The Presbyters Project

Canon 1

This canon forbids a bishop being ordained by only two other bishops (as opposed to three, as was customary), citing the council of Turin (see e.g. [379]).

[...] Ebrodunensi ecclesiae ante omnia mature uisum est consulendum quia, quatuor de biennio mensibus sacerdote legitimo destituta, hoc grauius aegrotauerat, quod clerus innocens ac disciplinae, ut probatum est, memor, quorumdam laicorum insolentia ac uaria perturbatione uexatus, etiam in sacerdotibus ac ministris minas ac iurgia et uim acerbissimam periculose perniciosa nuper caede pertulerat, nec poterat differri bonorum ac disciplinae memorum expectatio [...].

The ordination of the illegitimate bishop of Embrun, Armentarius, is declared invalid in the light of the canons.

(ed. Munier 1963: 64-65)

Canon 1

This canon forbids a bishop being ordained by only two other bishops (as opposed to three, as was customary), citing the council of Turin (see e.g. [379]).

[...] It appears that we should give attention above all to the church of Embrun, because deprived of the legitimate priest [i.e. bishop] for two years without four months [i.e. one year and eight months] this church was gravely afflicted. Thus, the clergy, innocent and mindful of the discipline (as was proven), harassed by arrogance and uproar of some of the laymen, recently suffered dangerous threats, abuses, and excessive violence [rising] from pernicious feuding which also [affected] priests and ministers [...].

The ordination of the illegitimate bishop of Embrun, Armentarius, is declared invalid in the light of the canons.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Riez

About the source:

Title: Council of Riez 439, Concilium Regense anno 439
Origin: Riez (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Council of Riez gathered in 439 under Bishop Hilary of Arles to address the problems arising from the illegitimate ordination of Bishop Armentarius of Embrun. The synodal fathers cite the canons of the Council of Turin of AD 398 (see e.g. [379]) and declare Armentarius` ordination invalid. The following are the canons dealing with the problem of bishops who could not be considered as proper bishops (being ill-ordained, or returning from the faith of schismatics or heretics). It is declared that they could be granted the title of chorbishops with their own set of rights and priviliges.

Edition:

Ch. Munier ed., Concilia Galliae a. 314-a. 506, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148, Turnhoult 1963.

Translation:

J. Gaudemet, Conciles gaulois du IVe siècle, Sources chrétiennes 241, Paris 1977

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

Described by a title - Minister/λειτουργός/ὑπηρέτης

Conflict - Violence

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER393, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=393