Ancyra, Canons 1–19

These canons are found in Labbe and Cossart’s Concilia and in all the collections, in the Greek text together with several Latin versions of different dates. They are also in Justel and in Beveridge. Notes on them by Routh, with a reprint of the notes of Christopher Justel and of Bishop Beveridge, will be found in volume 4 of the Reliquiae Sacrae, second edition, 1846. [a]

Canon 1. [b] As for those presbyters who offered sacrifices and afterward returned to the contest, not in pretense but in sincerity: it has seemed good that they may keep the honor of their seat. This holds provided they did not use scheming, prearrangement or persuasion so as to seem to be put to torture, when it was applied only for show and pretense. Nevertheless, they may not make the offering, or preach, or, in short, perform any priestly function at all. [c]

Canon 2. It is likewise decreed that deacons who sacrificed and afterward took up the contest again shall keep their other honors, but shall abstain from every sacred ministry, neither bringing forward the bread and the cup nor making the proclamations. Nevertheless, if any of the bishops see in them distress of mind and meek humility, the bishops may grant them more indulgence, or take away what has been granted. [e]

For the ancient summary, see above under Canon 1. [f] This canon sets out the work and office of a deacon as it was then understood: “to bring forward” (whatever that may mean) “bread or wine,” and “to act as herald.” There is a good deal of difference of opinion about the meaning of the first of these expressions. It was always the deacon’s duty to serve the priest, especially when he administered Holy Communion. But this phrase may refer to either of two such services: bringing the bread and wine to the priest at the offertory, which is Van Espen’s view, or giving out the Holy Sacrament to the people. It has been urged that deacons had stopped giving out the bread before the time of this council, but Hefele shows that the custom had not entirely died out. [g] If I may be allowed to offer a suggestion, the use of the word “or” between the two seems to point to the giving of the sacrament rather than to the bringing of the offerings at the offertory. The deacon’s other function, “to act as herald,” refers to the reading of the Holy Gospel, and to the many proclamations the deacons make at mass in both the Greek and the Latin rite. In the Corpus Juris Canonici this canon is joined to the one before it: Decretum, Part 1, Distinction 50, chapter 32. [h]

Canon 3. As for those who fled and were arrested, or were betrayed by their own servants; or those who were otherwise robbed of their goods, or endured tortures, or were imprisoned and abused, while declaring themselves to be Christians; or who were forced to take something their persecutors violently thrust into their hands, or food offered to idols, while all the time professing that they were Christians; and who, by their whole dress and bearing and humble way of life, always show their grief at what happened: these people, since they are free from sin, are not to be kept from communion. And if, through extreme strictness or ignorance of some things, they have been kept from it, let them be readmitted at once. This holds alike for clergy and laity. It has also been considered whether laymen who fell under the same compulsion may be admitted to orders. We have decreed that, since they have in no respect been guilty, they may be ordained, provided their past way of life is found to have been upright. [i]

Canon 4. Concerning those who were forced to sacrifice and who, besides, took part in feasts held in honor of the idols: as many as were dragged off, but afterward went up with a cheerful face, wore their finest clothes and shared in the feast provided without concern, it is decreed that all such be hearers for one year and kneelers for three years, that they share in the prayers only for two years, and then return to full communion. [j]

Canon 5. But as many as went up in mourning clothes, sat down and ate, weeping all through the meal: if they have completed the three years as kneelers, let them be received without the offering. And if they did not eat, let them be kneelers for two years, and in the third year let them share in communion without the offering, so that in the fourth year they may be received into full communion. But the bishops have the right, after considering the character of their conversion, either to deal with them more gently or to lengthen the time. Above all, let their life before and since be thoroughly examined, and let the indulgence be decided accordingly. [k]

Canon 6. Concerning those who gave way merely at the threat of punishment, of having their goods seized, or of banishment, and sacrificed, and who until this present time have not repented or been converted, but who now, at the time of this synod, have come forward intending to be converted: it is decreed that they be received as hearers until the Great Day, and that after the Great Day they be kneelers for three years, and for two years more share in communion without the offering, and then come to full communion, so as to complete a period of six full years. And if any were admitted to penance before this synod, let the six years be counted for them from that time. Nevertheless, if any danger or prospect of death should arise, whether from disease or from any other cause, let them be received, but on conditions. [l]

Canon 7. Concerning those who took part in a pagan feast in a place set apart for pagans, but brought and ate their own food: it is decreed that they be received after they have been kneelers for two years. But whether they are to be received with the offering, each bishop must decide after he has looked into the rest of their life. [o]

Canon 8. Let those who sacrificed two or three times under compulsion be kneelers for four years and share in communion without the offering for two years, and in the seventh year let them be received into full communion. [p]

Canon 9. As many as not only fell away but also turned on their brothers and forced them to fall away, and are to blame for their being forced: let these take the place of hearers for three years, and that of kneelers for another six years, and for one year more let them share in communion without the offering, so that when they have completed the space of ten years they may take part in communion. But during this time the rest of their life must also be looked into. [q]

Canon 10. Those who were made deacons, and declared when they were ordained that they must marry because they were not able to remain as they were, and who afterward married, shall continue in their ministry, because the bishop allowed it to them. But if any kept silent on this matter, undertaking at their ordination to remain as they were, and afterward went on to marry, they shall give up the office of deacon. [r]

Canon 11. It is decreed that virgins who were betrothed and afterward carried off by other men shall be given back to those to whom they had first been betrothed, even if they have suffered violence from the man who seized them. [s]

Canon 12. It is decreed that those who offered sacrifice before their baptism, and were afterward baptized, may be promoted to orders, since they have been cleansed.

Canon 13. It is not lawful for country bishops to ordain presbyters or deacons, and still less for presbyters of a city to do so, in another parish without the bishop’s commission given in writing. [t]

Canon 14. It is decreed that presbyters and deacons among the clergy who abstain from meat shall taste it, and afterward, if they wish, they may abstain. But if they look down on it, and will not even eat vegetables cooked with meat, and so disobey the canon, let them be removed from their order.

Canon 15. Concerning things belonging to the church which presbyters may have sold when there was no bishop: it is decreed that the church property shall be reclaimed. And it shall be for the bishop to decide whether it is better to receive back the purchase price or not; for often the income from the things sold might bring them more than that.

Canon 16. Those who have been or are guilty of bestiality: if they sinned while under twenty years of age, let them be kneelers for fifteen years, and afterward share in the prayers; then, having spent five years in this communion, let them have a share in the offering. But let their life as kneelers be examined, and so let them receive indulgence; and if any have been insatiable in their crimes, let their time of kneeling be lengthened. And if any who are past this age and had wives have fallen into this sin, let them be kneelers for twenty-five years, and then share in the prayers; and after they have been five years in the communion of prayers, let them share in the offering. And if any married men over fifty years of age have sinned in this way, let them be admitted to communion only at the point of death. [w]

Canon 17. As for those who have defiled themselves with animals and who, being lepers as well, have infected others with the leprosy of this crime: the holy synod commands them to pray among the hiemantes. [x]

Canon 18. If any who were appointed bishops, but were not received by the parish to which they were named, invade other parishes and wrong the bishops appointed there, stirring up factions against them, let such men be suspended from office and from communion. But if they are willing to accept a seat among the presbyters where they were formerly presbyters, let them not be deprived of that honor. But if they stir up factions against the bishops established there, the honor of the presbyterate shall also be taken from them, and they themselves shall be expelled.

Canon 19. If any who profess virginity set aside their profession, let them complete the term of penance laid on those who marry a second time. And further, we forbid women who are virgins to live with men as sisters. [z]