Sophia Scriptura

Canons of the Council of Sardica (Greek) (complete)

Anonymous · Canons of the Council of Sardica (Greek) · 343 or 347 · Sardica (modern Sofia) · 21 passages

Greek text: Pedalion (1800) (Greek text: the Pedalion (Nikodemos the Hagiorite and Agapios, 1800), transcription on Greek Wikisource, CC BY-SA).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).

Chapter 1

1Pedalion

Ὅσιος Ἐπίσκοπος πόλεως Κορδούης εἶπεν· Οὐ τοσοῦτον ἡ φαύλη συνήθεια, ὅσον ἡ βλαβερωτάτη τῶν πραγμάτων διαφθορά, ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν θεμελίων ἐστὶν ἐκριζωτέα, ἵνα μηδενὶ τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἐξῇ ἀπὸ πόλεως μικρᾶς εἰς ἑτέραν πόλιν μεθίστασθαι. Ἡ γὰρ τῆς αἰτίας ταύτης πρόφασις φανερά, δι᾽ ἣν τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐπιχειρεῖται. Οὐδεὶς γὰρ πώποτε εὑρεθῆναι ἐπισκόπων δεδύνηται, ὃς ἀπὸ μείζονος πόλεως εἰς ἐλαχιστοτέραν πόλιν ἐσπούδασε μεταστῆναι· ὅθεν συνέστηκε διαπύρῳ πλεοναξίας τρόπῳ ὑπεκκαίεσθαι τοὺς τοιούτους, καὶ μᾶλλον τῇ ἀλαζονείᾳ δουλεύειν, ὅπως ἐξουσίαν δοκοῖεν μείζονα κεκτῆσθαι. Εἰ πᾶσι τοίνυν τοῦτο ἀρέσκει, ὥστε τὴν τοιαύτην σκαιότητα αὐστηρότερον ἐκδικηθῆναι, ἡγοῦμαι γὰρ μηδὲ λαϊκῶν ἔχειν τοὺς τοιούτους χρῆναι κοινωνίαν. Ἅπαντες οἱ ἐπίσκοποι εἶπον· Ἀρέσκει πᾶσιν.

Hosios Episkopos poleōs Kordouēs eipen; Ou tosouton hē phaulē synētheia, hoson hē blaberōtatē tōn pragmatōn diaphthora, ex autōn tōn themeliōn estin ekrizōtea, hina mēdeni tōn episkopōn exę̄ apo poleōs mikras eis heteran polin methistasthai. Hē gar tēs aitias tautēs prophasis phanera, di᾽ hēn ta toiauta epicheireitai. Oudeis gar pōpote heurethēnai episkopōn dedynētai, hos apo meizonos poleōs eis elachistoteran polin espoudase metastēnai; hothen synestēke diapyrǭ pleonaxias tropǭ hypekkaiesthai tous toioutous, kai mallon tę̄ alazoneią douleuein, hopōs exousian dokoien meizona kektēsthai. Ei pasi toinyn touto areskei, hōste tēn toiautēn skaiotēta austēroteron ekdikēthēnai, hēgoumai gar mēde laïkōn echein tous toioutous chrēnai koinōnian. Hapantes hoi episkopoi eipon; Areskei pasin.

Hosius, bishop of the city of Corduba, said: Not so much the bad custom as the most harmful corruption of affairs must be rooted out from its very foundations, so that no bishop may be permitted to move from a small city to another city. For the pretext behind this practice, for which such things are attempted, is obvious: no bishop has ever yet been found who was eager to move from a greater city to a smaller one. Hence it is evident that such men are inflamed by a fiery greed and serve rather their own arrogance, so that they may seem to have acquired greater power. If, then, it pleases all that such perversity be punished more severely, I think that such men ought not to have even lay communion. All the bishops said: It pleases all.

Notes and citation

Summary: Hosius proposes, and the bishops agree, that bishops who move from a small see to a larger one out of ambition be denied even lay communion.

  • The Greek canons of Sardica (Serdica, modern Sofia, ca. 343) are recorded as proposals by bishops with the synod's assent. Whether they were first written in Greek or in Latin is disputed; the site also publishes the Latin version.
  • “Lay communion”: communion as a layman, after deposition from office.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 1 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 2

2Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Εἰ δέ τις τοιοῦτος εὑρίσκοιτο μανιώδης ἢ τολμηρός, ὡς περὶ τῶν τοιούτων δόξαι τινὰ φέρειν παραίτησιν, διαβεβαιούμενον ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους ἑαυτὸν κεκομίσθαι γράμματα, δῆλόν ἐστιν, ὀλίγους τινὰς δεδυνῆσθαι, μισθῷ καὶ τιμήματι διαφθαρέντας, ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ στασιάζειν, ὡς δῆθεν τὸν αὐτὸν ἔχειν ἐπίσκοπον ἀξιοῦντας. Καθάπαξ οὖν τὰς τοιαύτας ῥᾳδιουργίας καὶ τέχνας οὐ δεκτέας, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον κολαστέας εἶναι νομίζω, ὥστε μηδένα τοιοῦτον μηδὲ ἐν τῷ τέλει λαϊκῆς γοῦν ἀξιοῦσθαι κοινωνίας. Εἰ τοίνυν ἀρέσκει ἡ γνώμη αὕτη, ἀποκρίνασθε. Ἀπεκρίναντο· Τὰ λεχθέντα ἤρεσεν.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Ei de tis toioutos heuriskoito maniōdēs ē tolmēros, hōs peri tōn toioutōn doxai tina pherein paraitēsin, diabebaioumenon apo tou plēthous heauton kekomisthai grammata, dēlon estin, oligous tinas dedynēsthai, misthǭ kai timēmati diaphtharentas, en tę̄ ekklēsią stasiazein, hōs dēthen ton auton echein episkopon axiountas. Kathapax oun tas toiautas rhądiourgias kai technas ou dekteas, alla mallon kolasteas einai nomizō, hōste mēdena toiouton mēde en tǭ telei laïkēs goun axiousthai koinōnias. Ei toinyn areskei hē gnōmē hautē, apokrinasthe. Apekrinanto; Ta lechthenta ēresen.

Bishop Hosius said: But if anyone of this kind should be found so mad or so bold as to think to offer some excuse in such matters, asserting that he has brought letters from the people, it is plain that a few persons, corrupted by payment and price, could have stirred up sedition in the church, as though demanding to have him as bishop. I think, then, that such knaveries and tricks are not to be accepted at all, but rather to be punished, so that no such person is thought worthy of lay communion even at the end. If, then, this opinion pleases you, answer. They answered: What has been said pleases us.

Notes and citation

Summary: A bishop who claims a popular invitation to justify his transfer is to be refused lay communion even at death.

  • “Even at the end”: even at the point of death.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 2 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 3

3Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Καὶ τοῦτο προστεθῆναι ἀναγκαῖον, ἵνα μηδεὶς ἐπισκόπων ἀπὸ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ ἐπαρχίας εἰς ἑτέραν ἐπαρχίαν, ἐν ᾗ τυγχάνουσιν ὄντες ἐπίσκοποι, διαβαίνοι, εἰ μή τοι παρὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν τῶν ἑαυτοῦ κληθείη· διὰ τὸ μὴ δοκεῖν ἡμᾶς τὰς τῆς ἀγάπης ἀποκλείειν πύλας. Καὶ τοῦτο δὲ ὡσαύτως προνοητέον, ὥστε, ἐὰν ἔν τινι ἐπαρχίᾳ ἐπισκόπων τις ἄντικρυς ἀδελφοῦ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ συνεπισκόπου πρᾶγμα σχοίη, μηδένα ἕτερον ἐκ τούτων ἀπὸ ἑτέρας ἐπαρχίας ἐπισκόπους ἐπιγνώμονας ἐπικαλεῖσθαι. Εἰ δὲ ἆρά τις ἐπισκόπων ἔν τινι πράγματι δόξῃ κατακρίνεσθαι, καὶ ὑπολαμβάνει ἑαυτὸν μὴ σαθρὸν ἀλλὰ καλὸν ἔχειν τὸ πρᾶγμα, ἵνα καὶ αὖθις ἡ κρίσις ἀνανεωθῇ, εἰ δοκεῖ ὑμῶν τῇ ἀγάπῃ, Πέτρου τοῦ Ἀποστόλου τὴν μνήμην τιμήσωμεν, καὶ γραφῆναι παρὰ τούτων τῶν κρινάντων Ἰουλίῳ τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ Ῥώμης, ὥστε διὰ τῶν γειτνιώντων τῇ ἐπαρχίᾳ ἐπισκόπων, εἰ δέοι, ἀνανεωθῆναι τὸ δικαστήριον, καὶ ἐπιγνώμονας αὐτὸς παράσχοι. Εἰ δὲ μὴ συστῆναι δύναται τοιοῦτον αὐτοῦ εἶναι τὸ πρᾶγμα, ὡς παλινδικίας χρῄζειν, τὰ ἅπαξ κεκριμένα μὴ ἀναλύεσθαι, τὰ δὲ ὄντα, βέβαια τυγχάνειν.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Kai touto prostethēnai anankaion, hina mēdeis episkopōn apo tēs heautou eparchias eis heteran eparchian, en hę̄ tynchanousin ontes episkopoi, diabainoi, ei mē toi para tōn adelphōn tōn heautou klētheiē; dia to mē dokein hēmas tas tēs agapēs apokleiein pylas. Kai touto de hōsautōs pronoēteon, hōste, ean en tini eparchią episkopōn tis antikrys adelphou heautou kai synepiskopou pragma schoiē, mēdena heteron ek toutōn apo heteras eparchias episkopous epignōmonas epikaleisthai. Ei de ara tis episkopōn en tini pragmati doxę̄ katakrinesthai, kai hypolambanei heauton mē sathron alla kalon echein to pragma, hina kai authis hē krisis ananeōthę̄, ei dokei hymōn tę̄ agapę̄, Petrou tou Apostolou tēn mnēmēn timēsōmen, kai graphēnai para toutōn tōn krinantōn Iouliǭ tǭ episkopǭ Rhōmēs, hōste dia tōn geitniōntōn tę̄ eparchią episkopōn, ei deoi, ananeōthēnai to dikastērion, kai epignōmonas autos paraschoi. Ei de mē systēnai dynatai toiouton autou einai to pragma, hōs palindikias chrę̄zein, ta hapax kekrimena mē analyesthai, ta de onta, bebaia tynchanein.

