The Presbyters Project

Canon 11

Peruenit ad sancta synodo, quod iudicis publici contra ueternam consuetudinem per omnes parrochias uel monasteria, quas mos est episcopis circuire, ipsi inlicita praesumptione uideantur discurrere, etiam et clericus uel abbatis, ut eis praeparent, inuitus adque districtus ante se faciant exhibere, quod omnimodis nec relegione conuenit nec canonum permittit auctoritas. Vnde omnes unianimiter censuemus sentientis, ut deinceps debeant emendare et, si praesumptione uel potestate, qua pollent, excepto inuitatione abbatis aut archipresbyteri in ipsa monasteria uel parrochias aliquid fortasse praesumpserint, a communione omnium sacerdotum eos conuenit sequestrare.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 305)

Canon 11

It has come [to the attention] of the holy synod that public judges, by illicit presumption and against the ancient (ueternam) practice, seem to wander through all parishes and monasteries which are by custom regularly visited (circuire) by bishops. Moreover, [they seem] to make the clerics or abbots come before them unwillingly and by force whenever they wish it, which is in every way disrespectful and forbidden by the authority of the canons. Therefore, we all unanimously rule by decree that from hereafter they should make amends and if they dare happen to do something in those monasteries or parishes by presumption or power, which they have plenty of, with the exception of the case when they are invited to do so by abbots or archpresbyters, it is fitting to separate them from communion with all the priests.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Chalon

About the source:

Title: Council of Chalon, Concilium Cabilonense anno 647/653
Origin: Chalon (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Council of Chalon was convoked by Aega, mayor of the palace of King Clovis II, on the 24th of October. The termini post quem (647) and ante quem (653) of the council are derived from the episcopal signatures (in 647 Vulfoleudus became the metropolitan bishop of Bourges and in 654 new bishops were appointed in Lyon and Vienne). The synod was attended by six metropolitan bishops (from Lyon, Vienne, Rouen, Sens, Bourges, and Besançon), thirty-three other bishops, and one archdeacon and five abbots representing their absent bishops. Attached to the council acts is also the letter sent by the synodal fathers to Theudorius, metropolitan bishop of Arles, in which they deprive him of his episcopal rank.

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:

Functions within the Church - Archpresbyter

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Described by a title - Clericus

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Relation with - Secular authority

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Secular

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1616, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1616