The Presbyters Project

The king states that the council has gathered to cleanse the kingdom of its sins and restore the discipline of the Church, then he speaks about the specific regulations that the council shall introduce.

[…] Deinde quia conperimus, quod multae Dei baselicae in dispersis locis vestrarum parochiarum constitutae dum ad unius respiciunt ordinationem presbyteri nec assidua in eis sacrificia Domino delibantur, et destitutae remanent atque sine tectis vel [semirutae] fore noscuntur, specialiter in canonibus adnotetis, ut unaquaque eglesia, quamvis pauperrima, quae vel decem mancipia habere potest, sui debeat cura gubernari cultoris; caeterum si minus habuerit, ad alterius ecclesiae presbyterum pertinebit. Nam dum ex omnibus plurimae baselicae, ut praemisimus, unius sollicitudine rediguntur, solum est quia et viduitate persistunt, et difficile sacris cultibus ordo debitus exhibetur.

Quod non tantum sacerdotibus Dei in culpa est, verum etiam et infidelibus iudaeis ridiculum affert, qui dicunt nihil praestitisse interdictas sibi ac destructas fuisse synagogas, cum cernat peiores christianorum effectas esse baselicas. Pro quarum etiam reparatione a vestra universitate censendum est ut eas unusquisque episcopus de tertiis parrochialium baselicarum canonice restuarandas invigilet: qui si tertias ipsas consequi noluerit, cura sui gerendum est, ut presbyter destructae ecclesiae exinde comissam sibi baselicam reparet: evidentem censurae modum apponentes in canone, qualiter debeat incuriosus quisque episcopus condempnari, si praescriptum pro renovandis Dei templis ordinem neglexerit adimplere. Nam et hoc honorificentia vestra promulgari curabit, ut nemo episcoporum pro regiis inquisitionibus exhibendis parrochialium ecclesiarum iura contingat nec quascumque exinde inquisitiones aut evectiones exigere audeat, sed de praediis suarum sedium regio culmini solita perquisitionum obsequia deferat, nihilque de rebus earundem parrochialium ecclesiarum causa stipendii cuiuspiam dare praesumat: quod si fecerit, duorum mensium spatio excomunicari se noverit.

King continues speaking about other issues, mainly concerning the Jews.

(ed. J. Vives 1963: 484-485)

[...] Therefore because we have learnt that when many God's basilicas built in scattered places in your dioceses (parrochiae) are entrusted to the care of only one presbyter, the sacrifice is not offered there regularly to the Lord and the buildings remain in ruin and are known to be without roofs or to lay derelict, although it is specially noted in the canons that every church which can have ten tenants, should be ruled by its own priest (cultor). But if it has fewer than ten, it should belong to another presbyter's church. When several basilicas are brought to the care of one person, as we have permitted, it is only because they are desolated and because the due office of the holy cult is difficult to provide.

It is not only the guilt of the priests of God but also a cause of derision for unfaithful Jews who say that nothing is better than their synagogues, which had been forbidden and destroyed, when they see that Christian basilicas are now in worse state. Regarding their renovation, it has been decided by all of you that every bishop will finance restoration from the thirds collected from the parish churches, in accordance with the canons. When the bishop resigns from collecting the thirds, he has to take care that the presbyter of the ruined church restores the basilica entrusted to him. The canon indicates the punishment for a negligent bishop who fails to fulfil the order concerning the renovation of God's temples. Your honours will also promulgate that no bishop will confiscate the property of parish churches in order to pay royal taxes nor dare to exact from parishes any taxes or travel provisions but he should pay the due payments to the royal throne from his own estates and should not demand anything from parishes as a stipend. If he does that, he will be punished with two months of excommunication.

King continues speaking about other issues, mainly concerning the Jews.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

The king refers here to Canon 5 of the present council, see [1052].

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Toledo

About the source:

Title: Concilium Toletanum XVI a. 693, Concilium XVI Toletanum a. 693, Sixteenth Council of Toledo in 693
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Sixteenth Council of Toledo gathered on 2 May 693 during the reign of King Egica. Fifty-four bishops were present, and three bishops sent representatives. Abbots and lay dignitaries were also present. The tomus of Egica, which precedes the creed and canons in the acts, was issued one week before the council on 25 April (Orlandis, Ramos-Lissón 1986: 478–80). The council convened in the aftermath of the coup against Egica organized by Bishop Sisebert of Toledo (Collins 2004: 106–07).

Edition:

J. Vives ed., Concilios visigóticos e hispano-romanos, Barcelona-Madrid 1963.

Bibliography:

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

J. Orlandis, D. Ramos-Lissón, Historia de los concilios de la España romana y visigoda, Pamplona 1986.

Categories:

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property

Ecclesiastical administration - Construction/Renovation

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema

Livelihood/income

Economic status and activity - Taxes and services

Private law - Ecclesiastical

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1049, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1049