The Presbyters Project

Canon 7

De his qui pro accidentia iurgiorum altaria nudare praesumunt uel luminaria ecclesiae subtrahunt.

"Vae his qui faciunt opus Domini fraudulenter et desidiose" propheticus sermo annuntiat. Et si illi uae incurrunt qui neglegenter opus Domini faciunt, quod supplicium merebuntur qui diuinae seruitutis cultum malitia intercedente ab altariis Christi subducunt? Illos dicimus qui obstinatae mentis dolositate confusi, cum aliqua eos molestia fraternorum iurgiorum pupugerit, insana illico temeritate abrepti altaria nudantes sacratis uestibus exuunt, luminaria subtrahunt, ac diuinorum sacrificiorum cultum malitia intercedente subducunt, et quod in hominibus se uindicare non possunt, iniuriam Deo, quod peius est, inferunt.

Vnde si huiusmodi pro fraterno odio homicidae reatu adstringetur, pro contemptu diuino quid poenae merebitur? Etenim iuxta quod diuinus sermo increpitat "si peccaverit uir in uirum, placari ei potest Deus; si quis autem peccauerit in Deum, quis pro eo rogaturus est?" Facile ergo talium sacerdotum excessibus illa Domini sententia coaptabitur qua malitia percutitur sacerdotum. Dicit enim: "Honorificantes me honorificabo; qui autem contemnunt me, erunt ignobiles".

Quicumque ergo sacerdotum uel ministrorum deinceps causa cuiuslibet doloris uel amaritudinis permotus aut altare diuinum uestibus sacratis exuere praesumpserit aut qualibet alia lugubri veste accingi, seu etiam si consueta luminariorum sacrorum obsequia de templo Dei subtraxerit uel extingui praeceperit aut quodcunque lugubritatis in templo Dei induxerit, atque, quod peius est, occasionem nutrierit unde de templis Domini aut officia consueta desint aut oblatio singularis sacrificii uideatur in aliquo defraudari, si eum antea uerae paenitudinis coram metropolitano satisfactio non purgauerit, ignobilitati perpetuae mancipatus iuxta superiorem sententiam Domini, et loci sui dignitate se nouerit et honore priuari, illis procul dubio personis ab hac ultionum sententia separatis quae aut contaminationem sacrorum ordinum uel subuersionem sanctae fidei metuentes aut hostilitatem uel obsidionem perferentes, seu etiam diuinorum iudiciorum sententiam metuentes talia fecisse contigerit, in quorum facto plus humilitas, qua Deus placetur, quam interni laboris dolositas declaratur.

(eds. Martínez Díez, Rodríguez 2002: 241-243)

Canon 7

On those who because of quarrels presume to strip the altars and take away the illumination of the church.

"Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord fraudulently and deceitfully" (cf. Jer 48:10) a prophetic sermon announces. And if those who do the work of the Lord negligently incur a curse, what kind of punishment deserve those who take the cult of divine service away from the altars of Christ because of ill-will? We have in mind those who, confused by the deceits of obstinate mind when they are tormented by some distress caused by fraternal strifes, possessed instantly by insane temerity take off the holy cloths stripping the altars, remove lights, and take the cult of divine sacrifices away, and because they cannot revenge themselves on people, they inflict injury to God, which is worse.

Hence, if one who hates his brother is guilty of murder (cf. Matt 5:21-22), what kind of punishments shall deserve a person who disregarded God? Therefore according to urging of the divine sermon: "If one man shall sin against another, God may be appeased in his behalf: but if a man shall sin against the Lord, who shall pray for him?" (1 Sam 2:25) Easily, then, this sentence of the Lord that castigates the malice of priests can be applied to these priestly excesses. For it says: "whosoever shall glorify me, him will I glorify: but they that despise me, shall be despised." (cf. 1 Sam 2:30)

From now on if a priest or minister provoked by any damage or bitter disappointment presumes to strip the divine altar of the holy cloth, or to lay a mournful cloth on it, or if he dares to remove or extinguish from the temple of God customary ceremonial illumination, or introduces to the temple of God any mournfulness, and, what is worse, foster occasions in which there are no customary services in the temples of God, or he seems to let abuse the offering of the unique sacrifice, if he is not first cleansed by the satisfaction of true penance before the metropolitan bishop, he shall be punished with perpetual ignobility according to the above-mentioned sentence of the Lord, and let him know he is deprived of the dignity of his position and honour.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

The councils forbids the priests - both the bishops and presbyters, it seems - to "go on strike" and stop worship in their churches. It is not entirely certain in what circumstances the clerics took recourse to such means: the canon speaks of the "quarrels between brothers" which suggests conflicts within the clergy, e.g. between the bishop and his presbyters (it is more difficult to imagine that it could have been a tool in conflicts between the bishops: the cessation of worship in one's diocese would not put pressure on one's adversary in another diocese). It is also possible that clerics were using their control over cult and sacraments to out pressure on lay leaders.

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Toledo

About the source:

Title: Concilium Toletanum XIII a. 683, Concilium XIII Toletanum a. 683, Thirteenth Council of Toledo in 683 AD
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Thirteenth Council of Toledo took place on 4 November 683 AD during the reign of King Ervig and was presided by Bishop Julian of Toledo. 48 bishops were present, 9 abbots, 26 representatives of the absent bishops and 26 lay dignitaries. The council focused mainly on the political issues concerning kingdom and dynasty, and it was less concerned with strictly ecclesiastical legislation (Collin 2004: 104-107).

Edition:

G. Martínez Díez, F. Rodríguez eds., La colección canónica Hispana, Monumenta Hispaniae sacra. Serie canónica 6, Madrid 2002.

Bibliography:

R. Collins, Visigothic Spain, 409-711, Oxford 2004.

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

Ritual activity - Eucharist

Ritual activity - Temporal impediment to presbyterial activity

Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property

Conflict

Relation with - Another presbyter

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Described by a title - Minister/λειτουργός/ὑπηρέτης

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1006, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1006