The Presbyters Project

Canon 10

Si quis episcoporum sciens aut bigamum aut internuptae maritum ad officium leuitice dignitatis siue presbyterii contra ius canonum promouere praesumpserit, nouent se unius anni spatium ab omni officio sacerdotes esse suspensum. Cui si forte sententiae subiacere contemserit, a communione eius usque in magnam synodum se fraternitas uniuersa suspendat. Illi uero, qui inlicite promoti sunt, regradentur.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 134)

Canon 10

If any of the bishops knowingly presumes to promote someone either twice-married or married to a widow to the high office of deacon or presbyter, contrary to the law of the canons, he should know that he will be suspended from all priestly duties for a period of one year. If perchance he refuses to submit to this sentence, the entire brotherhood should withdraw from communion with him until a major synod. As for those who have been improperly promoted, they should be deposed.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Orléans

About the source:

Title: The Fourth Council of Orléans, Concilium Aurelianense IV anno 541
Origin: Orléans (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

This council, convened on 14 May 541 in Orléans, was quite numerous: it gathered five metropolitans (of Bourges, Bordeaux, Eauze, Rouen, and Tours), thirty-seven other bishops, and, representing their bishops, eleven presbyters and one abbot. It is impossible to establish which king was or kings were mainly responsible for this synod. This is the first council of the Frankish Church which was attended by the bishops from the metropolitan province of Arles. Ceasarius of Arles himself was unable to come (he was 71 at the time), but thirteen bishops of his province were present.

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:

Family life - Marriage

Family life - More than one marriage

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Impediments or requisits for the office - Marriage

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Demotion

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper ordination

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1347, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1347