The Presbyters Project

Canon 11

Amodo nulli liceat episcoporum ordinare diaconum aut presbiterum literas ignorantem; set si qui ordinati fuerint, cogantur discere. Qui uero diaconus aut presbiter fuerit literis inheruditus et desidiose legere uel implere officium distulerit, et in ecclesia paratus ad omnia non fuerit, ab stipendio reiciendum, et inclinandum, quoadusque curbatus impleat et defendat, quod esse cognoscitur. Aut quid erit in ecclesia Dei, si non fuerit ad legendum exercitatus? Et si perseuerauerit desidiose, et non uult proficere, mittatur in monasterio, quia non potest nisi legendo edificare populum.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 256)

Canon 11

Henceforth, no bishop is allowed to ordain deacon or presbyter someone who would not know the letters [i.e. how to read and write, meaning also the general education]; if they have been already ordained, they should be compelled to learn. If an uneducated deacon or presbyter were rumoured to read and perform his office indolently, and be utterly unqualified [to serve] in church, he should be deprived of the stipend, and demoted until bent down he fulfils [his duties] and begs pardon for what he is known to be. Otherwise what is he doing in the Church of God, if he was not trained to read? And if he continues to be indolent, and does not want make any progress, he should be thrown to the monastery, because if he does not know how to read, he is unable to instruct the people.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

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 - Insufficient education

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Monastic or common life

Livelihood/income

Administration of justice - Financial punishment

Administration of justice - Imprisonment

Administration of justice - Penance

Pastoral activity - Preaching

Pastoral activity - Teaching

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1560, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1560