The Presbyters Project

Canon 24

Si qui clericorum, ut nuper multis locis diabolo instigante actum fuisse perpatuit, reuelli auctoritate se in unum coniuratione intercedente collegerint et aut sacramenta inter se data aut chartulam conscriptam fuisse patuerit, nullis excusationibus haec praesumtio praeuelitur, sed res detecta, cum in sinodo uentum fuerit, in praesumturibus iuxta personarum et ordenum qualitatem a ponteficibus, qui tunc in unum collicti fuerint, uindicetur; quia, sicut caritas ex praeceptis dominicis corde, non cartolae conscriptione est uel coniurationibus exibenda, ita, quod supra sacras admittetur scripturas, auctoritate et districtione pontificali est repraemendo.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 123)

Canon 24

If some clerics gather together and form a conspiracy to extricate themselves from [episcopal] authority, a devil-instigated practice which has only recently come to light in numerous places, and it becomes clear that they either took oaths, or signed a pact (chartula), this presumption cannot be justified by any excuse, but as this case is unravelled and is presented at the synod, the conspirators will be sentenced by the pontiffs who have gathered together [at this synod] according to the status of the person and his rank. This is because, just as grace should be shown according to the Lord's precepts with heart, and not with the pact of conspiracy or secret oaths, the necessity of reprimanding, which is confirmed by the Holy Scripture, lies in the pontifical authority and severity.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Orléans

About the source:

Title: The Third Council of Orléans, Concilium Aurelianense III anno 538
Origin: Orléans (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

This council convened on 7 May 538 in Orléans gathered five metropolitans, fourteen other bishops, and seven presbyters representing their bishops. They all came from the kingdoms of Childebert I or Theuderic I. No bishop from the kingdom of Clothar I participated. Apart from the Council of Agde (AD 506), this is the only one from this period that gathered a metropolitan bishop from every region represented in the synod by a bishop or a presbyter. The council was presided by metropolitan bishop of Lyon, all of whose suffragans were present. Similarly, all bishops from the metropolitan province of Rouen attended the synod.

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 - Clericus

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

Conflict

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1323, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1323