The Presbyters Project

III. Ut episcopus in ordinatione clericorum commodum nullum accipiat.

Placuit ut de ordinationibus clericorum episcopi munera nulla suscipiant, sed sicut scriptum est, quod gratis donante Deo accipiunt gratis dent, et non aliquo pretio gratia Dei et impositio manuum venundetur, quia antiqua definitio patrum ita de ecclesiasticis ordinationibus statuit, dicens: Anathema danti et accipienti. Propterea quia aliquanti multis scleribus obruti sancto altario indigne ministrantes non hoc testimonio bonorum actuum sed profusione munerum obtinent, oportet ergo non per gratiam munerum sed per diligentem prius discussionem, deinde per multorum testimonium, clericos ordinare.

(ed. Barlowe 1950: 119-120)

Canon 3

That the bishop shall not accept any profit for the ordination of a cleric

It pleased us that bishops should not accept any remuneration for the ordinations of clerics, but as it is written, what ye freely received from God, freely give. Do not sell for any price the grace of God and the imposition of hands, because the ancient decree of the fathers stated thus about ecclesiastical ordinations: Anathema on the giver and the receiver. Some people covered with many crimes become, shamefully, servants of the altar not because of the testimony of their good deeds, but rather because of abundant payment. Hence, it is necessary to ordain clerics not because they paid, but because their life was scrutinised through the testimony of many people.

(trans. by M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Braga

About the source:

Title: Second Council of Braga 572, Concilium Bracarense a. 572, II Concilium Bracarense, Concilium Bracarense secundum
Origin: Braga (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Second Council of Braga was held in AD 572, eight years after the first. Presiding over the council was the metropolitan bishop of Braga, Martin, but also another metropolitan bishop was present - Nitigisius of Lugo. The province of Galicia had been divided in two regions (six dioceses in the each new province) some time before the second council. The Second Council was held under the auspices of the Suevic king, Miro (Barlowe 1950: 82-83).

It has been suggested that Martin of Braga wrote the minutes of both councils. There are no conclusive arguments, but some linguistic evidence in favour of Martin`s authorship was presented by the editor, C. Barlowe (1950: 83).

Edition:

Edition:

Concilium Bracarense secundum, in C. Barlowe ed., Martini episcopi Bracarensis opera omnia, New Haven 1950

Bibliography:

C. Barlowe ed., Martini episcopi Bracarensis opera omnia, New Haven 1950

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

Act of ordination

Simony/Buying office

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Livelihood/income

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER330, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=330