Canons 18–20

Canon 18. It has come to the knowledge of the holy and great synod that in some districts and cities the deacons give the eucharist to the presbyters, although neither canon nor custom allows those who have no right to offer to give the Body of Christ to those who do offer. And this too has been made known: that some deacons now touch the eucharist even before the bishops. Let all such practices be done away with entirely, and let the deacons keep within their own bounds, knowing that they are the bishop’s ministers and the presbyters’ inferiors. Let them receive the eucharist in their proper order, after the presbyters, and let either the bishop or the presbyter give it to them. Furthermore, let the deacons not sit among the presbyters, for that is against canon and order. And if anyone refuses to obey after this decree, let him be deposed from the office of deacon. [a]

Canon 19. Concerning the Paulianists who have fled for refuge to the catholic church, it has been decreed that they must by all means be rebaptized. If any of them who in the past were counted among their clergy are found blameless and above reproach, let them be rebaptized and ordained by the bishop of the catholic church; but if the examination finds them unfit, they ought to be deposed. Likewise in the case of their deaconesses, and in general in the case of those who have been enrolled among their clergy, let the same procedure be followed. And by deaconesses we mean those who have taken the habit, but who, since they have had no laying on of hands, are to be counted only among the laity. [b]

Canon 20. Since there are some who kneel on the Lord’s day and in the days of Pentecost, it seems good to the holy synod, so that all things may be observed alike everywhere, in every parish, that prayer be made to God standing. [d]