The Canons of Peter of Alexandria

Canon 1. The fourth Easter since the beginning of the persecution had now come. He orders that those who did not fall until after they had endured severe torments, and who have already been “mourners” for three years, are to be admitted to communion after a fast of forty days, even though they had not before been received to penance. [a] Canon 2. But if they endured imprisonment only, without torments, let a year be added to their former penance. Canon 3. If they fell of their own accord, without torments or imprisonment, but have come to repentance, four years are added to their former penance. Canon 4. The case of those who do not repent is pronounced hopeless.

Canon 5. Those who used evasion, and did not sign the renunciation outright or offer incense to the idols with their own hands, but sent a pagan to do it for them, are given six months’ penance, even though some of the confessors have pardoned them. [c] Canon 6. Slaves forced by their masters to offer incense to idols, who did it in their masters’ place, are given a year’s penance. Canon 7. The masters who forced them to it are given three years’ penance, as hypocrites, and as men who forced their slaves to sacrifice. Canon 8. Those who fell at first, but afterward recovered themselves by declaring that they were Christians, and endured torments, are admitted to communion at once.

Canon 9. Those who provoked the magistrates to persecute themselves and others are to be blamed, yet not refused communion. Canon 10. Clergymen who ran into persecution of their own accord and fell are not to be admitted to perform the sacred offices, even though they afterward recovered themselves and suffered torments. Canon 11. Those who prayed for people who fell after long torments are to be dealt with leniently, and we pray together with them, since they mourn what they have done with anguish and self-abasement. [d] Canon 12. Those who bought their ease and freedom with money are to be commended. Canon 13. Nor should we blame those who ran away and left everything, even though others left behind might fare worse because of it. [e] Canon 14. Those who endured tortures, and afterward, when they had lost the power of speech and movement, had their hands forced into the fire to offer an unholy sacrifice, are to be placed among the confessors in the liturgy, that is, in the diptychs. [f]

Canon 15. Wednesday is to be kept as a fast, because on that day the Jews plotted to betray Jesus; and Friday, because on that day he suffered for us. We keep the Lord’s day as a day of joy, because on that day our Lord rose. Our tradition is not to kneel on that day.