That a bishop shall send to a council on his behalf not a deacon, but an archpresbyter or presbyter.

 

According to the canonical order, at the time indicated for a council by the will of the metropolitan bishop and by royal order, all the bishops from the province shall gather together, and they shall not excuse themselves for whatever reason. But if it happens that one of the brothers is so ill that he cannot come or he has already been obliged by royal order to do something that does not allow him to participate in the council, in such case he shall fully explain all this in a letter signed with his own hand to the metropolitan bishop so that from now no one will seek whatever excuse. On his behalf he will send only an archpresbyter, or if it is impossible, an able presbyter whose dignity and prudence are evident, to sit among presbyters behind the back of the bishops. Whatever will be decreed by the council, he shall read and sign. Our gathering considers it unjust to send a deacon on behalf of the bishop. A deacon is junior to the presbyters, so, by no means shall he be permitted to sit with the bishops at the council. Whomever among the presbyters he chooses, he shall send him properly informed, instructed, and equipped with a letter of recommendation according to the legal order, so that if anything is brought up against the [absent] bishop by anyone at the council, he who has been sent will be able to answer to the person that has addressed him, and so that from now the just decrees of the council will no longer enter into force with delay.

 

(trans. M. Szada)