Canons of the Council of Neocaesarea

Direct English translation

If a presbyter marries, let him be removed from his rank; but if he commits fornication or adultery, let him be cast out entirely and brought to repentance.

Direct English translation

If a woman marries two brothers, let her be excluded until death. Yet at the time of death, out of philanthropy, if she says that, should she recover, she will dissolve the marriage, she may have repentance. But if the woman dies while in such a marriage, or the man does, repentance is difficult for the one who remains.

Direct English translation

Concerning those who fall into many marriages, the appointed period is plainly defined; but their manner of life and their faith shorten the period.

Direct English translation

If someone, desiring a woman, resolves to lie with her, but his thought does not come to act, it is evident that he has been delivered by grace.

Direct English translation

If a catechumen, entering the church and standing in the order of the catechumens, sins, then, if he is among those who kneel, let him become a hearer, provided that he sins no more; but if, while he is a hearer, he still sins, let him be put out.

Direct English translation

Concerning a pregnant woman: she ought to be baptized whenever she wishes. For in this the woman who gives birth has nothing in common with the one being born, since each person's own choice is shown in the confession.

Direct English translation

A presbyter is not to feast at the marriages of those marrying a second time; for when the one marrying a second time asks for repentance, what sort of presbyter will he be who, by attending the feast, gives approval to the marriage?

Direct English translation

If the wife of a man who is a layman commits adultery and is openly convicted, such a man cannot enter the ministry. But if she commits adultery after his ordination, he is obliged to dismiss her; and if he continues to live with her, he cannot retain the ministry entrusted to him.

Direct English translation

If a presbyter is advanced after having previously sinned in the flesh and confesses that he sinned before ordination, let him not offer, though he may remain in the other functions on account of his other diligence; for many have said that the laying on of hands also remits the other sins. But if he himself does not confess, and he cannot be openly convicted, let the decision be left to him himself.

Direct English translation

Likewise, if a deacon falls into the same sin, let him hold the rank of an attendant.

Direct English translation

Let a presbyter not be ordained before thirty years of age, even if the man is entirely worthy, but let him be kept waiting. For the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized in His thirtieth year and began to teach.

Direct English translation

If someone is baptized while ill, he cannot be brought into the presbyterate; for his faith was not from deliberate choice, but from necessity, unless perhaps because of his zeal and faith afterward, and because of a scarcity of men.

Direct English translation

Country presbyters cannot offer in the church of the city when the bishop or presbyters of the city are present; neither may they give the bread in blessing, nor the cup. But if they are absent and he alone is called for prayer, he may give them.

Direct English translation

The chorepiscopi are in the type of the Seventy; and, as fellow ministers, being honored because of their zeal for the poor, they offer.

Direct English translation

There ought to be seven deacons according to the canon, even if the city is very great. Let this be established from the book of Acts.