Letter 25
Hormisdas deals in his letter with the ordinations of the „sacerdotes“, that is probably mainly bishops. However, the rules set there certainly regard also the presbyters:
The "priestly grade" (sacerdotii gradus) should not be achieved immediately by laymen, but candidates should go through the grades of the ecclesiastical career. Those who are to teach, must themselves first learn.
In the Old Testament, birth gave the right to serve at the altars; in our times, keeping the ecclesiastical discipline gives this right.
The penitents may not be allowed to be ordained: how can someone whose sins have been known to the people now absolve the guilty?
The blessing [meaning here the ordination] cannot be bought for money.
Councils should be kept in every diocese twice a year, to help to keep these rules.
(ed. Thiel 1868: 788-793; summary by S. Adamiak)
