The Holy Canons Apostolic Canon 81
Canon 81 Clergy may not take up public administration
Ἱεροὶ Κανόνες τῶν Ἁγίων καὶ Πανσέπτων Ἀποστόλων
The Apostolic Canons · compiled in Syria in the later fourth century · The Apostolic Canons on the map
We have said that a bishop or presbyter ought not to involve himself in public administrations, but to give his time to ecclesiastical needs. Either, then, let him be persuaded not to do this, or let him be deposed. For no one can serve two lords, according to the Lord's command.
Εἴπομεν, ὅτι οὐ χρὴ ἐπίσκοπον, ἢ πρεσβύτερον καθιέναι ἑαυτὸν εἰς δημοσίας διοικήσεις, ἀλλὰ προσευκαιρεῖν ταῖς ἐκκλησιαστικαῖς χρείαις. Ἢ πειθέσθω οὖν τοῦτο μὴ ποιεῖν, ἢ καθαιρείσθω. Οