Canons of the Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon)

Direct English translation

We have judged it right that the canons set forth by the holy Fathers in each synod up to the present time should remain in force.

Direct English translation

If any bishop performs an ordination for money and brings the grace that cannot be sold into commerce, and ordains for money a bishop, a chorepiscopus, presbyters, deacons, or any other person numbered among the clergy, or appoints for money a steward, advocate, paramonarios, or anyone at all belonging to the canon, for the sake of his own shameful gain, the one who has attempted this, once convicted, shall be in danger concerning his own rank; and the person ordained shall derive no benefit from the ordination or appointment obtained by purchase, but shall be alien to the dignity or office which he acquired for money. If anyone should also appear as an intermediary in such shameful and unlawful transactions, he too, if he is a cleric, shall fall from his own rank; but if he is a layman or a monk, he shall be anathematized.

Direct English translation

It has come to the holy synod that some of those enrolled among the clergy, for the sake of shameful gain, become managers of other people's estates and undertake secular business, neglecting the service of God while frequenting the houses of worldly persons and accepting the management of properties out of love of money. Therefore the holy and great synod has determined that henceforth no bishop, cleric, or monk shall lease estates or involve himself in the administration of secular affairs, unless perhaps he is called by law to the unavoidable guardianship of minors, or unless the bishop of the city entrusts him with the care of ecclesiastical affairs, or of orphans, unprovided widows, or persons especially in need of the Church's assistance, for the fear of God. If anyone hereafter attempts to transgress what has been determined, such a person shall be subject to ecclesiastical penalties.

Direct English translation

Those who truly and sincerely pursue the solitary life are to be deemed worthy of the honour proper to them. But since some, using the monastic habit as a pretext, disturb both the Churches and civil affairs, wandering indiscriminately through the cities and even taking it upon themselves to establish monasteries for themselves, it has seemed good that no one anywhere build or establish a monastery or house of prayer without the consent of the bishop of the city. Monks in every city and district are to be subject to the bishop, to embrace quietness, to attend only to fasting and prayer, and to remain in the places where they renounced the world. They are not to interfere in ecclesiastical or secular affairs, nor to take part in them by abandoning their own monasteries, unless perhaps they are permitted by the bishop of the city because of some necessary need. No slave is to be received into the monasteries for the monastic life without the consent of his own master. We have determined that anyone transgressing this decree of ours is to be outside communion, so that the name of God may not be blasphemed. The bishop of the city, however, must exercise due care for the monasteries.

Direct English translation

Concerning bishops or clerics who move from city to city, it has seemed good that the canons established concerning them by the holy Fathers retain their force.

Direct English translation

No one is to be ordained absolutely, neither presbyter nor deacon nor anyone at all in the ecclesiastical order, unless the person ordained is specifically assigned to a church of a city or village, or to a martyr shrine, or to a monastery. As for those ordained absolutely, the holy synod has determined that such an ordination is invalid and that they can function nowhere, to the dishonour of the one who ordained them.

Direct English translation

We have determined that those once enrolled among the clergy, and likewise monks, are not to enter military service or a secular office; and those who dare to do this and do not repent so as to return to that which they previously chose for God's sake are to be anathematized.

Direct English translation

The clerics of poorhouses, monasteries, and martyr shrines are to remain under the authority of the bishops in each city, according to the tradition of the holy Fathers, and are not arrogantly to rebel against their own bishop. Those who dare in any manner to overturn such an ordinance and do not submit to their own bishop, if they are clerics, shall be subject to the penalties of the canons; but if they are monks or laypersons, they shall be outside communion.

Direct English translation

If a cleric has a matter against another cleric, he is not to abandon his own bishop and resort to secular courts, but is first to have the case examined before his own bishop; or, with the bishop's consent, the proceedings are to be conducted before persons whom both parties desire. If anyone acts contrary to these things, he shall be subject to canonical penalties. If a cleric has a matter against his own bishop or against another bishop, he is to be judged before the synod of the province. If a bishop or cleric disputes with the metropolitan of the same province, he is to have recourse to the exarch of the diocese or to the throne of the imperial city of Constantinople and be judged before him.

