The Presbyters Project

Canon 5

Secundum concilium Nycheni sanctissimi concinnabula uel coniurationes non fiant clericorum, que sub patrocinio solebant fieri laicorum. Nec unusquisque de inferiora gradu seniorem sibi elatus aut increpet aut iniuriet. Quod si quis pretermisso tam iuste censure ordine ausus fuerit facere, districtione seuissima corrigatur, ut sub penitentie nomine uitia recedent, id est anno uno in monasterio sciat abicere superuiam unde inflatur, quod est diauolus, et addiscat humiliationem, quia per ipsam mortem gustare dignatus est.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 255)

Canon 5

In accord with the most holy Council of Nicaea, clerics should not enter schemes or conspiracies that laymen use for their protection. Neither should someone of the lower rank rebuke or do wrong to the lord who is above him. If, after this very just decree has been passed, someone dares to do something against it, he should be corrected with the utmost severity, so that the sins will be eradicated by the penitence; that is, he [must spend] one year in a monastery where he will know [how to] give his pride back to where it came from, namely, to the Devil, and learn humility, as through it [i.e. penitence] he will be deemed worthy [not] to taste [spiritual] death.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

In fact, this canon refers to canon 18 of the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451), not to the Council of Nicaea.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Narbonne

About the source:

Title: First Council of Narbonne, Concilium Narbonense I anno 589
Origin: Narbonne (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The First Council of Narbonne was called by Migetius, metropolitan bishop of Narbonne, and gathered six other bishops from his province. This synod was held on the 1st of November as the Third Council of Toledo (convened in May of the same year) has suggested that the provincial councils of the Visigothic kingdom should gather on that date. Migetius was indeed present at Toledo along with King Reccared who had recently converted to Catholicism.

Edition:

C. de Clercq ed., Concilia Galliae a. 511-a. 695, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148 A, Turnhout 1963.

Categories:

Education - Monastic education

Described by a title - Clericus

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Monastic or common life

Administration of justice - Imprisonment

Administration of justice - Penance

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1555, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1555