Bishop Hosius said: This too must be added, that no bishop is to cross from his own province into another province in which there are bishops, unless he is invited by his brothers there, so that we may not seem to shut the doors of love. And this likewise must be provided for: if in any province one of the bishops has a case against his brother and fellow bishop, neither of them is to call in bishops from another province as arbiters. But if any bishop seems to have been condemned in some case, and supposes that his case is not unsound but good, so that the judgment may be renewed, then, if it seems good to your love, let us honor the memory of Peter the apostle, and let those who judged write to Julius, the bishop of Rome, so that, if need be, the trial may be renewed through the bishops neighboring the province, and he himself may appoint the arbiters. But if it cannot be established that his case is such as to need a retrial, what has once been judged is not to be undone, but what stands is to remain firm.

Notes and citation

Summary: Bishops are not to intrude into other provinces; a condemned bishop may have his case referred to Julius of Rome, who may order a retrial by neighboring bishops.

  • Julius was bishop of Rome 337–352. This canon and the next two, on referring the cases of deposed bishops to the bishop of Rome, were much cited in later disputes (e.g., at Carthage in 419, where Roman legates quoted them as canons of Nicaea).

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (missing accent in the digital text): Ἰουλιῳ → Ἰουλίῳ.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 3 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 4

4Pedalion

Γαυδέντιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Ἐάν τις ἐπίσκοπος καθαιρεθῇ τῇ κρίσει τῶν ἐπισκόπων τῶν ἐν γειτνίᾳ τυγχανόντων, καὶ φάσκῃ πάλιν ἑαυτῷ ἀπολογίας πρᾶγμα ἐπιβάλλειν, μὴ πρότερον εἰς τὴν καθέδραν αὐτοῦ ἕτερον ὑποκαταστῆναι, ἐὰν μὴ ὁ τῆς Ῥώμης ἐπίσκοπος ἐπιγνούς, περὶ τούτου ὅρον ἐξενέγκῃ.

Gaudentios episkopos eipen; Ean tis episkopos kathairethę̄ tę̄ krisei tōn episkopōn tōn en geitnią tynchanontōn, kai phaskę̄ palin heautǭ apologias pragma epiballein, mē proteron eis tēn kathedran autou heteron hypokatastēnai, ean mē ho tēs Rhōmēs episkopos epignous, peri toutou horon exenenkę̄.

Bishop Gaudentius said: If a bishop is deposed by the judgment of the bishops of the neighborhood, and declares that he has a further case for his defense, no one else is to be installed in his see until the bishop of Rome has examined it and issued a decision about it.

Notes and citation

Summary: When a deposed bishop appeals, no successor is to be installed until the bishop of Rome has decided the case.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 4 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 5

5Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Ἤρεσεν, ἵν᾽ εἴ τις ἐπίσκοπος καταγγελθείη, καὶ συναθροισθέντες οἱ ἐπίσκοποι τῆς ἐνορίας τῆς αὐτῆς, τοῦ βαθμοῦ αὐτὸν ἀποκινήσωσι, καὶ ὅς περ ἐκκαλεσάμενος καταφύγῃ ἐπὶ τὸν μακαριώτατον τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἐκκλησίας ἐπίσκοπον, καὶ βουληθείη αὐτοῦ διακοῦσαι, δίκαιόν τε εἶναι νομίσῃ ἀνανεώσασθαι αὐτοῦ τὴν ἐξέτασιν τοῦ πράγματος, γράφειν τούτοις τοῖς ἐπισκόποις καταξιώσῃ τοῖς ἀγχιστεύουσι τῇ ἐπαρχίᾳ, ἵνα αὐτοὶ ἐπιμελῶς καὶ μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἕκαστα διερευνήσωσι, καὶ κατὰ τὴν τῆς ἀληθείας πίστιν, ψῆφον περὶ τοῦ πράγματος ἐξενέγκωσιν. Εἰ δέ τις ἀξιῶν καὶ πάλιν αὐτοῦ τὸ πρᾶγμα ἀκουσθῆναι, καὶ τῇ δεήσει τῇ ἑαυτοῦ τὸν Ῥωμαίων ἐπίσκοπον κρίνειν δόξῃ, ἀπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου πλευροῦ πρεσβυτέρους ἀποστεῖλοι, ἵνα ᾖ ἐν τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου, ὅπερ ἂν καλῶς ἔχειν δοκιμάσῃ καὶ ὁρίσῃ δεῖν, ἀποσταλῆναι τοὺς μετὰ τῶν ἐπισκόπων κρινοῦντας, ἔχοντάς τε τὴν αὐθεντίαν τούτου, παρ᾽ οὗ ἀπεστάλησαν· καὶ τοῦτο θετέον. Εἰ δὲ ἐξαρκεῖν νομίζοι πρὸς τὴν τοῦ πράγματος ἐπίγνωσιν καὶ ἀπόφασιν τοῦ ἐπισκόπου, ποιήσει ὅπερ ἂν τῇ ἐμφρονεστάτῃ αὐτοῦ βουλῇ καλῶς ἔχειν δόξῃ. Ἀπεκρίναντο οἱ ἐπίσκοποι· τὰ λεχθέντα ἤρεσεν.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Ēresen, hin᾽ ei tis episkopos katangeltheiē, kai synathroisthentes hoi episkopoi tēs enorias tēs autēs, tou bathmou auton apokinēsōsi, kai hos per ekkalesamenos kataphygę̄ epi ton makariōtaton tēs Rhōmaiōn ekklēsias episkopon, kai boulētheiē autou diakousai, dikaion te einai nomisę̄ ananeōsasthai autou tēn exetasin tou pragmatos, graphein toutois tois episkopois kataxiōsę̄ tois anchisteuousi tę̄ eparchią, hina autoi epimelōs kai meta akribeias hekasta diereunēsōsi, kai kata tēn tēs alētheias pistin, psēphon peri tou pragmatos exenenkōsin. Ei de tis axiōn kai palin autou to pragma akousthēnai, kai tę̄ deēsei tę̄ heautou ton Rhōmaiōn episkopon krinein doxę̄, apo tou idiou pleurou presbyterous aposteiloi, hina ę̄ en tę̄ exousią autou tou episkopou, hoper an kalōs echein dokimasę̄ kai horisę̄ dein, apostalēnai tous meta tōn episkopōn krinountas, echontas te tēn authentian toutou, par᾽ hou apestalēsan; kai touto theteon. Ei de exarkein nomizoi pros tēn tou pragmatos epignōsin kai apophasin tou episkopou, poiēsei hoper an tę̄ emphronestatę̄ autou boulę̄ kalōs echein doxę̄. Apekrinanto hoi episkopoi; ta lechthenta ēresen.

Bishop Hosius said: It has pleased that, if any bishop is denounced, and the bishops of the same region, having assembled, remove him from his rank, and he appeals and takes refuge with the most blessed bishop of the church of the Romans, and he is willing to hear him and thinks it just to renew the examination of his case, he should be pleased to write to those bishops who are nearest the province, so that they may investigate every point carefully and precisely and give their vote on the matter according to the faith of truth. But if anyone asks that his case be heard yet again, and by his own petition moves the bishop of the Romans to send presbyters from his own side, it shall be in the power of the bishop himself to do whatever he judges good and determines to be needful: to send those who will judge together with the bishops, having the authority of him by whom they were sent; and this too must be granted. But if he thinks the bishops sufficient for the examination of the case and the sentence on the bishop, he will do whatever seems good to his most prudent counsel. The bishops answered: What has been said pleases us.

Notes and citation

Summary: A deposed bishop may appeal to the bishop of Rome, who may have neighboring bishops rehear the case or send presbyters to judge with them.

  • “Moves the bishop of the Romans”: the Greek has κρίνειν (“to judge”), apparently a slip for κινεῖν (“to move”), which the Latin version (moverit) supports; translated by sense.
  • “From his own side” (ἀπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου πλευροῦ, Latin a latere): legates sent with the bishop of Rome's authority.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 5 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 6

6Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Ἐὰν συμβῇ ἐν μιᾷ ἐπαρχίᾳ, ἐν ᾗ πλεῖστοι ἐπίσκοποι τυγχάνουσιν, ἕνα ἐπίσκοπον ἀπομεῖναι, κἀκεῖνος κατά τινα ἀμέλειαν μὴ βουληθῇ συνελθεῖν καὶ συναινέσαι τῇ καταστάσει τῶν ἐπισκόπων, τὰ δὲ πλήθη συναθροισθέντα παρακαλοῖεν γίνεσθαι τὴν κατάστασιν τοῦ παρ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐπιζητουμένου ἐπισκόπου, χρὴ πρότερον ἐκεῖνον τὸν ἐναπομείναντα ἐπίσκοπον ὑπομιμνήσκεσθαι διὰ γραμμάτων τοῦ ἐξάρχου τῆς ἐπαρχίας, (λέγω δὴ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου τῆς μητροπόλεως), ὅτι ἀξιοῖ τὰ πλήθη ποιμένα αὐτοῖς δοθῆναι· ἡγοῦμαι καλῶς ἔχειν καὶ τοῦτον ἐκδέχεσθαι, ἵνα παραγένηται. Εἰ δὲ μὴ διὰ γραμμάτων ἀξιωθεὶς παραγένηται, μήτε μὴν ἀντιγράφοι, τὸ ἱκανὸν τῇ βουλήσει τοῦ πλήθους χρὴ γενέσθαι. Χρὴ δὲ μετακαλεῖσθαι καὶ τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς πλησιοχώρου ἐπαρχίας ἐπισκόπους, πρὸς τὴν κατάστασιν τοῦ τῆς μητροπόλεως ἐπισκόπου. Μὴ ἐξεῖναι δὲ ἁπλῶς καθιστᾷν ἐπίσκοπον ἐν κώμῃ τινὶ ἢ βραχείᾳ πόλει, ᾗ τινι καὶ εἷς μόνος πρεσβύτερος ἐπαρκεῖ· οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον γὰρ ἐπισκόπους ἐκεῖσε καθίστασθαι, ἵνα μὴ κατευτελίζηται τὸ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου ὄνομα καὶ ἡ αὐθεντία. Ἀλλ᾽ οἱ τῆς ἐπαρχίας, ὡς προεῖπον, ἐπίσκοποι ἐν ταύταις ταῖς πόλεσι καθιστᾷν ἐπισκόπους ὀφείλουσιν, ἔνθα καὶ πρότερον ἐτύγχανον γεγονότες ἐπίσκοποι. Εἰ δὲ εὑρίσκοιτο οὕτω πληθύνουσά τις ἐν πολλῷ ἀριθμῷ λαοῦ πόλις, ὡς ἀξίαν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπισκοπῆς νομίζεσθαι, λαμβανέτω. Εἰ πᾶσιν ἀρέσκει τοῦτο; Ἀπεκρίναντο πάντες· Ἀρέσκει.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Ean symbę̄ en mią eparchią, en hę̄ pleistoi episkopoi tynchanousin, hena episkopon apomeinai, kakeinos kata tina ameleian mē boulēthę̄ synelthein kai synainesai tę̄ katastasei tōn episkopōn, ta de plēthē synathroisthenta parakaloien ginesthai tēn katastasin tou par᾽ autōn epizētoumenou episkopou, chrē proteron ekeinon ton enapomeinanta episkopon hypomimnēskesthai dia grammatōn tou exarchou tēs eparchias, (legō dē tou episkopou tēs mētropoleōs), hoti axioi ta plēthē poimena autois dothēnai; hēgoumai kalōs echein kai touton ekdechesthai, hina paragenētai. Ei de mē dia grammatōn axiōtheis paragenētai, mēte mēn antigraphoi, to hikanon tę̄ boulēsei tou plēthous chrē genesthai. Chrē de metakaleisthai kai tous apo tēs plēsiochōrou eparchias episkopous, pros tēn katastasin tou tēs mētropoleōs episkopou. Mē exeinai de haplōs kathistąn episkopon en kōmę̄ tini ē bracheią polei, hę̄ tini kai heis monos presbyteros eparkei; ouk anankaion gar episkopous ekeise kathistasthai, hina mē kateutelizētai to tou episkopou onoma kai hē authentia. All᾽ hoi tēs eparchias, hōs proeipon, episkopoi en tautais tais polesi kathistąn episkopous opheilousin, entha kai proteron etynchanon gegonotes episkopoi. Ei de heuriskoito houtō plēthynousa tis en pollǭ arithmǭ laou polis, hōs axian autēn kai episkopēs nomizesthai, lambanetō. Ei pasin areskei touto? Apekrinanto pantes; Areskei.

Bishop Hosius said: If it happens that in a province in which there are very many bishops one bishop stays away, and he, through some negligence, will not come and consent to the appointment of bishops, while the people assemble and ask that the appointment of the bishop they seek take place, the bishop who stayed away must first be reminded by letters from the exarch of the province (I mean the bishop of the metropolis) that the people ask for a shepherd to be given them; I think it good to wait for him too, so that he may come. But if, though asked by letter, he does not come, nor even write back, the people's wish must be satisfied. And the bishops from the neighboring province must also be called for the appointment of the bishop of the metropolis. But it is not permitted to appoint a bishop casually in some village or small town for which even a single presbyter suffices; for there is no need for bishops to be appointed there, lest the name and authority of a bishop be cheapened. But the bishops of the province, as I said before, ought to appoint bishops in those cities where there had been bishops before. And if a city should be found so growing with a great number of people as to be thought worthy of a bishopric too, let it receive one. Does this please all? All answered: It pleases.

Notes and citation

Summary: If one bishop of a province neglects to join in appointing a bishop the people request, the appointment may proceed; bishops are not to be appointed for villages a presbyter can serve.

  • “For the appointment of the bishop of the metropolis”: the Greek (πρὸς τὴν κατάστασιν τοῦ τῆς μητροπόλεως ἐπισκόπου) could also mean “for the appointment made by the bishop of the metropolis”. The Latin version describes a province left with only one bishop.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (misplaced accent in the digital text): ἐπιζητούμενου → ἐπιζητουμένου.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 6 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 7

7Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Ἡ ἀκαιρία ἡμῶν, καὶ ἡ πολλὴ συνέχεια, καὶ αἱ ἄδικοι ἀξιώσεις πεποιήκασιν ἡμᾶς μὴ τοσαύτην ἔχειν χάριν καὶ παρρησίαν, ὅσην ὀφείλομεν κεκτῆσθαι. Πολλοὶ γὰρ τῶν ἐπισκόπων οὐ διαλείπουσιν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον παραγινόμενοι, καὶ μάλιστα οἱ Ἄφροι· οἵτινες, καθὼς ἔγνωμεν παρὰ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ συνεπισκόπου Γράτου, τὰς σωτηριώδεις συμβουλὰς οὐ παραδέχονται, ἀλλὰ καταφρονοῦσιν οὕτως, ὡς ἕνα ἄνθρωπον εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον πλείστας καὶ διαφόρους, καὶ μὴ δυναμένας ὠφελῆσαι τὰς ἐκκλησίας, δεήσεις διακομίζειν, καὶ μή, ὡς ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι, καὶ ὡς προσῆκόν ἐστι, τοῖς πένησι καὶ τοῖς λαϊκοῖς, ἢ ταῖς χήραις συναίρεσθαι καὶ ἐπικουρεῖν, ἀλλὰ κοσμικὰ ἀξιώματα καὶ πράξεις περινοεῖν τισιν. Αὕτη τοίνυν ἡ σκαιότης τὸν θραυσμὸν οὐκ ἄνευ σκανδάλου τινὸς ἡμῖν καὶ καταγνώσεως προξενεῖ. Πρεπωδέστερον δὲ εἶναι ἐνόμισα, ἐπίσκοπον τὴν ἑαυτοῦ βοήθειαν παρέχειν ἐκείνῳ, ὅστις ἂν ὑπό τινος βιάζηται, ἢ εἴ τις τῶν χηρῶν ἀδικοῖτο, ἢ αὖ πάλιν ὀρφανός τις ἀποστεροῖτο τῶν αὐτῷ προσηκόντων, εἴπερ ἄρα καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα δικαίαν ἔχει τὴν ἀξίωσιν. Εἰ τοίνυν, ἀγαπητοὶ ἀδελφοί, πᾶσι τοῦτο δοκεῖ, ἐπικρίνατε, μηδένα ἐπίσκοπον χρῆναι εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον παραγίνεσθαι, παρεκτὸς τούτων, οὓς ἂν ὁ εὐσεβέστατος βασιλεὺς ἡμῶν τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ γράμμασι μετακαλοῖτο. Ἀλλ᾽ ἐπειδὴ πολλάκις συμβαίνει τινὰς οἴκτου δεομένους, καταφυγεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, διὰ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἁμαρτήματα εἰς περιορισμόν, ἢ νῆσον καταδικασθέντας, ἢ δ᾽ αὖ πάλιν οἱᾳδηποτοῦν ἀποφάσει ἐκδεδομένους, τοῖς τοιούτοις μὴ ἀρνητέαν εἶναι τὴν βοήθειαν, ἀλλὰ χωρὶς μελλησμοῦ καὶ ἄνευ τοῦ διστάσαι τοῖς τοιούτοις αἰτεῖσθαι συγχώρησιν. Εἰ τοίνυν καὶ τοῦτο ἀρέσκει, σύμψηφοι γίνεσθε ἅπαντες. Ἀπεκρίναντο ἅπαντες· Ὁριζέσθω καὶ τοῦτο.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Hē akairia hēmōn, kai hē pollē synecheia, kai hai adikoi axiōseis pepoiēkasin hēmas mē tosautēn echein charin kai parrēsian, hosēn opheilomen kektēsthai. Polloi gar tōn episkopōn ou dialeipousin eis to stratopedon paraginomenoi, kai malista hoi Aphroi; hoitines, kathōs egnōmen para tou agapētou adelphou hēmōn kai synepiskopou Gratou, tas sōtēriōdeis symboulas ou paradechontai, alla kataphronousin houtōs, hōs hena anthrōpon eis to stratopedon pleistas kai diaphorous, kai mē dynamenas ōphelēsai tas ekklēsias, deēseis diakomizein, kai mē, hōs opheilei ginesthai, kai hōs prosēkon esti, tois penēsi kai tois laïkois, ē tais chērais synairesthai kai epikourein, alla kosmika axiōmata kai praxeis perinoein tisin. Hautē toinyn hē skaiotēs ton thrausmon ouk aneu skandalou tinos hēmin kai katagnōseōs proxenei. Prepōdesteron de einai enomisa, episkopon tēn heautou boētheian parechein ekeinǭ, hostis an hypo tinos biazētai, ē ei tis tōn chērōn adikoito, ē au palin orphanos tis aposteroito tōn autǭ prosēkontōn, eiper ara kai tauta ta onomata dikaian echei tēn axiōsin. Ei toinyn, agapētoi adelphoi, pasi touto dokei, epikrinate, mēdena episkopon chrēnai eis to stratopedon paraginesthai, parektos toutōn, hous an ho eusebestatos basileus hēmōn tois heautou grammasi metakaloito. All᾽ epeidē pollakis symbainei tinas oiktou deomenous, kataphygein epi tēn ekklēsian, dia ta heautōn hamartēmata eis periorismon, ē nēson katadikasthentas, ē d᾽ au palin hoiądēpotoun apophasei ekdedomenous, tois toioutois mē arnētean einai tēn boētheian, alla chōris mellēsmou kai aneu tou distasai tois toioutois aiteisthai synchōrēsin. Ei toinyn kai touto areskei, sympsēphoi ginesthe hapantes. Apekrinanto hapantes; Horizesthō kai touto.

