The Presbyters Project

Canon 5

Et quia multa sunt ecclesiae membra, quae diuerso genere pro uitae suae qualitate uel discretione sacerdotali aut oblectari conuenit aut distringi, illud censuimus statuendum, ut, quascunque munificentias clericis aut seruientibus siue de rebus ecclesiae in usum aut de propriis in proprietatem praecedentes dederint sacerdotes, subsequentes pontifices nullatenus auferre praesumant. Si quid tamen culpae extiterit, pro qualitate personarum uel regula canonum praecedentium in persona habeatur, non in facultate districtio.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 203)

Canon 5

And because there are many members of the Church, of different origin, who are fit to be rewarded or punished according to the character of their life or to the will of the priest (sacerdos), this we think should be decreed, that whatever kind of property the preceding priests (sacerdotes) have given to the clerics or servants for use, either from Church possessions or from their own personal belongings, the pontiffs that succeed them by no means should dare to take it back. If [this cleric or servant] is proved to be at fault, he should be punished according to the character of his life or the decree of preceding canons on his person and not on his property.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Lyon

About the source:

Title: Second Council of Lyon, Concilium Lugdunense II anno 567/570
Origin: Lyon (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Second Council of Lyon was called by King Guntram of Burgundy. The exact date is unknown since the acts give contradictory dates: the sixth year of Guntram`s rule (November 567-November 568) and the third indiction (September 569-August 570). This council could be most probably identified with the one described by Gregory of Tours in his Histories (5.20). According to Gregory, the direct reason for the synod was the violent attack launched by the armed bands of Bishops Salonius of Embrun and Sagittarius of Gap on Bishop Victorus from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. During the council`s proceedings both accused bishops were excommunicated.

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:

Social origin or status - Social elite

Social origin or status - Socially marginal

Described by a title - Clericus

Economic status and activity - Ownership or possession of land

Economic status and activity - Gift

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Corporal punishment

Livelihood/income

Administration of justice - Financial punishment

Private law - 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, ER1525, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1525