THE CANONS OF LAODICEA.

THIS Synod was held at Laodicea in the region of Phrygia Pacatiana, and was attended by many Bishops of the neighbouring Provinces. The year in which it was held is not known, but from the Canons being placed in the Code after those of Antioch, it is most probable that it was after that Synod; and Beveridge adduces some probable reasons for supposing that it was in or about A. D. 365. Baronius and others suppose that it was prior to that of Nice, but there is no authority for this opinion; indeed it is contradicted by the circumstance of the Photinians being mentioned in the 7th Canon, who were not known till some years after the Council of Nice.

CANON I. It is right according to the ecclesiastical Canon that those who have been freely and lawfully joined in second marriages, and not clandestinely, having passed a short time, and given themselves to prayers and fasting, should by indulgence be allowed the Communion.

II. Those who have offended in divers particulars, and who continue instant in prayer with confession and repentance, and are perfectly converted from their wickedness, shall have a certain time of penance assigned to them according to the quality of the offence,

and then by the mercy and goodness of God be brought to Communion.

III. A man who has lately been baptized ought not to be promoted to the Sacerdotal order. Ap. Can. 89. Nic. 2.

IV. Those who belong to the Sacerdotal order ought not to lend, and receive usury, and what is called the Hemioliæ. Ap. Can. 44. Nic. 17.

V. Elections [or ordinations] are not to be made in the presence of the Hearers.

VI. Heretics are not to be allowed to enter into the house of God, whilst they continue in their heresy.

VII. Those who have been converted from the heresy of the Novatians, the Photinians, or the Quartodecimans, whether they were ranked as Catechumens or as Believers amongst them, are not to be received before they anathematize every heresy, and particularly the one in which they were implicated; and those who were called Believers amongst them, having learned the Creeds, and having been anointed with the holy chrism, shall so partake of the holy mysteries.

VIII. Persons who are converted from the heresy of those who are called Phrygians, even if they were of the reputed Clergy amongst them, or even called Chiefs, must be instructed with all care, and be baptized by the Bishops and Presbyters of the Church.

IX. The members of the Church are not to be permitted to go into the Cemeteries, or the so-called Martyries of any heretics for the purpose of prayer or worship; and they who do so, if they be Believers, are to be excommunicated for a time; but upon their repentance and confession of their faults they are to be received again.

X. The members of the Church must not connect their children in marriage indiscriminately with heretics. XI. Presbyteresses, (πgeσßútides) as they are called, or female Presidents, are not to be appointed in the Church.

XII. Bishops are to be appointed to the ecclesiastical government by the judgment of the Metropolitans, and neighbouring Bishops, having been long tried in relation to the faith, and in the dispensation of the correct word.

XIII. The multitude are not to make elections of those who are to be appointed to the Sacerdotal order.

XIV. The holy things are not to be sent into other Parishes at the feast of Easter by way of Eulogiæ (1).

XV. No persons but the Canonical singers who go up into the ambo and sing from a book should sing in the Church.

XVI. The Gospels are to be read on the sabbath with the other Scriptures.

XVII. The Psalms are not to be joined together in the assemblies, but a lesson is to be read between each Psalm.

XVIII. The same office of prayers should be always used both at Nones and Vespers (1).

XIX. After the sermons of the Bishops, the prayer for the Catechumens is to be made first by itself, and after the Catechumens are gone out, the prayer for the Penitents; and when these have passed under the hand [of the Bishop] and have retired, then the prayers of the faithful are to be made in three parts, the first with silence, and the second and third to be completed with acclamation; then the [Kiss of] Peace is to be given; and after the Presbyters have given the Peace to the

Bishop, the Laity are then to give the Peace, and so the holy oblation is to be completed. And those only who belong to the Priesthood are to be allowed to enter in to the Altar, and communicate (1).

XX. A Deacon must not seat himself in the presence of a Presbyter, but sit down at the bidding of the Presbyter; and the Deacons are to have the like respect paid to them by the Minister [i. e. the Subdeacon] and all the Clerks.

XXI. The Ministers must not have any place in the Deacons' apartment, nor touch the sacred vessels.

XXII. A Minister must not wear an orarium (1), nor leave the doors.

XXIII. The Readers and Singers must not wear an orarium, and so read and sing.

XXIV. No one who belongs to the Priesthood from a Presbyter to a Deacon, and so downwards in the ecclesiastical order to Ministers, or Readers, or Singers, or Exorcists, or Door-keepers, or of the order of Ascetics, may go into a tavern.

XXV. A Minister must not give the bread, nor bless the Cup.

XXVI. Those who have not been appointed by Bishops may not exorcise, neither in the Church, nor in private houses.

XXVII. No persons, whether they belong to the Priesthood, or Clergy, or Laity, if they are invited to a love feast, may take away their portions, because by this means reproach is cast upon the priestly order.

XXVIII. It is not permitted to make love feasts, as they are called, in the Lord's houses or in Churches, or to eat or spread couches in the house of God.

XXIX. Christians must not judaize and rest on the

Sabbath day, but work upon that day, and honour the Lord's day, and, if they can, rest upon it as Christians; but if they are discovered judaizing, let them be anathema from Christ.

XXX. None of the Priesthood, or Clergy, or Ascetics, may wash in a bath with women, nor indeed any Christian, or Layman, for this is especially condemned amongst the heathen.

XXXI. It is not right to make marriages, or to give sons or daughters to every heretic, but rather to accept of them if they promise to become Christians.

XXXII. The eulogiæ of heretics are not to be received, for they are rather alogiæ [nonsensical things] than eulogiæ [blessings].

XXXIII. It is not right to pray with an heretic or a schismatic.

XXXIV. No Christian may leave the Martyrs of Christ and go to false Martyrs, that is, to those of heretics, and those who have been reputed to have been heretics. For these are aliens from God. Let those therefore who go after them be Anathema.

XXXV. Christians must not leave the Church of God, and go and invocate Angels, or make assemblies, which things are forbidden. If then any one is discovered giving himself to this hidden idolatry, let him be Anathema, for he has forsaken our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and gone over to idolatry.

XXXVI. None of the Priesthood or Clergy may be magicians or enchanters, or mathematics, or astrologers, or make what are called phylacteries, which are in fact bonds for their own souls. And we command that they who wear such things be cast out of the Church.