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Cesarius and other bishops admonish Bishop Agricius of Antibes for neither appearing himself before the synod nor sending a representative. They remind him that he has committed a double sin as he has violated the canon adopted at the council he had been present.

Quapropter hoc communi in Christo deliberatione sancimus, ut, quia filium nostrum Protadium contra statuta ordinauisti, canonibus sententia inserta uos constringat et usque emenso anno missas facere non presumas.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 50; summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Cesarius and other bishops admonish Bishop Agricius of Antibes for not appearing himself before the synod nor sending a representative. They remind him that he has committed a double sin as he has violated the canon adopted at the council at which he had been present.

This, therefore, we decree after a joint deliberation in Christ that, because you had ordained our son Protadius against the statutes, you should be bound by the sentence described in the canons and should not dare to say Mass for the period of one year.

(trans. and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

The canons to which the synodal fathers refer to were adopted at the Fourth Council of Arles (AD 524). From the letter of Pope Felix IV to Caesarius, which de Clercq added to the acts of the Council of Carpentras (de Clercq ed. 1963: 51-52), we learn that the ordination of Protadius was invalid because a layman before taking Holy Orders was obliged to live for a certain period of time a pious and ascetic life, and, almost certainly, abstain from sexual activity. This probation, called conversio, was to last according to canon 2 of the Fourth Council of Arles for one year (see [1165]). The punishment for the violation of this rule was described in canon 3 of the same council (see [1166]).

From the same letter of Pope Felix IV, we derive the information that Protadius was ordained a sacerdos, i.e. a presbyter.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Carpentras

About the source:

Title: The council of Carpentras, Concilium Carpentoratense
Origin: Carpentras (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

This council convened on 6 June 527 in Carpentras to deal with the case of Bishop Agricius (vel Agroetius) who was accused of ordaining a presbyter in violation of the canon law. Agricius, however, did not appear at the synod nor did he send his representative. In his absence, the council, presided by Caesarius of Arles, passed one canon and wrote a letter to Agricius. Both documents were subscribed by sixteen bishops.

Edition:

C. de Clercq ed., Concilia Galliae a. 511-a. 695, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148 A, Turnhout 1963.

Translation:

J. Gaudemet, B. Basdevant, Les canons des conciles mérovingiens VIe-VIIe siècles, Sources chrétiennes 353, Paris 1989.

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

PR591.

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

PR591.

Impediments or requisits for the office - Marriage

PR591.

Impediments or requisits for the office - Social/Economic/Legal status

PR591.

Ecclesiastical administration - Participation in councils and ecclesiastical courts

Public law - Ecclesiastical

PR591.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR591.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1254, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1254