Direct English translation

A cleric is not permitted to be enrolled at the same time in the Churches of two cities, both in the one in which he was originally ordained and in the one to which he fled as supposedly greater, out of a desire for empty glory. Those who do this are to be restored to their own Church in which they were originally ordained and are to serve there alone. But if someone has already been transferred from one Church to another, he is not to have any participation in the property of the former Church, or of the martyr shrines, poorhouses, or guest-houses under it. The holy synod has determined that those who dare, after the decree of this great and ecumenical synod, to do anything now forbidden shall fall from their own rank.

Direct English translation

We have determined that all the poor and those in need of assistance, after examination, are to travel with ecclesiastical letters of peace only, and not with letters of commendation, because letters of commendation ought to be given only to persons who are held in good repute.

Direct English translation

It has come to us that some, contrary to ecclesiastical ordinances, have resorted to powerful persons and by imperial enactments have divided one province into two, so that there are as a result two metropolitans in the same province. The holy synod has therefore determined that henceforth no bishop is to dare anything of this kind; for one who attempts it shall fall from his own rank. But as many cities as have already been honoured by imperial letters with the title of metropolis shall enjoy the honour alone, and likewise the bishop who administers that Church, while the proper rights of the true metropolis are of course preserved.

Direct English translation

Foreign and unknown clerics are in no way to officiate anywhere in another city without letters of commendation from their own bishop.

Direct English translation

Since in some provinces readers and singers are permitted to marry, the holy synod has determined that none of them is permitted to take a heterodox woman as wife. As for those who have already had children from such a marriage, if they have already had the children born to them baptized among the heretics, they are to bring them into the communion of the catholic Church; but if they have not baptized them, they may no longer have them baptized among the heretics, nor unite them in marriage with a heretic, a Jew, or a pagan, unless the person being joined to the Orthodox party promises to transfer to the Orthodox faith. If anyone transgresses this decree of the holy synod, he shall be subject to canonical penance.

Direct English translation

A woman is not to be ordained a deaconess before the age of forty, and then only after careful examination. But if, after receiving the laying on of hands and remaining for some time in the ministry, she gives herself in marriage, thereby insulting the grace of God, such a woman is to be anathematized together with the man joined to her.

Direct English translation

A virgin who has dedicated herself to the Lord God, and likewise monks, are not permitted to enter into marriage. If they are found doing this, they shall be outside communion. We have, however, determined that the local bishop shall have authority to exercise mercy toward them.

Direct English translation

The rural or country parishes belonging to each province are to remain undisturbed with the bishops who possess them, especially if for thirty years they have held and administered them without force. But if within the thirty years there has arisen, or should arise, a dispute concerning them, those who say that they have been wronged are permitted to raise the matter before the synod of the province. If anyone is wronged by his own metropolitan, he is to be judged before the exarch of the diocese or before the throne of Constantinople, as has been said above. And if any city has been newly established, or should hereafter be newly established, by imperial authority, the order of the ecclesiastical parishes is to follow the civil and public arrangements.

Direct English translation

The crime of conspiracy or faction is altogether forbidden even by the external laws; much more, then, is it proper to prohibit such a thing from taking place in the Church of God. Therefore, if any clerics or monks are found conspiring together, forming factions, or plotting against bishops or fellow clerics, they shall fall entirely from their own rank.

Direct English translation

It has come to the hearing of the holy synod that in the provinces the prescribed synods of bishops are not being held, and that as a result many ecclesiastical matters needing correction are neglected. The holy synod has therefore determined, according to the canons of the holy Fathers, that twice each year the bishops of every province are to assemble together wherever the bishop of the metropolis shall judge suitable and are to correct every matter that arises. Bishops who do not assemble, while remaining in their own cities, being in good health and free from every unavoidable and necessary occupation, are to be rebuked fraternally.

Direct English translation

Clerics serving in a Church, as we have already determined, are not permitted to be appointed to the Church of another city, but are to remain attached to the one in which they were originally deemed worthy to serve, except for those who, having lost their own homelands, have moved to another Church out of necessity. If, after this decree, a bishop receives a cleric belonging to another bishop, it has seemed good that both the one who receives him and the one received be outside communion until the transferred cleric returns to his own Church.

Direct English translation

Clerics or laypersons who bring accusations against bishops or clerics are not simply and without examination to be admitted as accusers, unless their reputation is first examined.

