Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 860
Canon 4 of the Eleventh Council in Toledo (Iberian Peninsula, AD 675) punishes priests who have conflicts with each other.
Canon 4
 
De discordia sacerdotum
 
On the basis of the scriptural quotation the synodal fathers show how serious a sin is hatred toward another person.
 
[...] Cum igitur his praeceptis beatus apostolus Paulus consona praedicatione concordet dicens : "Non occidat sol super iracundiam uestram et nolite locum dare diabolo" [Eph 4:26-27], relatae sunt nobis quorundam sacerdotum personae in tantam obstinationis efferbuisse discordiam ut non solum illos ab ira occasus solis non reuocet, sed ne annosa quidem transactio temporum ad bonum caritatis reclinet, quippe in quorum cordibus ita sol iustitiae [Mal 4:2] Christus occubuit ut ad lumen caritatis redire uix possint. Horum igitur et similium discordantium fratrum oblationes iuxta antiqui canonis definitionem nullo modo recipiendas esse censemus. De personis tamen discordantium id speciali definitione praecipimus, ut antequam eos reconciliatio uera innectat, nullus eorum accedere ad altare Domini audeat uel gratiam communionis sanctae percipiat, sed geminato tempore per paenitentiam compensabunt quod discordiae seruierunt. Quod si unus eorum alio contemnente ad satisfactionem caritatis cucurrerit, ex eo tempore ut pacificus intra ecclesiam receptetur, ex quo ad concordiam festinasse conuincitur, sententia tamen superiori seruata, ut tempus quod quisque in iram expendit, geminatum in paenitentiae satisfactione persoluat.
 
(eds. Martínez Díez, Rodríguez 2002: 103-105)
Canon 4
 
On the disagreements of priests
 
On the basis of the scriptural quotation the synodal fathers show how serious a sin is hatred toward another person.
 
[...] Although the blessed apostle Paul united these precepts by harmonious preaching saying: "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the Devil" [Eph 4:26-27] we have been informed about some priests who are so stirred up in obstinate discord that not only does the sunset not restrain their anger, but even a lapse of many years does not dispose them to the virtue of mercy, so that they in whose hearts Christ, the Sun of righteousness [Mal 4:2] has set, could go back to the light of love. We decree according to the decision of the ancient canons that the offerings of brothers who are in such discord can by no means be received. On the conflicted persons, we decide particularly that none of them shall dare to approach the altar of God or take the grace of the holy communion before they are joined by true reconciliation, and they shall atone doing penance twice as long as they were enslaved by their strife. But if one of them hastens to the satisfaction of mercy, while the other scorns it, [we decree that] he as a peacable person shall be received by the Church from the moment he is proved to hasten to the agreement, but the sentence declared above shall be fulfilled so that he shall serve giving satisfaction by penance twice as long as he remained in his anger.
 
(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

Definitio antiqui canonis to which the canon refers, is possibly Canon 49 of Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua.

Place of event:

Region
  • Iberian Peninsula
City
  • Toledo

About the source:

Title: Concilium Toletanum XI a. 675, Concilium XI Toletanum a. 675, Eleventh Council of Toledo in 675 AD
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
The Eleventh Council of Toledo in AD 675 was the first council convened in the capital since AD 656. However, in contrast to the previous Toletan councils (apart from the one held in AD 597), it was not a plenary gathering of the bishops from all the Spanish provinces (on the discontinuation of the plenary councils see Collins 2004: 99-100), but only a provincial council of the Carthaginensis. It was gathered by King Wamba (AD 672-680). Present were seventeen bishops, six abbots and three representatives of absent bishops.
Edition:
G. Martínez Díez, F. Rodríguez eds., La colección canónica Hispana, Monumenta Hispaniae sacra. Serie canónica 6, Madrid 2002.
Bibliography:
R. Collins, Visigothic Spain, 409-711, Oxford 2004.

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς
    Ritual activity - Eucharist
      Ritual activity - Reconciliation/Administering penance
        Ritual activity - Temporal impediment to presbyterial activity
          Public law - Ecclesiastical
            Conflict
              Relation with - Another presbyter
                Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical
                  Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema
                    Administration of justice - Penance
                      Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER860, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=860