The Presbyters Project

Canon 5

Ne presbyter diaconum aut presbyterem ordinare praesumat.

Quinto iudicio ad cognitionem nostram Aniani Egabriensis diaconi relatu deductum est de quibusdam ipsius ecclesiae clericis, quorum dum unus ad presbyterum, duo ad levitarum ministerium sacrarentur, episcopus eorum oculorum detentus dolore, fertur manum suam super eos tantum posuisse et presbyter quidam illis contra ecclesiasticum ordinem benedictionem dedisse; qui licet propter tantam praesumtionis audaciam poterat adcusatus iudicio praesenti damnari, si adhuc in corpore positus non fuisset mortis vocatione praeventus; sed quia iam ille examini divino relictus humano iudicio accussari non potest, hii qui supersunt et ab eo non consecrationis titulum sed ignominiae potius eloquium perceperunt, ne sibi licentiam talis ultra usurpatio faciat, decrevimus ut gradu sacerdotalis vel levitici ordinis quem perverse adepti sunt depositi aequo iudicio abutantur. Tales enim merito iudicati sunt removendi, quia prave inventi sunt constituti.

(ed. Vives 1963: 166)

Canon 5

Let no presbyter have the audacity to ordain a deacon or a presbyter

In the fifth proceeding we have learnt from the relation of Anianus, deacon of Cabra, that when some clerics of his Church were to be consecrated, one of them to presbyterate, and two other to the ministry of Levites, their bishop suffered eye pain and he only imposed hands on them, and a certain presbyter gave them the benediction against the ecclesiastical order. This presbyter would be condemned for this temerarious audacity by the present judgement, if he were still alive, but he has already been called to die. He is now left to the divine judgement and can no longer be judged by the human one, but those who are still alive and have received from him disgraceful speech rather than a sign of consecration shall be according to our present decree rightfully deposed from the order of presbyters or Levites to which they were perversely ordained. It is right to remove from office those who were appointed against the law.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

"Abutantur" in the penultimate sentence of the canon is obscure. The emendation "abiciantur" has been proposed (PL 84, 395). But "abutere" can also mean "to waste, to squander" (Oxford Latin Dictionary, s.v. abutor), thus it should probably be translated as "they shall be deposed and thrown away".

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Seville
Cabra

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 13th of 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:

Former ecclesiastical career - Unspecified clerical grade

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Described by a title - Clericus

Act of ordination

Usurping episcopal power

Ritual activity - Ordaining

Ritual activity - Imposition of hands

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Relation with - Deacon

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, ER676, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=676