The Presbyters Project

Canon 16

Presbyteros propter salutem animarum, quam in cunctis optamus, desperatis et decumbentibus hereticis, si conuersionem subitam petant, crismate permittimus subuenire. Quod omnis conuersuri, si sani sunt, ab episcopo nouerint expetendum.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 28)

Canon 16

For the sake of salvation of soul which we desire for all, we permit the presbyters to rescue by chrism desperately ill or dying heretics, if they suddenly ask for conversion. All wishing to be converted, if they are healthy, should understand that they have to appeal to the bishop.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Épaone

About the source:

Title: Council of Épaone 517, Concilium Epaonense anno 517
Origin: Épaone (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Just as the Council of Agde was held in 506 in the Visigothic kingdom and the First Council of Orléans in 511 in the Frankish realm, the Council of Épaone gathered bishops from the lands ruled by the Burgundians. The direct impulse for the council was the ascension to the throne of Sigismund in 516. The new king, unlike his Arian predecessors, followed the Catholic creed. Avitus, metropolitan of Vienne, and Viventiolus, metropolitan of Lyons, asked the bishops to convene on the day of 6th September 517 in Épaone, the exact location of which is unknown. It was most probably situated in the province of Vienne, possibly near present-day Anneyron or Saint-Maurice-l`Exil. The council gathered 24 bishops and one presbyter. It seems that also some other clerics and laymen attended the sessions.

Edition:

C. de Clercq ed., Concilia Galliae a. 511-a. 695, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148 A, Turnhout 1963.

Translation:

J. Gaudemet, B. Basdevant, Les canons des conciles mérovingiens VIe-VIIe siècles, Sources chrétiennes 353, Paris 1989.

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Ritual activity - Anointment with chrism

Ritual activity - Reconciliation/Administering penance

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Relation with - Heretic/Schismatic

Equal prerogatives of presbyters and bishops

Pastoral activity - Visiting the sick

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1154, https://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1154