The Presbyters Project

[Titulum secundum cod. A] XXI [sic!]. De comis clericorum.

[Titulum secundum cod. R] XX. Clerici qui comam nutriunt uel si uestimenta aut calciamenta relegioni contraria habuerint.

[Titulum secundum coll. Hispanam] XX. De clericis qui comam nutriant.

Clerici qui comam nutriunt, ab archidiacono, etiam si noluerint, inuiti detundantur; uestimenta uel calceamenta etiam eis nisi quae religionem deceant, uti uel habere non liceat.

(ed. Munier 1963: 202, 221, 222, 224)

[Title according to cod. A] XXI [sic!]. On the hair of clerics.

[Title according to cod. R] XX. Clerics who grow long hair or if they have indecent vestments or shoes.

[Title according to the Hispana collection] XX. On the clerics who grow long hair.

Clerics who grow long hair, even if they do not know [that it is forbidden], should be tonsured by the archdeacon, [even] against their will. It is also forbidden for them to wear or possess unsuitable vestments or shoes.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

The phrase nisi quae religionem deceant was also understood in the sense that clerics should not wear clothes unfit for their position in the Church hierarchy. See Moore 2011: 79.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Agde

About the source:

Title: Council of Agde, Concilium Agathense anno 506
Origin: Agde (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Council of Agde was held in September of 506 under the auspices of Cesarius, bishop of Arles, and with the permission of the Visigothic King Alaric. The first 47 canons are considered genuine, since only those are present in the oldest codices. The rest, present in some manuscripts, must have been taken from the other council acts, especially those of the Council of Epaone in 517. This council was attended by 24 bishops, and 8 presbyters and 2 deacons, who represented their bishops. More on the council, see Klingshirn 1994, 97-104.

Edition:

Ch. Munier ed., Concilia Galliae a. 314-a. 506, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148, Turnhoult 1963.

Bibliography:

W.E. Klingshirn, Caesarius of Arles: the making of a Christian community in late antique Gaul, Cambridge 1994.

M.E. Moore, A sacred kingdom: bishops and the rise of Frankish kingship, 300-850, Washington, D.C 2011.

Categories:

Food/Clothes/Housing - Clothes

Food/Clothes/Housing - Hairstyle

Described by a title - Clericus

Attributes of clerical status

Ritual activity - Liturgical vestments

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Theoretical considerations - On church hierarchy

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER929, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=929