Direct English translation

Clerics are not permitted, after the death of their own bishop, to seize the property belonging to him, just as this has also been forbidden to those who take possession of it; those who do this shall be in danger concerning their own ranks.

Direct English translation

It has come to the hearing of the holy synod that certain clerics and monks, having been entrusted with nothing by their own bishop and at times even having been placed outside communion by him, come to the imperial city of Constantinople and remain there for a long time, creating disturbances, troubling the ecclesiastical order, and overturning the households of some persons. The holy synod has therefore determined that such persons are first to be admonished through the advocate of the most holy Church of Constantinople to depart from the imperial city; but if they shamelessly persist in the same conduct, they are to be expelled even against their will through the same advocate and sent to their own places.

Direct English translation

Monasteries once consecrated with the consent of the bishop are to remain monasteries forever, and the property belonging to them is to be preserved, and they are no longer to become secular lodging-houses. Those who permit this to happen shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by the canons.

Direct English translation

Since some metropolitans, as we have heard, neglect the flocks entrusted to them and postpone the ordinations of bishops, it has seemed good to the holy synod that the ordinations of bishops take place within three months, unless perhaps an unavoidable necessity should cause the period of postponement to be extended. If the metropolitan does not do this, he shall be subject to ecclesiastical penalties. Meanwhile the revenue of the vacant Church is to be kept intact by the steward of that Church.

Direct English translation

Since in some Churches, as we have heard, the bishops administer ecclesiastical property without stewards, it has seemed good that every Church which has a bishop should also have a steward from its own clergy, who is to administer the ecclesiastical property according to the judgment of his own bishop, so that the administration of the Church may not be without witness, its property thereby be scattered, and reproach be brought upon the priesthood. If the bishop does not do this, he shall be subject to the divine canons.

Direct English translation

Those who abduct women under the pretext of marriage, or who cooperate with or assist the abductors, the holy synod has determined, if they are clerics, are to fall from their own rank; but if they are laypersons, they are to be anathematized.

Direct English translation

Following in all things the decrees of the holy Fathers, and recognizing the canon just read of the one hundred and fifty most God-beloved bishops who assembled in the imperial city of Constantinople, New Rome, in the time of the emperor Theodosius the Great of pious memory, we too determine and decree the same things concerning the privileges of the most holy Church of the same Constantinople, New Rome. For the Fathers rightly granted privileges to the throne of Old Rome because that city was the imperial city. Moved by the same consideration, the one hundred and fifty most God-beloved bishops assigned equal privileges to the most holy throne of New Rome, reasonably judging that the city which is honoured with the imperial authority and senate, and enjoys equal privileges with Old Imperial Rome, should also be magnified like her in ecclesiastical matters, being second after her. Consequently, the metropolitans only of the Pontic, Asian, and Thracian dioceses, as well as the bishops among the barbarians of the aforesaid dioceses, are to be ordained by the aforesaid most holy throne of the most holy Church of Constantinople; that is, each metropolitan of the aforesaid dioceses, together with the bishops of the province, is to ordain the bishops of the province, as has been prescribed by the divine canons; but the metropolitans of the aforesaid dioceses themselves, as has been said, are to be ordained by the archbishop of Constantinople, after harmonious elections have been held according to custom and reported to him.

Direct English translation

To reduce a bishop to the rank of presbyter is sacrilege. If some just cause removes such men from the exercise of the episcopate, they ought not to hold the place of a presbyter either. But if they were removed from their dignity without any charge, they shall return to the dignity of the episcopate.

Direct English translation

Since the most devout bishops of Egypt have for the present postponed signing the letter of the most holy Archbishop Leo, not because they oppose the catholic faith, but because they say that it is the custom in the Egyptian diocese to do nothing of this kind contrary to the judgment and ordinance of the archbishop, and since they ask that an allowance be granted to them until the ordination of the future bishop of the great city of Alexandria, it has seemed reasonable and humane to us that, while they remain in their own ecclesiastical status in the imperial city, an allowance be granted to them until the archbishop of the great city of Alexandria is ordained. Therefore, while remaining in their own status, they shall either provide guarantees, if this is possible for them, or they shall be trusted upon their sworn declaration.