Basil to His Bishops: No Ordaining for Money

Canon 91. A letter to the bishops under him, in which he forbids them to take money for ordination, and to bring buying and selling into the church, which has been entrusted with the Body and Blood of Christ. They had been taking their payment after the ordination was done; this he calls a trick. And he declares that whoever is guilty of it is to leave the altar in his country, and go and buy and sell the gift of God wherever he can. [a]