The Presbyters Project

Canon 22

De neophytis.

Qui nuper baptizatus fuerit iam aetate legitima, non continuo liceat eum ad ecclesiasticum ordinem promoveri, quia oportet illum prius doceri quod possit docere, et multo tempore post baptismum probari, ut bene probatus veniat ad clerum secundum praeceptum Apostoli dicentis: „Non neophytum, ne in superbiam elatus in iudicium incidat et laqueum diaboli” (cf. 1 Timoth 3:6). Si autem succedenti tempore in aliquo gravi peccato a duobus vel tribus fuerit devictus, depositus de gradu suo cesset a clero. Si quis contra hanc regulam facere praesumpserit, quasi contrarius magni concilii proiciatur a clero.

(ed. Barlowe 1950: 130)

Canon 22

On the neophytes.

A person who is of legitimate age but has been just recently baptized shall not be promoted to the ecclesiastical grade because it is necessary that he is taught before he can teach, and is being proven for a long time after the baptism so that he come to the clergy well-examined according to the precept of the Apostle: "Not a neophyte: lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment and snare of the devil." (cf. 1 Timoth 3:6) If, however, after some time it is concluded by two or three [witnesses] that he was overcome by a serious sin, he shall be deposed from his grade and removed from the clergy. If someone dare to do something against this rule, he shall be rejected from the clergy as an opponent of the great council.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

Cf. canon 2 of the council of Nicaea in AD 325.

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Braga

About the source:

Author: Martin of Braga
Title: Collectio orientalium canonum, seu Capitula Martini, Capitula Martini, Collection of the Eastern canons
Origin: Braga (Iberian Peninsula), Nicaea (East)

In the manuscript tradition the canons of the Second Council of Braga (Iberian Peninsula) in AD 572 are followed by the Eastern canons collected and translated into Latin by Martin of Braga (Iberian Peninsula). He was using a Greek collection, impossible to identify with any of the collections known today, which gathered the canons of the several Eastern councils. Martin quotes also the canons of the First Council of Toledo AD 400. Martin dedicated his work to Bishop Nitigisius of Lugo (Iberian Peninsula). Those two bishops met on the Second Council of Braga, and possibly the collection was composed for this occasion (Barlowe 1950: 84-87).

Edition:

C. Barlowe ed., Martini episcopi Bracarensis opera omnia, New Haven 1950.

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Demotion

Impediments or requisits for the office - Neophyte Neophyte

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1068, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1068