# Canons of the Council of Turin - Author: Anonymous - Latin title: *Concilium Taurinense* - Date: ca. 398 (probable) - Source: Friedrich Lauchert, ed., Die Kanones der wichtigsten altkirchlichen Concilien nebst den Apostolischen Kanones (Freiburg i. B. and Leipzig: Mohr, 1896); text read from a Tesseract OCR of the archive.org scan (Latin text: Lauchert (1896), OCR of the archive.org scan) - 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-turin-398/ - Passages: 9 ## Preamble - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-0 - Source: Lauchert, 185 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The synodal letter of the council of Turin to the bishops of Gaul introduces its judgments on the disputes brought before it. ### Latin text Sancta synodus quae convenit in urbe Taurinatium die decimo Kalendas Octobris fratribus dilectissimis per Gallias et quinque provincias constitutis. Cum ad postulationem provinciarum Galliae sacerdotum convenissemus ad Taurinatium civitatem atque in eiusdem urbis ecclesia auctore vel medio domino sederemus, auditis allegationibus episcoporum, eorum videlicet qui ad iudicium nostrum fuerant congregati, de singulis negotiis haec sententiae forma processit, ita ut pacis bonum et instituta canonum servarentur, et plurimorum intentionibus adhiberetur utilis medicina. ### English translation (Claude) The holy synod which assembled in the city of the Taurini on the tenth day before the Kalends of October, to the dearly beloved brothers established throughout the Gauls and the Five Provinces. When, at the request of the bishops of the provinces of Gaul, we had assembled at the city of the Taurini, and were sitting in the church of that city with the Lord as author and in our midst, having heard the allegations of the bishops, namely of those who had gathered for our judgment, this form of sentence was issued on the several matters, so that the good of peace and the institutions of the canons might be preserved, and a useful remedy be applied to the contentions of many. ### Translation notes - The council met at Turin on 22 September; the year is disputed (398 or about 400). No public-domain English translation exists; the translation was re-read against the Latin. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. pref. (Lauchert, 185; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-0). ## Canon 1 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-1 - Source: Lauchert, 221–222 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Proculus of Marseilles is granted, for his lifetime only, primacy over the churches of Second Narbonensis that he founded or whose bishops he ordained. ### Latin text Nam cum primum omnium vir sanctus Proculus, Massiliensis episcopus civitatis, se tanquam metropolitanum ecclesiis, quae in secunda provincia Narbonensi positae videbantur, diceret praeesse debere atque per se ordinationes in memorata provincia summorum fieri sacerdotum, siquidem assereret easdem ecclesias vel suas parochias fuisse vel episcopos a se in eisdem ecclesiis ordinatos, et e diverso eiusdem regionis episcopi aliud defensarent ac sibi alterius provinciae sacerdotem praeesse non debere contenderent: id iudicatum est a sancta synodo contemplatione pacis atque concordiae, ut non tam civitati eius, quae in altera provincia sita est, cuius magnitudinem penitus nesciremus, quam ipsi potissimum deferretur, ut tanquam pater filiis honore primatus assistere. Dignum enim visum est, ut quamvis unitate provinciae minime tenerentur, constringerentur tamen pietatis affectu. Haec igitur ipsi tantum in vita eiusdem forma servabitur, ut in ecclesiis provinciae secundae Narbonensis, quas vel suas parochias vel suos discipulos fuisse ordinatos constiterit, primatus habeat dignitatem. Illud quoque a partibus sit observandum, quod licet ex superfluo non tamen inutiliter commonetur, ut ipse sanctus Proculus tanquam pius pater consacerdotes suos honoret ut filios, et memoratae provinciae sacerdotes tanquam boni filii eumdem habeant ut parentem, et invicem sibi exhibeant caritatis affectum, impleto hoc quod ait beatus apostolus: Honore mutuo praevenientes, non alta sapientes, sed humiliter consentientes. ### English translation (Claude) For first of all, since the holy man Proculus, bishop of the city of Marseilles, said that he ought to preside as metropolitan over the churches that appeared to be situated in the Second Narbonensis province, and that the ordinations of bishops in that province should be made by him, since he asserted that those same churches had either been his parishes or that the bishops in those churches had been ordained by him; and since, on the other side, the bishops of that region maintained otherwise and contended that a bishop of another province ought not to preside over them: it was judged by the holy synod, in consideration of peace and concord, that the honor be granted not so much to his city, which is situated in another province (and whose greatness we did not know at all), as to him personally, so that he should assist them with the honor of primacy as a father his sons. For it seemed fitting that, although they were not bound by the unity of a province, they should yet be bound by the affection of devotion. This arrangement, then, will be kept for him alone, during his lifetime: that he have the dignity of primacy in those churches of the Second Narbonensis province which are shown to have been either his parishes or to have had his disciples ordained as their bishops. This too should be observed by the parties, a reminder that is superfluous but not useless: that the holy Proculus himself, as a devoted father, honor his fellow bishops as sons, and the bishops of that province, like good sons, hold him as a parent, and that they show one another the affection of love, fulfilling what the blessed apostle says: “Outdoing one another in honor, not minding high things, but agreeing with the humble.” ### Scripture references - Rom 12:10: quotation, high confidence - Rom 12:16: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - “Bishops” renders summi sacerdotes (“chief priests”). The quotation combines Rom 12:10 and 12:16. