The Presbyters Project

XXXVI. De purganda opinione haeresis.

Si quis episcopus sive alicuius episcopi presbyter aut diaconus in alicuius haeresis opinionem offenderit, et ob hanc causam fuerit excommunicatus, nullus episcopus eum in communionem recipiat nisi prius in communi concilio porrecto fidei suae libello satisfaciat omnibus, et ita liberam teneat suam purgationem. Hoc idem et de fidelibus laicis sit decretum si in aliquam haeresis opinionem fuerint nominati.

(ed. Barlowe 1950: 134)

XXXVI. On the heretical opinions that they shall be purged.

If a bishop, or a presbyter of some bishop or a deacon stumbles into heretical views, and for this reason is excommunicated, no bishop shall receive him in communion unless the excommunicated first having presented the written confession of faith (libellus fidei) gives satisfaction to everyone at the general council, and in such way shall be freely cleansed. This is also decreed for the lay faithful if they are accused of any heretical belief.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

Cf. canon 8 of the Council of Nicaea (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, Canons of St. Martin
Origin: Braga (Iberian Peninsula), Nicaea (East)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

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:

Change of denomination

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema

Religious grouping (other than Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian) - Unspecified 'heretic'

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1116, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1116