The Presbyters Project

Canon 4

De bigamis ad presbyterium vel diaconatum non promovendis.

Quarta actione nuntiatum est nobis apud Astigitanam ecclesiam quasdam nuper ordinationes inlicitas extitisse, ita ut quidam viduarum mariti levitarum ministerio sacrarentur: quos quidem convenit a gradu suscepto inritum devocari nec ultra provehi ad diaconii ministerium qui contra divina atque ecclesiastica iura instituti repperiuntur.

(ed. Vives 1963: 165)

Canon 4

That those who are twice-married cannot be promoted to the presbyterate or diaconate

In the fourth session it was announced that in the Church of Écija illicit ordinations were performed, because some men who had taken widows as their wives were consecrated to the ministry of Levites. They shall be deposed from the accepted grade, and those who were appointed against the divine and ecclesiastical law shall no more be promoted to the ministry of diaconate.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

The title does not correspond well with the content of the canon. "Those twice married" are not the same as those who have married a widow (a wife committed "bigamy", not a husband). Also, the presbyterate is mentioned in the title, but not in the canon itself.

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Seville
Écija

About the source:

Title: Second Council of Seville 619 AD, Concilium Hispalense a. 619, Concilium Spalense a. 619, Concilium II Hispalense, Concilium II Spalense, Concilium Hispalense secundum, Concilium Spalense secundum
Origin: Seville (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Second Council of Seville was a provincial gathering held in the Jerusalem Church on 13 November 619 during the reign of King Sisebut. It was presided over by Isidore of Seville, and eight of his suffragans were present.

Edition:

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

Categories:

Family life - Marriage

Family life - More than one marriage

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Impediments or requisits for the office - Marriage

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Demotion

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER675, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=675