The Presbyters Project

Canon 19

Cognouimus etiam quosdam clericorum infreniticus ad forales reorum sententias frequenter accedere. Propterea prohibitionis eorum accessus hunc canonem protulimus definientes, ut ad locum examinationis reorum nullus clericorum accedat neque intersit atrio sauciolo, ubi pro reatus sui qualitate quispiam interficiendus est. Si tamen et nunc aliquis eorum definita contempnens illuc accesserit aut interfuerit, defraudatus onesti honoris stola illis gregibus examinatorum societur, quos diuinis pretulit ministeriis.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 247)

Canon 19

We have also learned that some of the unrestrained clerics visit frequently the public squares in order to [observe the passing] of sentences on the guilty ones. Therefore, we have proclaimed that they are forbidden to enter [these squares], decreeing with this canon that no cleric can come near the place of culprits' examination or attend the judicial court (atrio sauciolo) where somebody is executed due to the gravity of his crimes. If, however, even now somebody of them will disregard what has been decreed and approach these places or take part [in those executions], he should be deprived of the garment (stola) [marking his] distinguished honour. He should seek the company of those examiners, whom he prefer to the divine ministries.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Mâcon

About the source:

Title: Second Council of Mâcon, Concilium Matisconense II anno 585
Origin: Mâcon (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Second Council of Mâcon was called by King Guntram and gathered bishops from his realm, as well as those of Chlotar II of whom Guntram was a guardian. Therefore, in the proceedings presided over by Priscus, metropolitan bishop of Lyon, there took part the metropolitans of Vienne, Rouen, Bordeaux, Sens, Bourges, and Arles through his representative. Also participating were forty eight other bishops, including three without a see (among them Primatus, see [1528]), as well as eleven clerics of unknown names and ranks who represented their absent bishops. From the ambiguous account of Gregory of Tours (Histories, 8.7), we might presume that this synod was held on the 23rd of October.

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 - Clothes

Described by a title - Clericus

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

Attributes of clerical status

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Secular authority

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Demotion

Entertainment

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1551, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1551