The Presbyters Project

Canon 3

[...] Denique, quod non sine magno dolore dicendum est, reperiuntur quam plurimi negotio muneris perituri mercari uelle gratiam Spiritus Sancti, dum uile praemium donant ut pontificalis ordinis sublime culmen accipiant obliti uerborum Petri quae dixit ad Simonem: "Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditione, quoniam donum Dei existimasti per pecuniam possideri" [Acts 8:20]. Proinde quia et usitatum est tale malum, et Maiorum frequenter exstat mucrone succisum, nos quoque huic uulneri canceroso ignitum quod superest adhuc inicimus ferrum, decernentes omnimodo ut quicumque deinceps pro percipienda sacerdotii dignitate quodlibet praemium detectus fuerit obtulisse, ex eodem tempore se nouerit anathematis opprobrio condemnatum atque a perceptione Christi corporis et sanguinis alienum quo illum constat hoc exsecrabile Christo perpetrasse flagitium. Quod si aliquis exstiterit qui accuset, ille qui hunc ordinem munerum fuerat acceptione lucratus, et suscepti honoris gradu priuetur et in monasterio sub perenni paenitentia religetur. Illi uero qui pro hanc causa munerum acceptores exstiterint, si clerici fuerint, honoris amissione multentur; si uero laici, anathemate perpetuo condemnetur.

(eds. Martínez Díez, Rodríguez 1992: 413-415)

Canon 3

[...] Not without great pain we have to say that it has been discovered how many people have wanted to buy the grace of the Holy Spirit through transient gifts when they gave a vile price to obtain the highest summit of pontifical honour, oblivious of the words which Peter said to Simon: "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money" [Acts 8:20]. Therefore, because this evil is practised so often, and was so frequently cut by the scalpel of the Fathers, we also cauterise this still-existing cancerous ulcer. We decree then that whoever from now is found to offer a payment for the dignity of the priest, he shall know that from this very moment he is condemned by the disgrace of anathema and shut off from receiving the Body and Blood of Christ so that it will be obvious how abominable and shameful a thing he did to Christ. So in case of accusation, the one who gained the office paying for it shall lose the acquired honour and he shall be bound to perpetual penance in the monastery. Those, however, who accepted money for this case, if they are clerics, they shall be deprived of office; but if they are lay men, they shall be perpetually anathematised.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

"Maiorum frequenter exstat mucrone succisum" may refer e.g. to canon 2 of the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) and canon 4 of the Fourth Council of Toledo (AD 633).

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Toledo

About the source:

Title: Eighth Council of Toledo, Concilium Toletanum octavum a. 653, Concilium VIII Toletanum, Concilium Toletanum VIII
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Eighth Council of Toledo assembled in December AD 653 at the very beginning of the sole reign of king Reccesvinth (653-672), shortly after the suppression of the revolt of Froia. It was attended by four metropolitan bishops (Toledo, Merida, Seville, and Braga) and forty-eight other bishops, as well as abbots, representatives of absent bishops, and many lay palatine office-holders (comites and duces). The representation of the latter seemed to be "more overt than on any previous occasion" (Collins 2004: 86). At the Eighth Council of Toledo, they confirmed the ecclesiastical regulations with their signatures for the first time. Collins (2004: 86-89) interpreted that generally the legislation of the council reflected a reaction against the previous reign - that of King Chindasvinth, and the excesses of royal power (see especially canon 2, which revoked Chindasvinth`s laws against traitors). For more details see also (Orlandis, Ramos-Lisson 1981: 201-214).

Edition:

G. Martínez Díez, F. Rodríguez eds., La colección canónica Hispana, Monumenta Hispaniae sacra. Serie canónica 5, Madrid 1992.

Bibliography:

R. Collins, Visigothic Spain, 409-711, Oxford 2004.

J. Orlandis, D. Ramos-Lissón, Die Synoden auf der Iberischen Halbinsel bis zum Einbruch des Islam (711), Paderborn 1981.

Categories:

Further ecclesiastical career - Bishop

Described by a title - Clericus

Simony/Buying office

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Demotion

Administration of justice - Imprisonment

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER650, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=650