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. 1 (Lauchert, 221–222; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-1). ## Canon 2 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-2 - Source: Lauchert, 222 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The dispute between Arles and Vienne over primacy is to go to whichever proves its city the metropolis; meanwhile each may oversee the churches nearer to it. ### Latin text Illud deinde inter episcopos urbium Arelatensis et Viennensis, qui de primatus apud nos honore certabant, a sancta synodo definitum est, ut qui ex eis approbaverit suam civitatem esse metropolim, is totius provinciae honorem primatus obtineat et ipse iuxta canonum praeceptum ordinationum habeat potestatem. Certe ad pacis vinculum conservandum hoc consilio utiliore decretum est, ut si placet memoratarum urbium episcopis, unaquaeque de his viciniores sibi intra provinciam vindicet civitates, atque eas ecclesias visitet, quas oppidis suis vicinas magis esse constiterit, ita ut memores unanimitatis atque concordiae non alter alterum longius sibi usurpando quod est alii proprium inquietet. ### English translation (Claude) Then, between the bishops of the cities of Arles and Vienne, who were contending before us for the honor of primacy, the holy synod defined that whichever of them proves that his city is the metropolis is to hold the honor of primacy over the whole province, and he himself is to have the power of ordinations according to the precept of the canons. Certainly, to preserve the bond of peace, it was decreed by a more useful counsel that, if it pleases the bishops of the said cities, each of them claim for itself the cities nearer to it within the province and visit those churches which are shown to be closer to its towns, so that, mindful of unanimity and concord, neither disturbs the other by encroaching further and usurping what belongs to the other. ### Scripture references - Eph 4:3: echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - “Encroaching further” renders the OCR's ngius, taken as longius. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. 2 (Lauchert, 222; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-2). ## Canon 3 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-3 - Source: Lauchert, 222–223 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Bishops who irregularly ordained other bishops are pardoned this time, but future irregular ordinations will cost the ordained his office and the ordainer his authority. ### Latin text Gestorum quoque seriem conscribi placuit ad perpetem disciplinam, quae circa Octavium, Ursionem, Remigium et Triferium episcopos synodus sancta decrevit, qui in usurpatione quadam de ordinatione sacerdotum ad invidiam vocabantur. Quod eis eatenus videtur indultum, ut de cetero hac auctoritate commoniti nihil tale usurpare conentur; si quidem ea se ab hac causa excusatione defenderint, quod dicerent prius se non esse conventos. Proinde iudicavit synodus, ut si quis ex hoc fecerit contra statuta maiorum, sciat is qui ordinatus fuerit, sacerdotii se honore privandum, ille vero qui ordinaverit, auctoritatem se in ordinationibus vel in conciliis minime retenturum. Non solum autem circa memoratos episcopos haec sententia praevalebit, sed et circa omnes qui simili errore decepti ordinationes huiusmodi perpetrarunt. ### English translation (Claude) It has also pleased that the record of the proceedings be written down for perpetual discipline, which the holy synod decreed concerning the bishops Octavius, Ursio, Remigius, and Triferius, who were being brought into ill repute for a certain usurpation in the ordination of bishops. Indulgence seems to have been granted them to this extent, that henceforth, warned by this authority, they are to attempt to usurp nothing of the kind, since indeed they defended themselves in this case with the excuse that they had not been warned beforehand. The synod therefore judged that, if anyone henceforth acts against the statutes of the elders, the one who has been ordained is to know that he will be deprived of the honor of the priesthood, and the one who ordained him that he will retain no authority in ordinations or in councils. And this sentence will apply not only to the aforesaid bishops but also to all who, deceived by a similar error, have performed ordinations of this kind. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. 3 (Lauchert, 222–223; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-3). ## Canon 4 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-4 - Source: Lauchert, 223 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The layman Palladius remains under Bishop Triferius's sentence for accusing the presbyter Spanus, but Triferius may release him. ### Latin text De Palladio autem laico, qui Spano presbytero non leve crimen intenderat, inter quos episcopus Triferius eiusdem criminis causas se cognovisse testatus est, id concilii decrevit auctoritas, ut idem Palladius in eadem sententia maneret, qua cognitionis tempore a Triferio fuerat sacerdote mulctatus, in hoc ei humanitate reservata concilii, ut ipse Triferius in potestate habeat quando voluerit ei relaxare. ### English translation (Claude) Concerning Palladius, a layman, who had brought no light charge against the presbyter Spanus, in whose dispute Bishop Triferius testified that he had heard the causes of that same charge, the authority of the council decreed that the same Palladius remain under the same sentence with which he had been punished by Bishop Triferius at the time of the hearing, the council's humanity being reserved in this, that Triferius himself has it in his power to release him when he wishes. