THE CANONS OF THE 318 HOLY FATHERS ASSEMBLED IN THE CITY OF NICE, IN BITHYNIA.
CANON II.
FORASMUCH as, either from necessity, or through the
urgency of individuals, many things have been done contrary to the
Ecclesiastical canon, so that men just converted from heathenism to the faith,
and who have been instructed but a little while, are straightway brought to the
spiritual layer, and as soon as they have been baptized, are advanced to the
episcopate or the presbyterate, it has seemed right to us that for the time to
come no such thing shall be done. For to the catechumen himself there is need
of time and of a longer trial after baptism. For the apostolical saying is
clear, "Not a novice; lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into
condemnation and the snare of the devil." But if, as time goes on, any sensual
sin should be found out about the person, and he should be convicted by two or
three witnesses, let him cease from the clerical office. And whoso shall
transgress these[enactment's] will imperil his own clerical position, as a p
erson who presumes to disobey the great Synod.
CANON VI.
LET the ancient customs in Egypt, Libya and Pentapolis
prevail, that the Bishop of Alexandria have jurisdiction in all these, since
the like is customary for the Bishop of Rome also. Likewise in Antioch and the
other provinces, let the Churches retain their privileges. And this is to be
universally understood, that if any one be made bishop without the consent of
the Metropolitan, the great Synod has declared that such a man ought not to be
a bishop. If, however, two or three bishops shall from natural love of
contradiction, oppose the common suffrage of the rest, it being reasonable and
in accordance with the ecclesiastical law, then let the choice of the majority
prevail.
CANON VIII.
CONCERNING those who call themselves Cathari, if they
come over to the Catholic and Apostolic Church, the great and holy Synod
decrees that they who are ordained shall continue as they are in the clergy.
But it is before all things necessary that they should profess in writing that
they will observe and follow the dogmas of the Catholic and Apostolic Church;
in particular that they will communicate with persons who have been twice
married, and with those who having lapsed in persecution have had a period [of
penance] laid upon them, and a time [of restoration] fixed so that in all
things they will follow the dogmas of the Catholic Church. Wheresoever, then,
whether in villages or in cities, all of the ordained are found to be of these
only, let them remain in the clergy, and in the same rank in which they are
found. But if they come over where there is a bishop or presbyter of the
Catholic Church, it is manifest that the Bishop of the Church must have the
bishop's dignity; and he who was named bishop by those who are called Cathari
shall have the rank of presbyter, unless it shall seem fit to the Bishop to
admit him to partake in the honour of the title. Or, if this should not be
satisfactory, then shall the bishop provide for him a place as Chorepiscopus,
or presbyter, in order that he may be evidently seen to be of the clergy, and
that there may not be two bishops in the city.
CANON XI.
CONCERNING those who have fallen without compulsion,
without the spoiling of their property, without danger or the like, as happened
during the tyranny of Licinius, the Synod declares that, though they have
deserved no clemency, they shall be dealt with mercifully. As many as were
communicants, if they heartily repent, shall pass three years among the
hearers; for seven years they shall be prostrators; and for two years they
shall communicate with the people in prayers, but without oblation.
CANON XV.
ON account of the great disturbance and discords that
occur, it is decreed that the custom prevailing in certain places contrary to
the Canon, must wholly be done away; so that neither bishop, presbyter, nor
deacon shall pass from city to city. And if any one, after this decree of the
holy and great Synod, shall attempt any such thing, or continue in any such
course, his proceedings shall be utterly void, and he shall be restored to the
Church for which he was ordained bishop or presbyter.
CANON XIX.
CONCERNING the Paulianists who have flown for
refuge to the Catholic Church, it has been decreed that they must by all means
be rebaptized; and if any of them who in past time have been numbered among
their clergy should be found blameless and without reproach, let them be
rebaptized and ordained by the Bishop of the Catholic Church; but if the
examination should discover them to be unfit, they ought to be deposed.
Likewise in the case of their deaconesses, and generally in the case of those
who have been enrolled among their clergy, let the same form be observed. And
we mean by deaconesses such as have assumed the habit, but who, since they have
no imposition of hands, are to be numbered only among the laity.
selected from Henry R. Percival, ed.,The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church, Vol XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, 2nd series, edd. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, (repr. Edinburgh: T&T Clark; Grand Rapids MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1988)