The Presbyters Project

Canon 3

Vt in una prouincia diuersitas officiorum non teneatur.

De his qui contra Apostolorum uoluntatem circumferuntur omni uento doctrinae, placuit huic sancto concilio ut metropolitanae sedis auctoritate coacti uniuscuiusque prouinciae pontifices rectoresque ecclesiarum unum eundemque in psallendo teneant modum quem in metropolitana sede cognouerint institutum, nec aliqua diuersitate cuiusque ordinis uel officii a metropolitana se patiantur sede disiungi. Sic enim iustum est ut inde unusquisque sumat regulas magisterii, unde honoris consecrationem accepit, ut iuxta Maiorum decreta sedes quae unicuique sacerdotalis mater est dignitatis, sit et ecclesiasticae magistra rationis. Abbatibus sane indultis officiis quae iuxta uoluntatem sui episcopi regulariter illis implenda sunt, cetera officia publica, id est uesperam, matutinum siue missam, aliter quam in principali ecclesia celebrare non liceat. Quisquis autem horum decretorum uiolator exstiterit, sex mensibus communione priuatus apud metropolitanum sub paenitentiae censura permaneat corrigendus, qualiter apud illum et praeteritae transgressionis culpam lacrimis diluat, et necessariam officiorum doctrinam studiose addiscat. Sub ista ergo regula disciplinae non solum metropolitanus totius suae prouinciae pontifices uel sacerdotes astringat, sed etiam ceteri episcopi subiectos sibi ecclesiarum rectores his obtemperare institutionibus cogant.

(eds. Martínez Díez, Rodríguez 2002: 101-103)

Canon 3

That there shall be no diversity in [liturgical] offices in one province.

In regard to those who against the will of the Apostle "are carried about by every wind of doctrine" (cf. Eph 4:14), it pleased the holy council that all the pontiffs and heads of the Churches of a given province, compelled by the authority of the metropolitan see, shall chant psalms in the same manner that they know has been introduced in the metropolitan see, and they will not bear to be separated from the metropolitan see by some diversity in orders or offices. It is just that every person shall take the rules of doctrine from the same source from which he received the consecration to his honour, so that, according to the decrees of the Fathers, the sees that are the mothers of every priestly dignity will also be the teachers of ecclesiastical doctrine. Let no abbot who received permission according to the will of his bishop to fulfil regularly some public offices, that is vespers, lauds and mass, celebrate them differently than in the principal Church. Whoever violates these decrees shall be deprived of communion for six months and remain for this time at the metropolitan bishop's to improve himself under the punishment of penance, in order to wash away with tears the guilt of previous transgressions, and to learn studiously a necessary doctrine of offices. This rule of discipline applies not only to the metropolitan bishop, and the pontiffs or prelates, but also the bishops shall compel the heads of the Churches subjected to them to obey these decrees.

(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Toledo

About the source:

Title: Concilium Toletanum XI a. 675, Concilium XI Toletanum a. 675, Eleventh Council of Toledo in 675 AD
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Eleventh Council of Toledo in AD 675 was the first council convened in the capital since AD 656. However, in contrast to the previous Toletan councils (apart from the one held in AD 597), it was not a plenary gathering of the bishops from all the Spanish provinces (on the discontinuation of the plenary councils see Collins 2004: 99-100), but only a provincial council of the Carthaginensis. It was gathered by King Wamba (AD 672-680). Present were seventeen bishops, six abbots and three representatives of absent bishops.

Edition:

G. Martínez Díez, F. Rodríguez eds., La colección canónica Hispana, Monumenta Hispaniae sacra. Serie canónica 6, Madrid 2002.

Bibliography:

R. Collins, Visigothic Spain, 409-711, Oxford 2004.

Categories:

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

Described by a title - Abba

Ritual activity - Eucharist

Ritual activity - Divine office/Liturgy of the hours

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema

Administration of justice - Penance

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER857, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=857