The Presbyters Project

1. [...] Felix episcopus catholicae urbis Romae praesidens synodo dixit:

2. Communis dolor et generalis est gemitus, quod intra Africam rebaptizatos etiam episcopos, presbyteros diaconesque cognovimus. [...]

5. Ut ergo ab Ecclesiae summitatibus inchoemus, eos, quos episcopos, presbyteros vel diaconos fuisse constiterit, et seu optantes forsitan seu coactos lavacri illius unici salutarisque claruerit fecisse iacturam, et Christum, quem non solum dono regenerationis verum etiam gratia percepti honoris induerant, exuisse, quum constet neminem ad secundam tinctionem venire potuisse, nisi se palam Christianum negaverit et professus fuerit esse paganum: quod cum generaliter sit in omnibus exsecrandum, multo magis in episcopis, presbyteris et diaconibus auditu saltem dictuque probatur horrendum; sed quia idem Dominus atque Salvator clementissimus est et neminem vult perire, usque ad exitus sui diem, in poenitentia, si resipiscunt, iacere conveniet, nec orationi non modo fidelium, sed nec catechumenorum quidem omnimodis interesse; quibus communio laica in morte redhibenda est. Quam rem diligentius explorare vel facere probatissimi sacerdotis cura debebit.

The clerics, monks, virgins of God, and the lay people, who came to be rebaptized of their own will, should remain three years among the hearers (audientes), and seven years in penance.

Quodsi, utpote mortales, intra metas praescripti temporis coeperit vitae finis urgere, subveniendum est imploranti, et seu ab episcopo, qui poenitentiam dederit, seu ab alio, qui tamen datam esse probaverit, aut similiter a presbytero viaticum abeunti de saeculo non negetur.

8. Exceptis sane tantummodo episcopis, presbyteris, diaconibus, quos solo mortis suae tempore reconciliandos esse iam diximus, ceteros, id est, sive clericos sive monachos vel monachas seu laicos sexus utriusque personas, quos violentia et periculis coactos iterationem baptismatis subisse constiterit, vel qui aliquo commento huius se facinoris piaculis dixerint non teneri, in poenitentia per triennium durare decernimus, et per manus impositionem ad societatem recipi sacramenti.

The rebaptized or baptized outside the Catholic Church must not be allowed to the ecclesiastical offices.

9. Curandum vero maxime et omni cautela est providendum, ne quis fratrum coepiscoporum nostrorum aut etiam presbyterorum in alterius civitate vel dioecesi poenitentem vel sub manu positum sacerdotis aut eum, qui reconciliatum se esse dixerit, sine episcopi vel presbyteri testimonio et litteris aut in paroecia presbyter, aut episcopus in civitate suscipiat. Quod aliqua dissimulatione neglectum, culpam tangit etiam clericorum, qui in locis, in quibus hoc minus curatum fuerit, commorantur.

(ed. Thiel 1868: 260-265)

1. [...] Felix, the bishop of the Catholic Church of Rome, who was presiding the council, said:

2. It has been a reason for common grief and tears when we learnt that even bishops, presbyters, and deacons were among the rebaptized in Africa. [...]

5. To start with the top of the Church, those who were constituted as bishops, presbyters, and deacons, either coerced or of their own will broke the only salutary baptism, and they laid aside Christ who had not only given them the gift of the true rebirth, but also endowed them with the grace of dignity. It is evident that nobody could come to the second bath if he had not clearly denied being a Christian and professed being a pagan.

It is anyway abominable with regard to anyone, but it is even more horrible to hear and say it with regard to bishops, presbyters, and deacons. However, our Lord and Saviour is most clement and does not want anyone to perish before the end of his days. Therefore, if they return to their senses, they should remain penitent. They cannot participate in the prayers among the faithful, and not even among the catechumens; they will be admitted to the lay communion only at the hour of death.

The clerics, monks, virgins of God, and the lay people, who came to be rebaptized of their own will, should remain three years among the hearers (audientes), and seven years in penance.

Inasmuch as they are mortal, when the end of their life starts to threaten them, the help is to be given to those who ask for it. Viaticum is not to be denied to those who go away from this world. It is to be administered either by the bishop who had given the penitence, or anyone else who, as it can be proven, had given it, or also by a presbyter.

8. We made this exception with regard to the bishops, presbyters, and deacons, who, as we have said, may be reconciled only at the time of their death. All the others, that is clerics, monks, nuns, and the lay of both sexes, who were constrained to repeat baptism by the violence and dangers or who asserted that they managed only to pretend to submit to this outrage, we decide that their penance should last for three years, and that they should be accepted back to the fellowship of the sacraments.

The rebaptized or baptized outside the Catholic Church must not be allowed to the ecclesiastical offices.

9. None of our brothers fellow bishops, or even presbyters, should accept in their city or parish a penitent from another city or diocese without the letters from their bishop or presbyter, whether he is under the rule of the priest or says that he has been reconciled. The highest caution should be taken in this matter. If nothing is done against possible fraud, the guilt falls upon the clerics who live in the places when these rules are not guarded.

(trans. S. Adamiak)

Discussion:

The Vandals, who ruled in Africa from the 430s, were Homoian Christians, and they wanted the Nicene Catholics to abandon the Nicene Creed. They deemed the Nicene baptism invalid, and therefore rebaptized those who joined their faith. The Nicenes were actively persecuted, especially under King Huneric (477–484), so the council of AD 487 referred mainly to those recent events.

The "non" in the last but one sentence of the paragraph 5 of the Latin text seems to be redundant (it doubles the negation).

The last paragraph suggests that the bishops are responsible for the churches in the cities, and the presbyters, in the countryside.

Place of event:

Region

Latin North Africa

About the source:

Author: Felix II
Title: Letters, Epistulae
Origin: Rome (Rome)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Felix III (II) was the bishop of Rome between AD 483 and 492.

Edition:

Thiel A. ed., Epistulae Romanorum pontificum genuinae et quae ad eos scriptae sunt a S. Hilario usque ad Pelagium II, 1, Braunsberg 1868, 222-277.

Categories:

Religious grouping (other than Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian) - Arian

Change of denomination

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter

Functions within the Church - Rural presbyter

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Impediments or requisits for the office - Heresy/Schism

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Demotion

Conflict - Violence

Administration of justice - Penance

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1996, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1996