The Presbyters Project

Canon 8

Octauae disceptationis affatu repperimus quosdam diuinis officiis mancipatos tanta nescientiae socordia plenos, ut nec illis probentur instructi competenter ordinibus qui cotidianos uersantur in usus. Proinde sollicite constituitur atque decernitur ut nullus cuiuscumque dignitatis ecclesiasticae deinceps percipiat gradum qui non totum psalterium uel canticarum usualium et hymnorum siue baptizandi perfecte nouerit supplementum. Illi sane qui iam honorum dignitate funguntur, huiusce tamen ignorantiae caecitate uexantur, aut sponte sumant intentionem necessaria perdiscendi aut a maioribus ad lectionis exercitia cogantur inuiti.

(eds. Martínez Díez, Rodríguez 1992: 424)

Canon 8

In the eighth discussion we discovered that some people obligated to celebrate the Divine Office are so full of negligent ignorance, that they are not competently informed about the order of prayers for everyday use. Hence, we diligently decide and decree that from now on, a person who does not know the psalter, usual canticles and hymns, and the rite of baptism shall not be ordained to the dignity of any ecclesiastical grade. And those who already have an honourable dignity, but are vexed by such blindness of ignorance shall voluntarily devote necessary effort to learn or, if they are not willing, they shall be compelled to the exercises of lecture by their superiors.

(trans. M. Szada)

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:

Education - Insufficient education

Ritual activity - Baptism and instructing catechumens

Ritual activity - Divine office/Liturgy of the hours

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Impediments or requisits for the office

Ritual activity - Chanting

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER669, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=669