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. 4 (Lauchert, 223; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-4). ## Canon 5 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-5 - Source: Lauchert, 223 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The presbyter Exuperantius, excommunicated for insulting his bishop Triferius, is to be restored only at Triferius's discretion. ### Latin text Statuit quoque de Exuperantio presbytero sancta synodus, qui ad iniuriam sancti episcopi sui Triferii gravia et multa congesserat, et frequentibus eum contumeliis provocaverat, ita ut nonnulla fecerit contra ecclesiasticam disciplinam, propter quam causam ab eo fuerat dominica communione privatus, ut in eius sit arbitrio restitutio ipsius, in cuius potestate fuit eius abiectio, hoc est ut quando vel idem Exuperantius satisfecerit, vel episcopo Triferio visum fuerit, tunc gratiam communionis accipiat. ### English translation (Claude) The holy synod also decreed concerning the presbyter Exuperantius, who had heaped up many grave things to the injury of his holy bishop Triferius and had provoked him with frequent insults, so that he did some things against church discipline, for which reason he had been deprived by him of the Lord's communion: that his restoration be at the discretion of him in whose power his removal was; that is, that when either Exuperantius has made satisfaction or it seems good to Bishop Triferius, he then receive the grace of communion. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. 5 (Lauchert, 223; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-5). ## Canon 6 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-6 - Source: Lauchert, 223 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Gallic bishops in communion with Felix of Trier may be received if they break with him, as the letters of Ambrose and the Roman bishop direct. ### Latin text Illud praeterea decrevit sancta synodus, ut quoniam legatos episcopi Galliarum, qui Felici communicant, destinarunt, si qui ab eius communione se voluerint sequestrare, in nostrae pacis consortium suscipiantur, iuxta litteras venerabilis memoriae Ambrosii episcopi vel Romanae ecclesiae sacerdotis dudum latas, quae in concilio legatis praesentibus recitatae sunt. ### English translation (Claude) The holy synod decreed besides that, since the bishops of the Gauls who communicate with Felix have sent legates, if any wish to separate themselves from his communion, they are to be received into the fellowship of our peace, according to the letters of Ambrose, bishop of venerable memory, and of the bishop of the Roman church, issued some time ago, which were read in the council in the presence of the legates. ### Translation notes - Felix of Trier, consecrated in 386 by the bishops who had pressed for the execution of Priscillian, was out of communion with Ambrose and with Rome. Ambrose had died in 397. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. 6 (Lauchert, 223; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-6). ## Canon 7 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-7 - Source: Lauchert, 223–224 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: No bishop may receive or ordain another bishop's cleric, or admit to communion one excommunicated. ### Latin text Nec illud praetermittendum fuit, quod synodi sententia definitum est, ut clericum alterius secundum statuta canonum nemo suscipiat, neque suae ecclesiae, licet in alio gradu, audeat ordinare, neque abiectum recipiat in communionem. ### English translation (Claude) Nor was this to be passed over, which was defined by the synod's sentence: that, according to the statutes of the canons, no one is to receive another's cleric, or dare to ordain him for his own church, even in another grade, or receive into communion one who has been cast out. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. 7 (Lauchert, 223–224; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-7). ## Canon 8 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-8 - Source: Lauchert, 224 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Clergy ordained against the prohibition, or who have fathered children while in the ministry, are not to be promoted to higher orders. ### Latin text Hi autem qui contra interdictum sunt ordinati, vel in ministerio filios genuerunt, ne ad maiores gradus ordinum permittantur, synodi decrevit auctoritas. Incolumes vos dominus noster aevo longissimo conservare dignetur, domini fratres dilectissimi. ### English translation (Claude) And those who have been ordained contrary to the prohibition, or who have begotten children while in the ministry, the authority of the synod decreed are not to be admitted to the higher grades of orders. May our Lord deign to preserve you safe for a very long age, lords, dearly beloved brothers. ### Translation notes - “The prohibition” probably refers to the rule that married clergy in major orders abstain from relations with their wives, as in the decretals of Siricius; the canon does not say so explicitly. ### Citation (SBL) Conc. Taur. 8 (Lauchert, 224; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/council-turin-398/0/#p-8).