Bishop Hosius said: Our importunity, our great persistence, and our unjust requests have caused us not to have as much favor and freedom of speech as we ought to possess. For many of the bishops do not cease going to the court, and especially the Africans, who, as we have learned from our beloved brother and fellow bishop Gratus, do not accept salutary counsels but despise them, so that one man carries to the court very many and various petitions that cannot benefit the churches, and does not, as ought to be done and as is fitting, assist and help the poor and the laity or the widows, but schemes for worldly dignities and offices for certain persons. This perversity, then, brings us harm, not without some scandal and condemnation. And I thought it more fitting that a bishop should give his help to one who is suffering violence from someone, or if one of the widows is wronged, or again if some orphan is deprived of what belongs to him, if indeed these persons have a just claim. If, then, beloved brothers, this seems good to all, decide that no bishop ought to go to the court except those whom our most pious emperor summons by his own letters. But since it often happens that some who need mercy take refuge in the church because of their own sins, having been condemned to deportation or to an island, or again handed over by some sentence or other, help is not to be denied to such persons, but pardon is to be asked for them without delay and without hesitation. If, then, this too pleases, all of you vote together. All answered: Let this too be decreed.

Notes and citation

Summary: Bishops are not to go to the imperial court unless summoned by the emperor, though they may intercede for the oppressed and for condemned persons who seek the church's help.

  • “The court” renders τὸ στρατόπεδον (literally “the camp”), the imperial residence. Gratus was bishop of Carthage.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): εἶπερ ἄρα → εἴπερ ἄρα.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 7 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 8

8Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Καὶ τοῦτο ἡ ἀγχίνοια ὑμῶν κρινάτω, ἵν᾽ ἐπειδὴ ἔδοξε, διὰ τὸ μὴ πίπτειν ὑπὸ κατάγνωσίν τινα τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἀφικνούμενον εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον, εἴ τινες αὐτῶν τοιαύτας ἔχοιεν δεήσεις, οἵων ἐπάνω ἐπεμνήσθημεν διὰ ἰδίου διακόνου ἀποστέλλοιεν. Τοῦ γὰρ ὑπηρέτου τὸ πρόσωπον οὐκ ἐπίφθονον τυγχάνει, καὶ τὰ παρασχεθησόμενα θᾶττον διακομισθῆναι δυνήσεται. Ἀπεκρίναντο πάντες· Καὶ τοῦτο ὁριζέσθω.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Kai touto hē anchinoia hymōn krinatō, hin᾽ epeidē edoxe, dia to mē piptein hypo katagnōsin tina tōn episkopōn aphiknoumenon eis to stratopedon, ei tines autōn toiautas echoien deēseis, hoiōn epanō epemnēsthēmen dia idiou diakonou apostelloien. Tou gar hypēretou to prosōpon ouk epiphthonon tynchanei, kai ta paraschethēsomena thatton diakomisthēnai dynēsetai. Apekrinanto pantes; Kai touto horizesthō.

Bishop Hosius said: Let your sagacity judge this too: since it has been decided, so that no bishop may fall under any condemnation by going to the court, that if any of them have petitions such as we mentioned above, they should send them through their own deacon. For the person of a servant does not arouse envy, and what is granted can be brought back more quickly. All answered: Let this too be decreed.

Notes and citation

Summary: Bishops with legitimate petitions are to send them to the court through a deacon.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 8 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 9

9Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Καὶ τοῦτο ἀκόλουθον εἶναι νομίζω, ἵνα εἰ ἐν οἱᾳδηποτοῦν ἐπαρχίᾳ ἐπίσκοποι πρὸς ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεπίσκοπον ἑαυτῶν ἀποστέλλοιεν δεήσεις, ὁ ἐν τῇ μείζονι τυγχάνων πόλει, τοὐτέστι τῇ μητροπόλει, αὐτὸς καὶ τὸν διάκονον αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς δεήσεις ἀποστέλλοι, παρέχων αὐτῷ καὶ συστατικὰς ἐπιστολάς, γράφων δηλονότι κατὰ ἀκολουθίαν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς συναδελφοὺς καὶ συνεπισκόπους ἡμῶν, οἵτινες ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ ἐν τοῖς τόποις ἢ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι διάγοιεν, ἐν αἷς ὁ εὐσεβέστατος βασιλεὺς τὰ δημόσια πράγματα διακυβερνᾷ. Εἰ δὲ ἔχοι τις τῶν ἐπισκόπων φίλους ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ τοῦ παλατίου, καὶ βούλοιτο περί τινος, ὅπερ πρεπωδέστατον εἴη ἀξιῶσαι, μὴ κωλύοιτο διὰ τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ διακόνου καὶ ἀξιῶσαι καὶ ἐντείλασθαι τούτοις, οὕς τε τὴν αὐτῶν ἀγαθὴν βοήθειαν ἀξιοῦντι αὐτῷ παρέχειν ἡγοῖτο. Οἱ δὲ εἰς Ῥώμην παραγινόμενοι, καθὼς προείρηκα, τῷ ἀγαπητῷ ἡμῶν ἀδελφῷ καὶ συνεπισκόπῳ Ἰουλίῳ, τὰς δεήσεις, ἃς ἔχοιεν διδόναι, ὀφείλουσι παρέχειν, ἵνα πρότερος αὐτὸς δοκιμάζῃ, εἰ μή τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀναισχυντοῖεν, καὶ οὕτω τὴν ἑαυτοῦ προστασίαν καὶ φροντίδα παρέχων εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον αὐτοὺς ἀποστέλλοι. Ἄπαντες οἱ ἐπίσκοποι ἀπεκρίναντο, ἀρέσκειν αὐτοῖς, καὶ πρεπωδεστάτην εἶναι τὴν συμβουλὴν ταύτην.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Kai touto akolouthon einai nomizō, hina ei en hoiądēpotoun eparchią episkopoi pros adelphon kai synepiskopon heautōn apostelloien deēseis, ho en tę̄ meizoni tynchanōn polei, toutesti tę̄ mētropolei, autos kai ton diakonon autou kai tas deēseis apostelloi, parechōn autǭ kai systatikas epistolas, graphōn dēlonoti kata akolouthian kai pros tous synadelphous kai synepiskopous hēmōn, hoitines en ekeinǭ tǭ kairǭ en tois topois ē en tais polesi diagoien, en hais ho eusebestatos basileus ta dēmosia pragmata diakyberną. Ei de echoi tis tōn episkopōn philous en tę̄ aulę̄ tou palatiou, kai bouloito peri tinos, hoper prepōdestaton eiē axiōsai, mē kōlyoito dia tou heautou diakonou kai axiōsai kai enteilasthai toutois, hous te tēn autōn agathēn boētheian axiounti autǭ parechein hēgoito. Hoi de eis Rhōmēn paraginomenoi, kathōs proeirēka, tǭ agapētǭ hēmōn adelphǭ kai synepiskopǭ Iouliǭ, tas deēseis, has echoien didonai, opheilousi parechein, hina proteros autos dokimazę̄, ei mē tines ex autōn anaischyntoien, kai houtō tēn heautou prostasian kai phrontida parechōn eis to stratopedon autous apostelloi. Apantes hoi episkopoi apekrinanto, areskein autois, kai prepōdestatēn einai tēn symboulēn tautēn.

Bishop Hosius said: I think this also follows: if in any province whatever the bishops send petitions to their brother and fellow bishop, the one who is in the greater city, that is, the metropolis, should himself send both his deacon and the petitions, giving him also letters of commendation, writing of course accordingly also to our brothers and fellow bishops who at that time may be staying in the places or cities in which the most pious emperor governs the public affairs. And if any of the bishops has friends in the court of the palace and wishes to ask for something that is most fitting, let him not be prevented from asking through his own deacon and giving instructions to those whom he thinks will give him their good help at his request. And those who come to Rome, as I said before, ought to give the petitions they have to present to our beloved brother and fellow bishop Julius, so that he may first examine whether some of them are shameless, and so, giving his protection and care, may send them to the court. All the bishops answered that it pleased them and that this counsel was most fitting.

Notes and citation

Summary: Petitions to the court are to go through the metropolitan's deacon with letters of commendation, and those passing through Rome are first to be examined by Julius.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (misplaced accent in the digital text): ἐκεῖνῳ → ἐκείνῳ.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 9 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-council-sardica-9) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 10

10Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Καὶ τοῦτο ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι νομίζω, ἵνα μετὰ πάσης ἀκριβείας καὶ ἐπιμελείας ἐξετάζοιτο, ὥστε ἐάν τις πλούσιος, ἢ σχολαστικὸς ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγορᾶς ἀξιοῖτο ἐπίσκοπος γίνεσθαι, μὴ πρότερον καθίστασθαι, ἐὰν μὴ καὶ ἀναγνώστου, καὶ διακόνου καὶ πρεσβυτέρου ὑπηρεσίαν ἐκτελέσῃ, ἵνα καθ᾽ ἕκαστον βαθμόν, ἐάν περ ἄξιος νομισθείη, εἰς τὴν ἁψίδα τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς κατὰ προκοπὴν διαβῆναι δυνηθείη. Ἕξει δὲ ἑκάστου τάγματος ὁ βαθμὸς οὐκ ἐλαχίστου δηλονότι χρόνου μῆκος, δι᾽ οὗ ἡ πίστις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡ τῶν τρόπων καλοκἀγαθία, καὶ ἡ στερρότης, καὶ ἡ ἐπιείκεια, γνώριμος γενέσθαι δυνήσεται· καὶ αὐτὸς ἄξιος τῆς θείας ἱερωσύνης νομισθεὶς τῆς μεγίστης ἀπολαύσει τιμῆς. Οὔτε γὰρ προσῆκόν ἐστιν, οὔτε ἡ ἐπιστήμη, οὔτε ἡ ἀγαθὴ ἀναστροφὴ ἐπιδέχεται, τολμηρῶς καὶ κούφως ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἰέναι, ὥστε ἢ ἐπίσκοπον, ἢ πρεσβύτερον, ἢ διάκονον προχείρως καθίστασθαι· οὕτω γὰρ ἂν εἰκότως νεόφυτος νομισθείη· ἐπειδὴ μάλιστα καὶ ὁ μακαριώτατος Ἀπόστολος, ὃς καὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐγένετο διδάσκαλος, φαίνεται κωλύσας ταχείας γίνεσθαι τὰς καταστάσεις· τοῦ γὰρ μηκίστου χρόνου ἡ δοκιμασία, τὴν ἀναστροφήν, καὶ τὸν ἑκάστου τρόπον οὐκ ἀπεικότως ἐκτυποῦν δυνήσεται. Ἅπαντες εἶπον ἀρέσκειν αὐτοῖς, καὶ καθάπαξ μὴ δεῖν ἀνατρέπειν ταῦτα.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Kai touto anankaion einai nomizō, hina meta pasēs akribeias kai epimeleias exetazoito, hōste ean tis plousios, ē scholastikos apo tēs agoras axioito episkopos ginesthai, mē proteron kathistasthai, ean mē kai anagnōstou, kai diakonou kai presbyterou hypēresian ektelesę̄, hina kath᾽ hekaston bathmon, ean per axios nomistheiē, eis tēn hapsida tēs episkopēs kata prokopēn diabēnai dynētheiē. Hexei de hekastou tagmatos ho bathmos ouk elachistou dēlonoti chronou mēkos, di᾽ hou hē pistis autou, kai hē tōn tropōn kalokagathia, kai hē sterrotēs, kai hē epieikeia, gnōrimos genesthai dynēsetai; kai autos axios tēs theias hierōsynēs nomistheis tēs megistēs apolausei timēs. Oute gar prosēkon estin, oute hē epistēmē, oute hē agathē anastrophē epidechetai, tolmērōs kai kouphōs epi toutǭ ienai, hōste ē episkopon, ē presbyteron, ē diakonon procheirōs kathistasthai; houtō gar an eikotōs neophytos nomistheiē; epeidē malista kai ho makariōtatos Apostolos, hos kai tōn ethnōn egeneto didaskalos, phainetai kōlysas tacheias ginesthai tas katastaseis; tou gar mēkistou chronou hē dokimasia, tēn anastrophēn, kai ton hekastou tropon ouk apeikotōs ektypoun dynēsetai. Hapantes eipon areskein autois, kai kathapax mē dein anatrepein tauta.

