The Presbyters Project

Canon 1

Ideoque definitum est, ut episcopi, presbyteri adque diaconi ita sanctae conscientiae luce resplendeant, ut effugiant in probitatem actuum maledicorum obloquia et testimunium in se diuinum implere contendant, quod Dominus ait: Sic luceat lumen uestrum coram hominebus, ut uideant uestra bona opera et magneficent Patrem uestrum, qui est in coelis [Matt 5:16]. Igitur auctoritate cannonica adque mansura in aeuum constitutione sancimus, ut fugiatur ab his extranearum mulierum culpanda libertas et tantum cum auia, matre, sorore uel nepte, si necessitas tulerit, habitent.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 223)

Canon 1

Therefore, it was decided that bishops, presbyters, and deacons should shine with such light of holy conscience that they escape through the righteousness of deeds the calumnies of the wicked and strive to fulfil in themselves the divine testimony. For the Lord has said: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven [Matt 5:16]. Hence, we decree with the canonical authority and the constitution lasting in eternity that [bishops, presbyters, and deacons] should avoid blameworthy frivolity with women to whom they are not related, and live only with a grandmother, mother, sister, or granddaughter, if the necessity demands it.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

This canon quotes the first part of canon 16 of the Council of Clermont (Gaul, AD 535) [1294].

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Mâcon

About the source:

Title: First Council of Mâcon, Concilium Matisconense I anno 581/583
Origin: Mâcon (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The First Council of Mâcon was called by King Guntram and gathered bishops from his entire realm: the metropolitans of Lyon, Vienne, Sens, Bourges, and Besançon, and sixteen other bishops. The exact dating of this synod is unsure as the acts give us both the date of 1st November of the twenty second year of King Guntram`s rule (i.e. 583) and that of the fifteen indiction (i.e. 581).

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:

Food/Clothes/Housing - Type of housing

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Father/Mother

Relation with - Brother/Sister

Relation with - Other relative

Relation with - Woman

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1529, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1529