop.

But leave is not to be given to ordain a bishop either in some village or in a small town for which one presbyter suffices, because there is no need for a bishop to be made there, lest the name and authority of a bishop be cheapened. Those invited from another province ought not to make a bishop except either in those cities which have had bishops, or if a city is of such a kind or so populous that it deserves to have a bishop. Does this please all? The synod answered: It pleases.

Bishop Osius said: It has pleased, moreover, that if a bishop has been accused, and the assembled bishops of that region have judged him and removed him from his rank, if he who was removed has appealed and taken refuge with the bishop of the Roman church and wishes to be heard, and if he thinks it just that the trial or the examination of the case be renewed, let him deign to write to those bishops who are in the bordering and neighboring province, so that they themselves may inquire into everything diligently and decide according to the faith of truth. But if he who asks that his case be heard again moves the Roman bishop by his entreaty to send a presbyter from his side, it shall be in the bishop's power what he wishes and what he judges right; and if he decides that persons should be sent to judge in person together with the bishops, having the authority of him by whom they were appointed, it shall be at his discretion. But if he believes that the bishops suffice to put an end to the matter, he will do what he judges in his most wise counsel.

Bishop Osius said: Importunities, excessive frequency, and unjust petitions have caused us not to have so much either favor or confidence, while certain bishops do not cease going to the court, and especially the Africans, who, as we have learned, spurn and despise the salutary counsels of our most holy brother and fellow bishop Gratus, so that they not only carry to the court many and various cases that will not benefit the church, and not, as is usual or proper, so that the poor or widows or orphans may be helped, but even ask for secular dignities and offices for certain people. This perversity, then, has for some time stirred up not only murmurings but even scandals. But it is honorable that bishops should give their intercession to those who are oppressed by unjust force, or if a widow is afflicted or an orphan despoiled, provided these persons have a just cause or petition. If, then, it pleases you, dearest brothers, decree that bishops are not to go to the court, except perhaps those who have been invited or summoned by letters of the religious emperor. But since it often happens that those who suffer injury, or who for their sins are condemned to exile or to islands, or who indeed receive any sentence whatever, take refuge in the mercy of the church, these must be helped and indulgence must be asked for them without hesitation. Decree this, then, if it pleases you. All said: It pleases, and let it be established.

Bishop Osius said: Your foresight ought also to deal with this, since you have decreed that bishops should not, out of importunity, press to go to the court. Whoever, then, have or receive petitions such as we mentioned above, let them send them through their deacon, because the person of a minister does not arouse envy, and he will be able to bring back more quickly what he has obtained. And this seems to follow, that from any province whatever the bishops should send petitions to that brother and fellow bishop of ours who is established in the metropolis, so that he may send both his deacon and the petitions, giving letters of commendation in like manner to our brothers and fellow bishops who at that time dwell in those regions and cities in which the fortunate and blessed Augustus governs the state. But if a bishop who wishes to obtain something, something honorable, however, has friends in the palace, he is not prohibited from asking through his deacon and making it known to those whom he knows can give him kind intercession in his absence.

But those who come to Rome, as has been said, are to hand over the petitions they have to our most holy brother and fellow bishop of the Roman church, so that he too may first examine whether they are honorable and just, and may give diligence and care that they be carried to the court. All said that it pleased them and that the counsel was honorable. Bishop Alypius said: If they have undertaken the hardships of travel for the sake of orphans and widows or those in distress who have causes that are not unjust, they will have some reason; but now, since they ask above all for things that cannot be without men's envy and without reproach, there is no need for them to go to the court.

Bishop Gaudentius said: What you have salutarily provided, being fitting and, in the judgment of all, pleasing to God and to men, can keep its firmness only if fear is joined to this sentence. For we ourselves know that very often, because of the shamelessness of a few, the religious name of the priesthood has been censured. If, then, anyone, striving against the judgment of all, wishes to please ambition rather than God, he ought to know that, when the case has been heard, he will lose his honor and dignity. This can be accomplished only if each of us who is established on the highway, when he sees a bishop passing through, inquires about his journey, looks into the reasons, and learns where he is going; and if he finds him going to the court, let him inquire also into what is contained above, whether perhaps he has been invited, so that he may be permitted to go. But if, as your holiness mentioned above, he goes to the court because of desires and ambitions, neither is his letter to be signed, nor is he to be received into communion. If it pleases you, it must be confirmed by the judgment of all. All said that this regulation was honorable and pleased them.

Bishop Osius said: But moderation too is needed, dearly beloved brothers, lest some who still do not know what has been decreed in the synod should come suddenly to those cities that are on the highway. The bishop of that city ought therefore to admonish him and instruct him to send his deacon from that place; and, having been admonished, he himself is to return to his own district.