Bishop Hosius said: I think this too is necessary, that it be examined with all exactness and care that, if some rich man or advocate from the courts is asked to become a bishop, he is not to be appointed before he has fulfilled the ministry of reader, deacon, and presbyter, so that, going through each grade, if he is thought worthy, he may be able to pass by advancement to the summit of the episcopate. And the grade of each order will of course have a length of time that is not the shortest, through which his faith, the excellence of his conduct, his steadfastness, and his gentleness may become known; and being thought worthy of the divine priesthood, he will enjoy the highest honor. For it is neither fitting, nor does knowledge or good conduct allow, to proceed to this boldly and lightly, so that a bishop, or a presbyter, or a deacon is appointed hastily; for so he would rightly be thought a recent convert, especially since the most blessed apostle, who also became the teacher of the gentiles, is seen to have forbidden that appointments be made hastily; for the testing of a very long time will be able, not unreasonably, to show clearly the conduct and character of each. All said that it pleased them and that these things must on no account be overturned.

1 Tim 3:6 (allusion, high confidence) · 1 Tim 5:22 (allusion, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: A wealthy man or lawyer chosen as bishop must first serve for a considerable time as reader, deacon and presbyter, since Paul forbids hasty ordinations.

  • “Advocate from the courts” (σχολαστικὸς ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγορᾶς): a lawyer.
  • Paul's rules: 1 Tim 3:6 (“not a recent convert”) and 5:22 (“do not lay hands on anyone hastily”).

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (misplaced accent in the digital text): ἐκτέλεσῃ → ἐκτελέσῃ.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 10 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 11

11Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος, εἶπεν· Καὶ τοῦτο δὲ ὁρίσαι ὀφείλομεν, ἵνα ἐπίσκοπος, ὅταν ἐξ ἑτέρας πόλεως παραγίνηται εἰς ἑτέραν πόλιν, ἢ ἀπὸ ἑτέρας ἐπαρχίας εἰς ἑτέραν ἐπαρχίαν, κόμπου χάριν ἐγκωμίοις οἰκείοις ὑπηρετούμενος, ἢ θρησκείας καθοσιώσει, καὶ πλείονα χρόνον βούλοιτο διάγειν, καὶ μὴ ὁ τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης ἐπίσκοπος ἔμπειρος ᾖ διδασκαλίας, μὴ καταφρονῇ ἐκείνου, καὶ συνεχέστερον ὁμιλῇ, καταισχύνειν καὶ κατευτελίζειν τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ αὐτόθι ἐπισκόπου σπουδάζων· αὕτη γὰρ ἡ πρόφασις εἴωθε ταράχους ποιεῖν· καὶ ἐκ τῆς τοιαύτης πανουργίας τὴν ἀλλοτρίαν καθέδραν ἑαυτῷ προμνηστεύεσθαι καὶ παρασπᾶσθαι σπουδάζῃ, μὴ διστάζων τὴν αὐτῷ παραδοθεῖσαν ἐκκλησίαν καταλιμπάνειν, καὶ εἰς ἑτέραν μεθίστασθαι. Ὁριστέον τοίνυν ἐπὶ τούτῳ χρόνον, ἐπειδὴ καὶ τὸ μὴ ὑποδέχεσθαι ἐπίσκοπον τῶν ἀπανθρώπων καὶ σκαιῶν εἶναι νενόμισται. Μέμνησθε δὲ ἐν τῷ προάγοντι χρόνῳ τοὺς Πατέρας ἡμῶν κεκρικέναι, ἵνα, εἴ τις λαϊκὸς ἐν πόλει διάγων τρεῖς Κυριακὰς ἡμέρας ἐν τρισὶν ἑβδομάσι μὴ συνέρχοιτο, ἀποκινοῖτο τῆς κοινωνίας. Εἰ τοίνυν περὶ τῶν λαϊκῶν τοῦτο τεθέσπισται, οὐ χρή, οὐδὲ πρέπει, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ συμφέρει ἐπίσκοπον, εἰ μηδεμίαν βαρυτέραν ἀνάγκην ἔχοι, ἢ πρᾶγμα δυσχερές, ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἀπολείπεσθαι τῆς ἑαυτοῦ ἐκκλησίας, καὶ λυπεῖν τὸν ἐμπεπιστευμένον αὐτῷ λαόν. Ἅπαντες οἱ ἐπίσκοποι εἰρήκασι· Καὶ ταύτην τὴν γνώμην σφόδρα εἶναι πρεπωδεστάτην ὁριζόμεθα.

Hosios episkopos, eipen; Kai touto de horisai opheilomen, hina episkopos, hotan ex heteras poleōs paraginētai eis heteran polin, ē apo heteras eparchias eis heteran eparchian, kompou charin enkōmiois oikeiois hypēretoumenos, ē thrēskeias kathosiōsei, kai pleiona chronon bouloito diagein, kai mē ho tēs poleōs ekeinēs episkopos empeiros ę̄ didaskalias, mē kataphronę̄ ekeinou, kai synechesteron homilę̄, kataischynein kai kateutelizein to prosōpon tou autothi episkopou spoudazōn; hautē gar hē prophasis eiōthe tarachous poiein; kai ek tēs toiautēs panourgias tēn allotrian kathedran heautǭ promnēsteuesthai kai paraspasthai spoudazę̄, mē distazōn tēn autǭ paradotheisan ekklēsian katalimpanein, kai eis heteran methistasthai. Horisteon toinyn epi toutǭ chronon, epeidē kai to mē hypodechesthai episkopon tōn apanthrōpōn kai skaiōn einai nenomistai. Memnēsthe de en tǭ proagonti chronǭ tous Pateras hēmōn kekrikenai, hina, ei tis laïkos en polei diagōn treis Kyriakas hēmeras en trisin hebdomasi mē synerchoito, apokinoito tēs koinōnias. Ei toinyn peri tōn laïkōn touto tethespistai, ou chrē, oude prepei, all᾽ oude sympherei episkopon, ei mēdemian baryteran anankēn echoi, ē pragma dyscheres, epi pleiston apoleipesthai tēs heautou ekklēsias, kai lypein ton empepisteumenon autǭ laon. Hapantes hoi episkopoi eirēkasi; Kai tautēn tēn gnōmēn sphodra einai prepōdestatēn horizometha.

Bishop Hosius said: We ought to decree this too, that when a bishop comes from one city to another city, or from one province to another province, serving his own praises for the sake of display, or out of religious devotion, and wishes to stay a longer time, and the bishop of that city is not skilled in teaching, he is not to despise him and preach more often, seeking to shame and belittle the person of the bishop of the place; for this pretext usually causes disturbances; and by such craftiness he seeks to court another's see for himself and snatch it away, not hesitating to leave the church entrusted to him and move to another. A time limit must therefore be fixed for this, since not to receive a bishop is also considered inhumane and boorish. And you remember that in former time our fathers judged that if any layman living in a city did not come to the assembly on three Lord's days in three weeks, he should be removed from communion. If, then, this has been decreed concerning the laity, it is not necessary, nor fitting, nor even expedient that a bishop, if he has no graver necessity or difficult business, should be absent for very long from his own church and grieve the people entrusted to him. All the bishops said: We decree this opinion too to be most fitting.

Notes and citation

Summary: A visiting bishop must not stay long and outshine the local bishop by frequent preaching, and no bishop may be absent from his church for long without grave cause.

  • The earlier rule on three Sundays' absence is found in the canons of Elvira (canon 21).

