The Presbyters Project

Canon 2

Hoc etiam pro aedificatione omnium ecclesiarum et pro utelitate totius populi nobis placuit, ut non solum in ciuitatibus, sed etiam in omnibus parrociis uerbum faciendi daremus presbyteris potestatem, ita ut, si presbyter aliqua infirmitate prohibente per se ipsum non potuerit praedicare, sanctorum patrum homiliae a diaconibus recitentur; si enim digni sunt diaconi, quod Christus in euangelio locutus est, legere, quare indigni iudicentur sanctorum patrum expositiones publice recitare?

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 78-79)

Canon 2

This we furthermore decree in order to strengthen all churches and for profit of all the people, that not only in the cities, but also in all the parishes we should give the presbyters the right to deliver sermons. Moreover, if a presbyter himself cannot preach, hindered by some indisposition, deacons should recite the sermons of the holy fathers. For if deacons are worthy to read, as Christ has said in the Gospel, why should they be judged unworthy to recite publicly the expositions of the holy fathers?

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Vaison

About the source:

Title: Second Council of Vaison, Concilium Vasense anno 529
Origin: Vaison (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

This council convened on 5 November 529 in Vaison. The council was presided by Caesarius of Arles and gathered only five other bishops (quite curiously, Bishop Aletius of Vaison itself was absent). Of the council`s five canons, three try to introduce the practices of foreign Churches to Gaul.

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:

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter

Functions within the Church - Rural presbyter

Functions within the Church - Urban presbyter

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Equal prerogatives of presbyters and bishops

Pastoral activity - Preaching

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1262, https://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1262