The Canonical Epistles of St Cyril of Alexandria

Direct English translation

Whenever each of our affairs proceeds directly according to canonical good order, it produces no disturbance for us, frees us from the reproach of some, and instead procures for us the praise of those who think rightly. For who would not accept an impartial judgment rendered by anyone? Or how will judging rightly and lawfully not be beyond reproach and, rather, full of every praise? I write these things now because, in the letters sent to me and to our most devout and God-loving brother and fellow bishop Proclus, your reverence calls the most reverent and devout Peter a bishop, while he himself weeps and says that he has been unreasonably removed from the church allotted to him. It was fitting either that he possess the reality of the priesthood together with its name, or, if he was not worthy to preside at the divine altar, that he not be honoured even by the title of bishop. Perhaps my statement may seem harsh and lacking brotherly love to your reverence, but in truth it is not so. We perhaps think we have shown mercy to the elder by leaving him the title alone, but it would have been much better to consider the other point. He says that he is able to establish his own good repute, but was given neither an opportunity for defence nor a canonical hearing. Had such a proceeding taken place, the record itself would have exposed him: either, having been convicted of the charges, he would have been declared liable and would have nothing left to say as one wronged; or, having declared him free, it would again have given him the right to preside over the church placed under his hand. Since nothing of this kind was done, he cries out against the matter and says he endured an unbearable injustice and was unlawfully expelled, adding that all the money belonging to him was seized. Therefore let your holiness, considering what seems good to the divine canons, what is fitting for the Church and for those appointed to sacred ministry, and being moved also by our letters, bring the elder's tears to an end. If he chooses to be judged against those who bring the charges, let him be judged according to custom before your reverence, with the most devout bishops under your hand also present, unless he objects to some as suspect. We do not believe that any of the most devout bishops bears hostility toward a brother; but so that this may not become a pretext that dissolves the judgment to be held concerning him, making it appear not to have been conducted justly, there is no harm in some of those under suspicion being absent from the tribunal.

Direct English translation

It is just that the money unjustly taken from him be returned for two reasons. First, no such thing ought to have been done at all. It greatly grieves and casts into utter discouragement the most devout bishops everywhere on earth that they should be required to render accounts concerning the administration of incidental expenses, whether these come from ecclesiastical revenues or from the contribution of certain persons. For each of us will render an account for his own times to the Judge of all. Sacred treasures and immovable properties ought to be preserved inalienably for the churches, but those who from time to time administer the divine priesthood ought to be trusted with the management of incidental expenses.

Direct English translation

He says that he submitted the written resignations not by his own choice but under compulsion, fear, and the threat of certain persons. From another standpoint also, it is not a practice pleasing to the ordinances of the Church that any of the sacred ministers should submit written resignations. If they are worthy to minister, let them remain in the ministry; but if unworthy, let them not depart by resignation, but rather after being convicted of acts which anyone would loudly denounce as lying outside every proper order. Greet the brotherhood with you. The brotherhood with us greets you in the Lord.

Direct English translation

To the bishops throughout Libya and Pentapolis. Care ought to be taken for everything useful and necessary for the building up of the peoples and contributing to the good repute of the holy churches. For it is written: 'You shall make the sons of Israel reverent.' Fathers of monasteries in the province of the Thebaid—reverent men whose way of life is not without wonder—came to Alexandria and, when I asked them about the condition of the monasteries there, reported that many are scandalized for this reason. Some who have only recently married, as if they had just come down from their bridal chambers, take hold of certain most God-loving bishops and, perhaps with no one reporting their circumstances, are ordained clerics, that is, presbyters. Others, expelled from monasteries as disorderly, again obtain ordinations; after becoming clerics, they enter even the monasteries from which they were expelled and wish to offer and to perform whatever clerics customarily fulfil. Thus some who know them withdraw even from the assemblies and cannot bear to commune while those men are serving. Since, as I said, everything ought to be done by us for the building up of the peoples, let your reverence watch over these matters. If anyone is about to be ordained a cleric, investigate his life: whether he has a wife or not; how and when he married; whether he has abstained; and whether he is one of those expelled by another most devout bishop or from a monastery. Then ordain him only if he is found blameless. In this way we shall keep both our own conscience pure and the sacred and venerable ministry beyond reproach.

Direct English translation

If any persons endure separation after being placed under penance for offences, and then, while still catechumens, are about to die, let them be baptized and not depart from human life without participation in grace—that is, without Communion. For this too appears to accord with the ordinances of the Church. Greet the brotherhood with you. The brotherhood with us greets you in the Lord.