Theophilus’s Instructions to Ammon

Canon 2. Let the priests who have been in communion with the Arians be kept or rejected according to the custom of each church, but in such a way that other orthodox priests are ordained, even though the others remain. Let it be done in other cities as the orthodox bishops did in the Thebaid. As for those who were ordained by Bishop Apollo and afterward joined in communion with the Arians: if they did it of their own accord, let them be censured; but if they did it only in obedience to their bishop, let them remain. But if the whole people reject them, others must be ordained. And if Bistus the priest is found to have committed sexual sin with a woman divorced by her husband, let him not be allowed to be a priest. This does not count against the bishop who ordained him, if he did it in ignorance; for the holy synod commands that unworthy men be expelled, even if they are not convicted until after their ordination. [a] Canon 3. Let Bishop Apollo’s sentence against his priest Sur stand, though he is free to have a further hearing. Canon 4. If Panuph the deacon married his brother’s daughter before his baptism, let him remain among the clergy, provided she is dead and he had no relations with her after his baptism. But if he married her and lived with her while he was a communicant, let him be put out of the clergy, without this counting against the bishop who ordained him, if he did it in ignorance. Canon 5. If it is clearly shown that Jacob, while he was a reader, committed fornication and was put out by the priests, and yet was afterward ordained, let him be put out; and not otherwise. [c]

Canon 6. All who are in holy orders are to agree together in choosing those who are to be ordained, and then the bishop is to examine them. Or the bishop is to ordain them in the middle of the church, with the consent of all who are in holy orders, asking the people aloud, who are to be present, whether they can give their testimony for those to be ordained. Ordination is not to be performed in private. If there are any in the remote countryside who, while in communion with the Arians, also shared their opinions, let them not be ordained until they have been examined by orthodox clergy in the presence of the bishop. The bishop is to charge the people that there be no running about in the middle of the church or during the service. Canon 7. Let the clergy share out all that is offered as a sacrifice, after as much as was needed has been used in the mysteries. Let the catechumens not taste of it, but only the clergy and the communicants. [d] Canon 8. A certain Hierax had accused a clergyman of fornication. Bishop Apollo defended him. Theophilus orders the matter to be examined. Canon 9. A steward is to be appointed, with the consent of all who are in holy orders and the agreement of Bishop Apollo, so that the goods of the church may be spent as they should be. [e] Canon 10. The widows, the poor and travelers are not to be disturbed, and no one is to treat the goods of the church as his own property.