The Presbyters Project

119. Sane dare baptismum non diaconibus, non clericis, non quibuscumque licere nisi sacerdotibus solis, dicente Domino discipulis tantum: Sicut misit me Pater, et ego mitto uos. Et item ad discipulos: Ite, docete omnes gentes, baptizantes eos in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Patet ergo solis sacerdotibus dare baptisma esse permissum. Cuius rei ministerium absque episcopo, uel presbytero, nec diaconibus est concessum, nisi, illis longe positis, ultima necessitas uel langoris, uel periculi cogat. Quod clericis et fidelibus laicis fieri utcumque conceditur, ut nullus e saeculo sine uitali remedio transisse uideatur.

(ed. Yarza Urquiola 2007: 416)

119. It is just that no deacons, no other clerics, none whosoever, but only priests can give baptism, as the Lord said to his disciples: “as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” [J 20:21]. And again to his disciples: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” [Matt 28:19]. Hence, baptizing is permitted only to the priests. The administration of baptism without a bishop or a presbyter is not allowed for the deacons, unless priests are far away and the life [of the person to be baptized] is endangered because of illness or another peril. In such circumstances we allow the clerics and the faithful laypeople to baptize so that no one will leave this world without the reviving remedy.

(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

About the source:

Author: Ildefonsus of Toledo
Title: De cognitione baptismi
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Ildefonsus was from a Toletan family. As a young man, he was educated in the monastery of Agali, then he was ordained a deacon in Toledo by Bishop Helladius (he writes about these events in his own work De viris illustribus). In AD 657, after the death of Eugenius II, Ildefonsus became the bishop of Toledo at the instigation of King Reccesvinth (reigned 653–72). He died in 667. He wrote De cognitione baptismi during his episcopacy. Along with the passage 2.21–27 from Isidore`s of Seville De officiis it is the most important document of the baptismal practice in the 7th c. Spain. For more detailed information on the text see Robles 1970, and Yarza Urquiola 2007: 278–333.

Edition:

V. Yarza Urquiola, C. Codoñer eds., Ildefonsi Toletani De virginitate Sanctae Mariae, De cognitione baptismi, De itinere deserti, De viris illustribus, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 114A, Turnhout 2007

Translation:

Ildefonsus of Toledo, Liber de cognitione baptismi, trans. M.C. Billy, Washington, D.C. 1951.

Bibliography:

L. Robles, "Anotaciones a la obra de san Hildefonso De cognitione baptismi", Saitabi: revista de la Facultat de Geografia i Història 21 (1970), 73-146.

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

Usurping presbyterial power

Ritual activity - Baptism and instructing catechumens

Equal prerogatives of presbyters and bishops

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER701, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=701