Extrabiblical texts: Conc. Elv. 21 (Canons of the Council of Elvira; allusion)

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 11 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 12

12Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Ἐπειδὴ οὐδέν ἐστι παραλειπτέον, καὶ τοῦτο ὁρισθήτω. Τινὲς τῶν ἀδελφῶν καὶ συνεπισκόπων ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν, ἐν αἷς ἐπίσκοποι καθίστανται, δοκοῦσι κεκτῆσθαι σφόδρα ὀλίγα ὑπάρχοντα ἴδια, ἐν ἑτέροις δὲ τόποις κτήσεις μεγάλας, ἐξ ὧν καὶ ἐπικουρεῖν δυνατοί εἰσι τοῖς πένησιν. Οὕτως οὖν αὐτοῖς συγχωρητέον εἶναι κρίνω, ἵνα, εἰ μέλλοιεν εἰς τὰς ἑαυτῶν παραγίνεσθαι κτήσεις, καὶ τὴν συγκομιδὴν τῶν καρπῶν ποιεῖσθαι, τρεῖς Κυριακὰς ἡμέρας, τουτέστι τρεῖς ἑβδομάδας, ἐν τοῖς ἑαυτῶν κτήμασιν αὐτοὺς διάγειν, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀγχιστευούσῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐν ᾗ πρεσβύτερος συνάγοι, ὑπέρ τοῦ μὴ χωρὶς συνελεύσεως αὐτὸν δοκεῖν εἶναι, συνέρχεσθαι, καὶ λειτουργεῖν, καὶ μὴ συνεχέστερον εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἐν ᾗ ἐστιν ἐπίσκοπος, παραγίγνοιτο· τοῦτον γὰρ τὸν τρόπον καὶ τὰ οἰκεῖα αὐτοῦ πράγματα παρὰ τὴν αὐτοῦ ἀπουσίαν οὐδεμίαν ὑπομενεῖ ζημίαν, καὶ τὸ τῆς ἀλαζονείας καὶ τοῦ τύφου ἐκκλίνειν δόξει ἔγκλημα. Ἅπαντες οἱ ἐπίσκοποι εἶπον· Ἀρέσκει καὶ αὕτη ἡ διατύπωσις.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Epeidē ouden esti paraleipteon, kai touto horisthētō. Tines tōn adelphōn kai synepiskopōn en tais polesin, en hais episkopoi kathistantai, dokousi kektēsthai sphodra oliga hyparchonta idia, en heterois de topois ktēseis megalas, ex hōn kai epikourein dynatoi eisi tois penēsin. Houtōs oun autois synchōrēteon einai krinō, hina, ei melloien eis tas heautōn paraginesthai ktēseis, kai tēn synkomidēn tōn karpōn poieisthai, treis Kyriakas hēmeras, toutesti treis hebdomadas, en tois heautōn ktēmasin autous diagein, kai en tę̄ anchisteuousę̄ ekklēsią en hę̄ presbyteros synagoi, hyper tou mē chōris syneleuseōs auton dokein einai, synerchesthai, kai leitourgein, kai mē synechesteron eis tēn polin, en hę̄ estin episkopos, paragignoito; touton gar ton tropon kai ta oikeia autou pragmata para tēn autou apousian oudemian hypomenei zēmian, kai to tēs alazoneias kai tou typhou ekklinein doxei enklēma. Hapantes hoi episkopoi eipon; Areskei kai hautē hē diatypōsis.

Bishop Hosius said: Since nothing should be passed over, let this too be decreed. Some of our brothers and fellow bishops seem to possess very little property of their own in the cities in which they are appointed bishops, but large estates in other places, from which they are also able to help the poor. I judge, then, that it should be allowed them, if they are to go to their own estates and gather in the harvest, to spend three Lord's days, that is, three weeks, on their own lands, and to assemble and minister in the nearest church in which a presbyter holds services, so that he may not seem to be without the assembly; and he is not to come too often into the city in which there is a bishop. For in this way his own affairs will suffer no loss through his absence, and he will be seen to avoid the charge of arrogance and pride. All the bishops said: This regulation too pleases us.

Notes and citation

Summary: Bishops with distant estates may spend up to three weeks there at harvest, attending the nearest church, but not longer.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (wrong breathing and accent in the digital text): Ἀρέσκει καὶ αὔτη → Ἀρέσκει καὶ αὕτη.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 12 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 13

13Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Καὶ τοῦτο πᾶσιν ἀρεσάτω, ἵνα εἴτε διάκονος, εἴτε πρεσβύτερος, ἢ καί τις τῶν κληρικῶν ἀκοινώνητος γένηται, καὶ πρὸς ἕτερον ἐπίσκοπον τὸν εἰδότα αὐτὸν καταφύγοι, γινώσκοντα ἀποκεκινῆσθαι αὐτὸν τῆς κοινωνίας παρὰ τοῦ ἰδίου ἐπισκόπου, μὴ χρῆναι τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ὕβριν ποιοῦντα, παρέχειν αὐτῷ κοινωνίαν. Εἰ δὲ τολμήσοι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι, γινωσκέτω, συνελθόντων ἐπισκόπων, ἀπολογίᾳ ἑαυτὸν ὑπεύθυνον καθεστᾶναι. Ἅπαντες οἱ ἐπίσκοποι εἶπον· Αὕτη ἡ κρίσις καὶ τὴν εἰρήνην πάντοτε διαφυλάξει, καὶ διατηρήσει τὴν πάντων ὁμόνοιαν.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Kai touto pasin aresatō, hina eite diakonos, eite presbyteros, ē kai tis tōn klērikōn akoinōnētos genētai, kai pros heteron episkopon ton eidota auton kataphygoi, ginōskonta apokekinēsthai auton tēs koinōnias para tou idiou episkopou, mē chrēnai tǭ episkopǭ kai adelphǭ autou hybrin poiounta, parechein autǭ koinōnian. Ei de tolmēsoi touto poiēsai, ginōsketō, synelthontōn episkopōn, apologią heauton hypeuthynon kathestanai. Hapantes hoi episkopoi eipon; Hautē hē krisis kai tēn eirēnēn pantote diaphylaxei, kai diatērēsei tēn pantōn homonoian.

Bishop Hosius said: Let this too please all: if a deacon, or a presbyter, or any one of the clergy is excommunicated and takes refuge with another bishop who knows him and knows that he has been removed from communion by his own bishop, that bishop ought not to give him communion and so do an insult to his bishop and brother. And if he dares to do this, let him know that, when the bishops assemble, he has made himself liable to give account. All the bishops said: This decision will both always preserve peace and maintain the concord of all.

Notes and citation

Summary: A bishop must not give communion to a cleric whom he knows his own bishop has excommunicated.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 13 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-13). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 14

14Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Τὸ δὲ πάντοτέ με κινοῦν ἀποσιωπῆσαι οὐκ ὀφείλω. Εἴ τις ἐπίσκοπος ὀξύχολος εὑρίσκοιτο, ὅπερ οὐκ ὀφείλει ἐν τοιούτῳ ἀνδρὶ πολιτεύεσθαι, καὶ τραχέως ἀντικρὺ πρεσβυτέρου ἢ διακόνου κινηθείς, ἐκβαλεῖν ἐκκλησίας αὐτὸν ἐθελήσοι, προνοητέον ἐστὶ μὴ ἀθρόον τὸν τοιοῦτον κατακρίνεσθαι, καὶ τῆς κοινωνίας ἀποστερεῖσθαι. Πάντες ἐπίσκοποι εἰρήκασιν· Ὁ ἐκβαλλόμενος ἐχέτω ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον τῆς μητροπόλεως τῆς αὐτῆς ἐπαρχίας καταφυγεῖν· εἰ δὲ ὁ τῆς μητροπόλεως ἄπεστιν, ἐπὶ τὸν πλησιόχωρον κατατρέχειν, καὶ ἀξιοῦν, ἵνα μετὰ ἀκριβείας αὐτοῦ ἐξετάζηται τὸ πρᾶγμα· οὐ γάρ χρὴ μὴ ὑπέχειν τὰς ἀκοὰς τοῖς ἀξιοῦσιν. Κἀκεῖνος δὲ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ὁ δικαίως ἢ ἀδίκως ἐκβαλών τὸν τοιοῦτον, γενναίως φέρειν ὀφείλει, ἵνα ἡ ἐξέτασις τοῦ πράγματος γένηται, καὶ ἢ κυρωθῇ αὐτοῦ ἡ ἀπόφασις, ἢ διορθώσεως τύχῃ. Πρὶν δὲ ἐπιμελῶς καὶ μετὰ πίστεως ἕκαστα ἐξετασθῇ, ὁ μὴ ἔχων τὴν κοινωνίαν πρὸ τῆς διαγνώσεως τοῦ πράγματος, ἑαυτῷ οὐκ ὀφείλει ἐκδικεῖν τὴν κοινωνίαν. Ἐὰν δέ, συνεληλυθότες τῶν κληρικῶν τινες, κατίδωσι τὴν ὑπεροψίαν καὶ τὴν ἀλαζονείαν αὐτοῦ, ἐπειδὴ οὐ προσῆκόν ἐστιν, ὕβριν, ἢ μέμψιν ἄδικον ὑπομένειν, πικροτέροις καὶ βαρυτέροις ῥήμασιν ἐπιστρέφειν τοῦτον ὀφείλουσιν, ἵνα τῷ τὰ πρέποντα κελεύοντι ὑπηρετῶνται, καὶ ὑπακούωσιν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος τοῖς ὑπηρέταις εἰλικρινῆ ὀφείλει τὴν ἀγάπην καὶ τὴν διάθεσιν παρέχειν, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον καὶ οἱ ὑποτεταγμένοι ἄδολα τοῖς ἐπισκόποις τὰ τῆς ὑπηρεσίας ἐκτελεῖν ὀφείλουσιν.

Hosios episkopos eipen; To de pantote me kinoun aposiōpēsai ouk opheilō. Ei tis episkopos oxycholos heuriskoito, hoper ouk opheilei en toioutǭ andri politeuesthai, kai tracheōs antikry presbyterou ē diakonou kinētheis, ekbalein ekklēsias auton ethelēsoi, pronoēteon esti mē athroon ton toiouton katakrinesthai, kai tēs koinōnias apostereisthai. Pantes episkopoi eirēkasin; Ho ekballomenos echetō exousian epi ton episkopon tēs mētropoleōs tēs autēs eparchias kataphygein; ei de ho tēs mētropoleōs apestin, epi ton plēsiochōron katatrechein, kai axioun, hina meta akribeias autou exetazētai to pragma; ou gar chrē mē hypechein tas akoas tois axiousin. Kakeinos de ho episkopos, ho dikaiōs ē adikōs ekbalōn ton toiouton, gennaiōs pherein opheilei, hina hē exetasis tou pragmatos genētai, kai ē kyrōthę̄ autou hē apophasis, ē diorthōseōs tychę̄. Prin de epimelōs kai meta pisteōs hekasta exetasthę̄, ho mē echōn tēn koinōnian pro tēs diagnōseōs tou pragmatos, heautǭ ouk opheilei ekdikein tēn koinōnian. Ean de, synelēlythotes tōn klērikōn tines, katidōsi tēn hyperopsian kai tēn alazoneian autou, epeidē ou prosēkon estin, hybrin, ē mempsin adikon hypomenein, pikroterois kai baryterois rhēmasin epistrephein touton opheilousin, hina tǭ ta preponta keleuonti hypēretōntai, kai hypakouōsin. Hōsper gar ho episkopos tois hypēretais eilikrinē opheilei tēn agapēn kai tēn diathesin parechein, ton auton tropon kai hoi hypotetagmenoi adola tois episkopois ta tēs hypēresias ektelein opheilousin.

