Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 850
Canon 19 of the Council in Mérida (Iberian Peninsula) in AD 666 orders presbyters who have many churches in their care to celebrate Mass on Sunday in each of them.
Canon 19
 
Ut presbyter, qui plures ecclesias habuerit commissas, pro singulis dominicis diebus in singulis sacrificium offerre intendat.
 
In parrochiis multae sunt ecclesiae constitutae, quae a fidelibus factae aut paucum aut nihil de rebus videntur habere; sacerdotali ergo decreto presbytero uni plures extant commissae; unde cavendum est ne occurrente paupertate ordo ibidem non impleatur missae. Proinde salubri deliberatione censemus, ut pro singulis quibusque ecclesiis, in quibus presbyter iussus fuerit per sui episcopi ordinationem praeesse, pro singulis diebus dominicis sacrificium Deo procuret offerre, et eorum nomina, a quibus eas ecclesias constat esse constructas vel qui aliquid his sanctis ecclesiis videntur aut visi sunt contulisse, si viventes in corpore sunt, ante altare recitentur tempore missae; quod si discesserunt aut discesserint luce nomina eorum cum defunctis fidelibus recitentur suo in ordine. Si quis hanc institutionem presbyter implere neglexerit, dun talis causa per quemlibet ad aures sui episcopi pervenerit, presbyter ille excommunicatione sententia feriendus erit.
 
(ed. Vives 1963: 338-339)
Canon 19
 
That a presbyter who has many churches entrusted to him shall every Sunday celebrate a sacrifice in each church.
 
There are many churches in the parishes that were constructed by the faithful and that have no property or only very little; thus, by priestly [sc. episcopal] ordinance they are entrusted to a single presbyter. Therefore, care shall be taken lest the order of mass is not celebrated in a church because of its poverty. For this reason we decree with the salutary deliberation that in every church over which a presbyter was ordered by the ordinance of his bishop to preside, this presbyter shall every Sunday celebrate the sacrifice to God. The names of constructors and benefactors of these holy churches shall be recited – if they are still alive, before the altar during the mass. If they are dead, their names shall be recited in the proper order together with the names of the faithful dead. If a presbyter neglects to fulfil this decree, and this case comes to the ears of his bishop, he shall be punished with the sentence of excommunication.
 
(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region
  • Iberian Peninsula
City
  • Merida

About the source:

Title: Council of Merida in 666, Concilium Emeritense a. 666, Council of Mérida in 666
Origin: Merida (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
The provincial council of the Lusitania was held in Mérida in the church of Jerusalem in November 666. It was presided by Bishop Proficius of Mérida, and eleven other bishops were present.
Edition:
J. Vives ed., Concilios visigóticos e hispano-romanos, Barcelona-Madrid 1963.

Categories:

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter
    Functions within the Church - Rural presbyter
      Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
        Ritual activity - Eucharist
          Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property
            Public law - Ecclesiastical
              Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
                Ritual activity - Praying for the dead
                  Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical
                    Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema
                      Livelihood/income
                        Shortage of clergy
                          Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER850, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=850