Bishop Osius said: This too I think necessary, that you consider most carefully that, if perhaps a rich man, or a lawyer from the forum, or a former administrator has been requested as bishop, he is not to be ordained before he has first discharged the office of reader and the duty of deacon or presbyter, and so, if he is worthy, ascends by the several grades to the summit of the episcopate. For through these promotions, which will certainly take a long time, it can be proved of what faith he is, and of what modesty, gravity, and reserve. And if he is proved worthy, let him be honored with the divine priesthood; because it is not fitting, nor do reason or discipline allow, that one who is a neophyte be ordained rashly and lightly either bishop or presbyter or deacon, especially since the blessed apostle, the teacher of the gentiles, is seen to have declared and forbidden that this be done; but those whose life has been examined over a long time and whose merits have been approved. All said that these things pleased them.

Bishop Osius said: And you ought to decree this too: if a bishop comes from one city to another city, or from his own province to another province, and, serving ambition rather than devotion, wishes to reside a long time in another's city (for it happens perhaps that the bishop of the place is not so well instructed nor so learned, and he who has arrived begins to despise him and to preach frequently, in order to dishonor and weaken his standing, so that on this occasion he does not hesitate to leave the church assigned to him and go over to another's), then fix a time, because it is inhumane not to receive a bishop, and pernicious if he stays too long. Provision must be made that this does not happen. I remember that at an earlier council our brothers decreed that if any layman did not attend the assembly for three Sundays, that is, for three weeks, in the city in which he was staying, he should be deprived of communion. If, then, these things have been decreed concerning the laity, much more is it neither lawful nor fitting for a bishop, if there is no grave necessity to detain him, to be absent from his church longer than the time written above. All said that it pleased them.

Bishop Osius said: Since nothing ought to be passed over: there are some of our brothers and fellow bishops who do not reside in the city in which they appear to have been appointed bishops, either because they have little property there but are known to have suitable estates elsewhere, or certainly out of affection for their relatives, whom they indulge. To this extent it ought to be permitted them, that they go to their possessions and arrange or order the fruit of their labor, so that after three Sundays, that is, after three weeks, if it is necessary to stay, they stay rather on their own farms; or, if there is a nearby city in which there is a presbyter, let him go there, so that he may not seem to keep the Lord's day without a church; so that neither will his household affairs suffer loss through his absence, nor, by coming frequently to the city in which a bishop lives, will he incur the suspicion of boasting and ambition. All said that it pleased them.

Bishop Osius said: Let this too please all: if a deacon, or presbyter, or any of the clergy has been deprived of communion by his bishop and has gone to another bishop, and the one to whom he has fled knows that he has been cast off by his own bishop, he ought not to grant him communion. And if he does, let him know that he will have to give account when the bishops are convened. All said: This decree will both preserve peace and safeguard concord.

Bishop Osius said: What still moves me I ought not to keep silent. If some bishop is perhaps irascible, which he ought not to be, and is quickly and harshly roused against his presbyter or deacon and wishes to drive him out of the church, provision must be made that an innocent man is not condemned or deprived of communion. And therefore let him who has been cast out have the power to appeal to the neighboring bishops, and let his case be heard and handled more carefully, because a hearing ought not to be denied to one who asks. And let that bishop who cast him out, justly or unjustly, accept patiently that the matter be discussed, so that his sentence may be either approved by the majority or corrected. Yet before everything is examined diligently and faithfully, no other ought to presume to admit to communion, before the hearing, the one who has been separated from communion. But those who come together to hear the case, if they see disdain and pride on the part of the clergy, since it is not fitting that a bishop should suffer injury or insult, are to rebuke them with severer words, so that they obey a bishop who commands what is honorable; because just as he ought to show his clergy the sincere love of charity, so in turn the ministers ought to show unfeigned obedience to their bishop.

Bishop Januarius said: Let your holiness also decree that no bishop be permitted to entice the church minister of the bishop of another city and ordain him in his own districts. All said: It pleases, because discord usually arises from such contentions; and therefore the judgment of all forbids anyone to dare to do this.

Bishop Osius said: And this we all decree, that whoever from another district wishes to ordain another's minister without the consent and will of his bishop, his ordination is not to be valid. And whoever usurps this ought to be admonished and corrected by our brothers and fellow bishops.

Bishop Aetius said: You are not unaware how great and of what kind is the city of the Thessalonians; presbyters and deacons often come to it from other regions and are not content to stay a short time, but either reside there or are with difficulty compelled to return to their own places after long intervals. All said: The time limits that have been decreed concerning bishops ought to be observed concerning these persons also.

Bishop Osius said: At the suggestion of our brother and fellow bishop Olympius this too has pleased: that if someone has suffered violence and been unjustly expelled for his discipline and catholic confession or for the defense of the truth, and, fleeing dangers, innocent and devout, has come to another city, he is not to be prevented from staying there until he can return or his injury has received a remedy; because it is harsh that one who suffers persecution should not be received; rather, generous kindness and humanity are to be shown him. The whole synod said: The catholic church spread throughout the whole world will keep all that has been decreed.