Bishop Hosius said: I ought not to pass over in silence what always moves me. If a bishop is found quick-tempered, which ought not to be the case in such a man, and, being roused harshly against a presbyter or deacon, wishes to cast him out of the church, provision must be made that such a one not be condemned summarily and deprived of communion. All the bishops said: Let the one who is cast out have authority to take refuge with the bishop of the metropolis of the same province; and if the bishop of the metropolis is absent, to hasten to the neighboring one and ask that his case be examined with exactness; for one must not refuse a hearing to those who ask. And the bishop who cast out such a person, justly or unjustly, ought to bear it nobly that the case be examined and that his sentence be either confirmed or corrected. But before each point has been examined carefully and faithfully, the one who does not have communion ought not to claim communion for himself before the case is decided. But if some of the clergy, having assembled, see his haughtiness and arrogance, since it is not fitting to bear insult or unjust blame, they ought to correct him with sharper and heavier words, so that they may serve and obey the one who commands what is fitting. For just as the bishop ought to give sincere love and affection to his ministers, in the same way those who are subject ought to perform their service to the bishops without guile.

Notes and citation

Summary: A presbyter or deacon expelled by an angry bishop may appeal to the metropolitan or a neighboring bishop, but may not claim communion until the case is decided.

  • “His haughtiness”: the Greek does not make clear whether the expelled cleric or the bishop is meant; the following clause suggests the cleric.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (spurious accent on enclitic in the digital text): πάντοτέ μὲ κινοῦν → πάντοτέ με κινοῦν.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 14 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-14). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 15

15Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Καὶ τοῦτο δὲ πάντες ὁρίσωμεν, ἵνα, εἴ τις ἐπίσκοπος ἐξ ἑτέρας παροικίας βουληθῇ, ἀλλότριον ὑπηρέτην, χωρὶς τῆς συγκαταθέσεως τοῦ ἰδίου ἐπισκόπου, εἴς τινα βαθμὸν καταστῆσαι, ἄκυρος καὶ ἀβέβαιος ἡ τοιαύτη κατάστασις νομίζοιτο. Εἴ τινες δ᾽ ἂν τοῦτο ἑαυτοῖς ἐπιτρέψειαν, παρὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν καὶ συνεπισκόπων ἡμῶν καὶ ὑπομιμνήσκεσθαι καὶ διορθοῦσθαι ὀφείλουσιν. Ἅπαντες εἰρήκασι· Καὶ οὗτος ὁ ὅρος ἔσται ἀσάλευτος.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Kai touto de pantes horisōmen, hina, ei tis episkopos ex heteras paroikias boulēthę̄, allotrion hypēretēn, chōris tēs synkatatheseōs tou idiou episkopou, eis tina bathmon katastēsai, akyros kai abebaios hē toiautē katastasis nomizoito. Ei tines d᾽ an touto heautois epitrepseian, para tōn adelphōn kai synepiskopōn hēmōn kai hypomimnēskesthai kai diorthousthai opheilousin. Hapantes eirēkasi; Kai houtos ho horos estai asaleutos.

Bishop Hosius said: Let us all decree this too, that if a bishop from another district wishes to appoint to any grade a minister who belongs to another, without the consent of his own bishop, such an appointment is to be considered invalid and unconfirmed. And if any should allow themselves to do this, they ought to be admonished and corrected by our brothers and fellow bishops. All said: This decree too shall be unshaken.

Notes and citation

Summary: A bishop may not ordain another bishop's cleric without that bishop's consent; such an ordination is void.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 15 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-15). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 16

16Pedalion

Ἀέτιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Οὐκ ἀγνοεῖτε ὁποία καὶ πηλίκη τυγχάνει ἡ τῶν Θεσσαλονικέων μητρόπολις. Πολλάκις τοιγαροῦν εἰς αὐτὴν ἀπὸ ἑτέρων ἐπαρχιῶν πρεσβύτεροι καὶ διάκονοι παραγίνονται, καὶ οὐκ ἀρκούμενοι βραχέος διαγωγῇ χρόνου, ἐναπομένουσι, καὶ ἅπαντα τὸν χρόνον αὐτόθι ποιοῦντες διατελοῦσιν, ἢ μόλις μετὰ πλεῖστον χρόνον εἰς τὰς ἑαυτῶν ἐπανιέναι ἐκκλησίας ἀναγκάζονται· περὶ τούτων οὖν ὁριστέον. Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Οὗτοι οἱ ὅροι, οἱ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐπισκόπων ὡρισμένοι, φυλαττέσθωσαν καὶ ἐπὶ τούτων τῶν προσώπων.

Aetios episkopos eipen; Ouk agnoeite hopoia kai pēlikē tynchanei hē tōn Thessalonikeōn mētropolis. Pollakis toigaroun eis autēn apo heterōn eparchiōn presbyteroi kai diakonoi paraginontai, kai ouk arkoumenoi bracheos diagōgę̄ chronou, enapomenousi, kai hapanta ton chronon autothi poiountes diatelousin, ē molis meta pleiston chronon eis tas heautōn epanienai ekklēsias anankazontai; peri toutōn oun horisteon. Hosios episkopos eipen; Houtoi hoi horoi, hoi kai epi tōn episkopōn hōrismenoi, phylattesthōsan kai epi toutōn tōn prosōpōn.

Bishop Aetius said: You are not unaware of what kind and how great the metropolis of the Thessalonians is. Often, therefore, presbyters and deacons come to it from other provinces, and, not content with a short stay, they remain and continue spending all their time there, or are compelled with difficulty, after a very long time, to return to their own churches. Concerning these, then, a decree must be made. Bishop Hosius said: Let the decrees made concerning bishops be kept also concerning these persons.

Notes and citation

Summary: The rules limiting bishops' absence from their churches apply also to presbyters and deacons who linger in Thessalonica.

  • Aetius was bishop of Thessalonica.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 16 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-16). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 17

17Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Ὑποβάλλοντος καὶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν Ὀλυμπίου, καὶ τοῦτο ἤρεσεν, ἵνα, εἴ τις ἐπίσκοπος βίαν ὑπομείνας ἀδίκως ἐκβληθείη, ἢ διὰ τὴν ἐπιστήμην, ἢ διὰ τὴν ὁμολογίαν τῆς καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας, ἢ διὰ τὴν τῆς ἀληθείας ἐκδικίαν, καὶ φεύγων τὸν κίνδυνον, ἀθῷος καὶ καθωσιωμένος ὤν, εἰς ἑτέραν ἔλθοι πόλιν, μὴ κωλυέσθω ἐκεῖ ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον διάγειν, ἕως ἂν ἐπανέλθῃ, ἢ τῆς ὕβρεως τῆς γεγενημένης αὐτῷ ἀπαλλαγὴν εὑρέσθαι δυνηθῇ· σκληρὸν γὰρ καὶ βαρύτατον, ἐλασίαν ἄδικον ὑπομεμενηκότα μὴ ὑποδέχεσθαι ὑφ᾽ ἡμῶν· πλείστῃ γὰρ καλοκαγαθίᾳ καὶ φιλοφρονήσει ὀφείλει παραδέχεσθαι ὁ τοιοῦτος. Ἅπαντες εἰρήκασιν· Ἤρεσε καὶ τοῦτο.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Hypoballontos kai tou adelphou hēmōn Olympiou, kai touto ēresen, hina, ei tis episkopos bian hypomeinas adikōs ekblētheiē, ē dia tēn epistēmēn, ē dia tēn homologian tēs katholikēs ekklēsias, ē dia tēn tēs alētheias ekdikian, kai pheugōn ton kindynon, athǭos kai kathōsiōmenos ōn, eis heteran elthoi polin, mē kōlyesthō ekei epi tosouton diagein, heōs an epanelthę̄, ē tēs hybreōs tēs gegenēmenēs autǭ apallagēn heuresthai dynēthę̄; sklēron gar kai barytaton, elasian adikon hypomemenēkota mē hypodechesthai hyph᾽ hēmōn; pleistę̄ gar kalokagathią kai philophronēsei opheilei paradechesthai ho toioutos. Hapantes eirēkasin; Ērese kai touto.

Bishop Hosius said: At the suggestion also of our brother Olympius, this too has pleased: that if any bishop, having suffered violence, is unjustly cast out, either because of his learning, or because of his confession of the catholic church, or because of his defense of the truth, and, fleeing the danger, though innocent and devout, comes to another city, he is not to be prevented from staying there until he returns or can find relief from the outrage done to him. For it is harsh and very grievous that one who has suffered unjust banishment should not be received by us; such a one ought to be received with the greatest kindness and courtesy. All said: This too has pleased.

Notes and citation

Summary: A bishop unjustly driven from his see for his faith may stay in another city until he can return.

Topics: Church office, Persecution

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 17 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-17). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 18

18Pedalion

Γαυδέντιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Οἶδας, ἀδελφέ Ἀέτιε, ὡς τὸ τηνικαῦτά ποτε κατασταθέντος σου ἐπισκόπου, ἡ εἰρήνη λοιπὸν ἐβράβευσεν· ἵνα μή τινα λείψανα διχονοίας περὶ τῶν ἐκκλησιαστικῶν ἐναπομείνῃ, ἔδοξε καὶ τοὺς παρὰ Μουσαίου κατασταθέντας, καὶ τοὺς παρὰ Εὐτυχιανοῦ, ἐπειδὴ αὐτῶν οὐδεμία αἰτία εὑρίσκοιτο, πάντας ὑποδεχθῆναι.

