The Presbyters Project

Canon 2

Id etiam placuit sacerdotibus, ut quisquis antistes infra suam parrochiam Dei aulam inquirat, et munificus ille, qui sanctam Dei aedificaverit ecclesiam, quod ibidem pro suum herede largitus est, eodem loco presbyter secundum priorum canonum instituta deserviens, habeat. Et si presbyterum ea facultas habere non permittit, vel diaconus instituatur. Certe, si minus est census, ostiarius a sacerdote sit electus, qui nitorem infra sinus ecclesiae faciat; qui et sanctarum reliquiarum luminaria omni subsequenti nocte accendat.

(ed. Vives 1963: 156-157)

Canon 2

It also pleased the priests that each bishop shall inspect churches of God in his diocese. If a founder has built a holy church of God, a presbyter who serves in this church shall according to the former canons have everything that the founder donated to the church as to his heir. And if the property of this church cannot support a presbyter, a deacon shall be appointed. But if it is still too humble, at least an ostiarius shall be elected by a bishop to illuminate the church and to light the lamps at the holy relics every night.

(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Toledo

About the source:

Title: Council of Toledo 597 AD, Concilium Toletanum a. 597
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The council gathered on 17 May 597 during the reign of Reccared. Sixteen bishops attended. This council is not listed among the general council of Toledo and for this reason it is not numbered (Gonzalvez Ruiz 2013).

Edition:

J. Vives, Concilios visigóticos e hispano-romanos, Barcelona-Madrid 1963.

Bibliography:

R. Gonzalvez Ruiz, "Toledo, Councils of", in: Medieval Iberia. An Encyclopaedia, Hoboken 2013, 789-791

Categories:

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Livelihood/income

Shortage of clergy

Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER655, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=655