The Presbyters Project

LVII. De non ieiunando in die dominica neque genuflectendo, similiter et in Quinquagesima.

Si quis presbyter propter publicam poenitentiam a sacerdote acceptam aut aliqua necessitate die dominica pro quadam religione ieiunaverit, sicut Manichaei, anathema sit. Similiter et quod ab apostolis traditum canon tenet antiquus, placuit tam per omnes dominicas quam per omnes dies Paschae usque ad Quinquagesimam non prostrati nec humiliati, sed recto vultu ad Dominum orationum fungamur officio, quia in his diebus gaudium resurrectionis Domini celebramus.

(ed. Barlowe 1950: 138)

LVII. That one should not fast or prostrate eitrher on Sunday or in Eastertide.

If a presbyter because of the public penance which ge received from the priest (sacerdos), or because of another necessity fasts on Sunday out of piety, like Manichaeans, let him be anathema. Similarly, as an ancient canon, transmitted from the apostles, states, it pleased us that on all Sundays as well as on the days of Easter up to the Pentecost we shall perform our office of prayer not prostrated or humiliated, but with the face directed to the Lord because in these days we celebrate the joy of the resurrection of the Lord.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

Cf. canon 18 of the Council of Gangra (ca AD 340) and canon 20 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
Origin: Braga (Iberian Peninsula), Nicaea (East)Gangra (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:

Entertainment - Feasting

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Ritual activity - Reconciliation/Administering penance

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema

Administration of justice - Penance

Devotion - Fasting

Devotion - Ascetic practice

Devotion - Private devotional practice

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1132, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1132