Gaudentios episkopos eipen; Oidas, adelphe Aetie, hōs to tēnikauta pote katastathentos sou episkopou, hē eirēnē loipon ebrabeusen; hina mē tina leipsana dichonoias peri tōn ekklēsiastikōn enapomeinę̄, edoxe kai tous para Mousaiou katastathentas, kai tous para Eutychianou, epeidē autōn oudemia aitia heuriskoito, pantas hypodechthēnai.

Bishop Gaudentius said: You know, brother Aetius, that from the time you were appointed bishop, peace has prevailed. So that no remnants of discord may remain concerning church matters, it has seemed good that those appointed by Musaeus and those appointed by Eutychianus, since no charge is found against them, all be received.

Notes and citation

Summary: Clergy ordained by the rival claimants Musaeus and Eutychianus at Thessalonica are to be received, since no charge lies against them.

  • Musaeus and Eutychianus were apparently rivals of Aetius for the see of Thessalonica; nothing more is known of them.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 18 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-18). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 19

19Pedalion

Ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Τῆς ἐμῆς μετριότητος ἡ ἀπόφασίς ἐστιν αὕτη· Ἐπειδὴ ἥσυχοι καὶ ὑπομονητικοὶ ὀφείλομεν εἶναι, καὶ διαρκῆ τὸν πρὸς πάντας ἔχειν οἶκτον, ἅπαξ τοὺς εἰς κλῆρον ἐκκλησιαστικὸν προαχθέντας ὑπό τινων ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν, ἐὰν μὴ βούλοιντο ἐπανέρχεσθαι εἰς ἃς κατωνομάσθησαν ἐκκλησίας, τοῦ λοιποῦ μὴ ὑποδέχεσθαι· Εὐτυχιανὸν δὲ μήτε ἐπισκόπου ἑαυτῷ διεκδικεῖν ὄνομα· ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ Μουσαῖον ὡς ἐπίσκοπον νομίζεσθαι· εἰ δὲ λαϊκὴν κοινωνίαν ἀπαιτοῖεν, μὴ χρῆναι αὐτοῖς ἀρνεῖσθαι. Πάντες εἶπον· Ἀρέσκει.

Hosios episkopos eipen; Tēs emēs metriotētos hē apophasis estin hautē; Epeidē hēsychoi kai hypomonētikoi opheilomen einai, kai diarkē ton pros pantas echein oikton, hapax tous eis klēron ekklēsiastikon proachthentas hypo tinōn adelphōn hēmōn, ean mē boulointo epanerchesthai eis has katōnomasthēsan ekklēsias, tou loipou mē hypodechesthai; Eutychianon de mēte episkopou heautǭ diekdikein onoma; all᾽ oude Mousaion hōs episkopon nomizesthai; ei de laïkēn koinōnian apaitoien, mē chrēnai autois arneisthai. Pantes eipon; Areskei.

Bishop Hosius said: This is the judgment of my moderation: since we ought to be quiet and patient and to have unfailing compassion toward all, those who have once been advanced to the clergy of the church by some of our brothers are not to be received henceforth if they will not return to the churches for which they were named; and Eutychianus is not to claim for himself the name of bishop, nor is Musaeus to be regarded as a bishop; but if they ask for lay communion, it must not be refused them. All said: It pleases.

Notes and citation

Summary: Clergy who refuse to return to the churches for which they were ordained are not to be received, and Musaeus and Eutychianus may have only lay communion.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (wrong breathing and accent in the digital text): ἐστιν αὔτη → ἐστιν αὕτη.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 19 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-19). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 20

20Pedalion

Γαυδέντιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπεν· Ταῦτα σωτηριωδῶς καὶ ἀκολούθως ὁρισθέντα, καὶ πρεπόντως τῇ ἐπιτιμίᾳ ἡμῶν τῶν ἱερέων, καὶ Θεῷ ἀρέσαντα καὶ ἀνθρώποις, τὴν δύναμιν καὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν ἑαυτῶν κατασχεῖν οὐ δυνήσονται, ἐὰν μὴ καὶ φόβος ταῖς ἐξενεχθείσαις ἀποφάσεσιν ἀκολουθήσῃ· ἴσμεν γὰρ καὶ αὐτοί, πλεονάκις διὰ τὴν ὀλίγων ἀναισχυντίαν τὸ θεῖον καὶ σεβασμιώτατον ὄνομα τῆς ἱερωσύνης εἰς κατάγνωσιν ἐληλυθέναι. Εἰ τοίνυν τις παρὰ τὰ πᾶσι δόξαντα τολμήσοι, σπουδάζων τύφῳ μᾶλλον καὶ ἀλαζονείᾳ, ἢ τῷ Θεῷ ἀρέσαι, ἕτερόν τι διαπράξασθαι, ἤδη γινωσκέτω ἐγκλήματι ἀπολογίας ἑαυτὸν ὑπεύθυνον καθίστασθαι, καὶ τὴν τιμὴν καὶ τὸ ἀξίωμα τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς ἀποβάλλειν. Ἅπαντες ἀπεκρίναντο· Πρέπει καὶ ἀρέσκει ἡμῖν ἡ τοιαύτη γνώμη.

Gaudentios episkopos eipen; Tauta sōtēriōdōs kai akolouthōs horisthenta, kai prepontōs tę̄ epitimią hēmōn tōn hiereōn, kai Theǭ aresanta kai anthrōpois, tēn dynamin kai tēn ischyn heautōn kataschein ou dynēsontai, ean mē kai phobos tais exenechtheisais apophasesin akolouthēsę̄; ismen gar kai autoi, pleonakis dia tēn oligōn anaischyntian to theion kai sebasmiōtaton onoma tēs hierōsynēs eis katagnōsin elēlythenai. Ei toinyn tis para ta pasi doxanta tolmēsoi, spoudazōn typhǭ mallon kai alazoneią, ē tǭ Theǭ aresai, heteron ti diapraxasthai, ēdē ginōsketō enklēmati apologias heauton hypeuthynon kathistasthai, kai tēn timēn kai to axiōma tēs episkopēs apoballein. Hapantes apekrinanto; Prepei kai areskei hēmin hē toiautē gnōmē.

Bishop Gaudentius said: These things, decreed salutarily and fittingly, and suitably to the dignity of us priests, and pleasing to God and to men, will not be able to keep their force and strength unless fear also attends the sentences pronounced; for we ourselves know that very often, through the shamelessness of a few, the divine and most venerable name of the priesthood has come into condemnation. If, then, anyone dares, contrary to what has seemed good to all, to do something else, seeking to please pride and arrogance rather than God, let him know now that he makes himself liable to a charge requiring a defense, and loses the honor and dignity of the episcopate. All answered: Such an opinion is fitting and pleases us.

Notes and citation

Summary: Gaudentius proposes, and the synod agrees, that bishops who break these decrees out of pride are to lose their episcopal rank.

  • “Priests” (ἱερεῖς): here the bishops.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): τολμῆσοι → τολμήσοι.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 20 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-20). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.

Chapter 21

21Pedalion

Καὶ τοῦτο δὲ ἐκεῖθεν μάλιστα γνώριμον γενήσεται, καὶ πληρωθήσεται, ἐὰν ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῶν ἐν ταῖς παρόδοις, ἤγουν καναλίῳ, καθεστώτων ἐπισκόπων, θεασάμενος ἐπίσκοπον, ἐπιζητοίη τὴν αἰτίαν τῆς παρόδου, καὶ ποῦ τὴν πορείαν ποιεῖται· καὶ ἐὰν μὲν εὕρῃ αὐτὸν εἰς στρατόπεδον ἀπιόντα, ἐπιζητήσει τὰς αἱρέσεις τὰς ἐπάνω προκειμένας, κἂν κεκλημένος ἀφικνῆται, ἀπιόντι αὐτῷ μηδὲν ἐμπόδιον γίγνοιτο. Εἰ δὲ ἐπιδείξεως χάριν, καθὼς εἴρηται τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ ἀγάπῃ, ἢ διά τινων ἀξιώσεις σπουδάζοι ἐπὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον, μήτε τοῖς γράμμασιν αὐτοῦ ὑπογράφειν, μήτε κοινωνεῖν τῷ τοιούτῳ. Ἅπαντες εἶπον· Ὁριζέσθω καὶ τοῦτο.

Kai touto de ekeithen malista gnōrimon genēsetai, kai plērōthēsetai, ean hekastos hēmōn tōn en tais parodois, ēgoun kanaliǭ, kathestōtōn episkopōn, theasamenos episkopon, epizētoiē tēn aitian tēs parodou, kai pou tēn poreian poieitai; kai ean men heurę̄ auton eis stratopedon apionta, epizētēsei tas haireseis tas epanō prokeimenas, kan keklēmenos aphiknētai, apionti autǭ mēden empodion gignoito. Ei de epideixeōs charin, kathōs eirētai tę̄ hymeterą agapę̄, ē dia tinōn axiōseis spoudazoi epi to stratopedon, mēte tois grammasin autou hypographein, mēte koinōnein tǭ toioutǭ. Hapantes eipon; Horizesthō kai touto.

And this will become known and be fulfilled especially in this way: if each of us bishops who are established on the routes, that is, on the canal, on seeing a bishop, asks the reason for his journey and where he is travelling; and if he finds him going to the court, he will look into the conditions set out above; and if he comes having been summoned, no hindrance is to be put in his way as he goes. But if, as was said to your love, he is hastening to the court for display, or because of the requests of certain persons, one is neither to sign his letters nor to communicate with such a one. All said: Let this too be decreed.

Notes and citation

Summary: Bishops on the main roads are to ask travelling bishops their business and refuse communion to any going to court without summons.

  • This passage continues the preceding proposal; the numbering follows the Greek collection used here.
  • “The canal” (κανάλιον, Latin canalis): the main imperial highway along which bishops travelled to the court.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Conc. Sard. 21 (Pedalion; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-sardica/1/#p-21). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of the Pedalion (via Greek Wikisource; the Pedalion's commentary not used); compared afterwards with NPNF² 14.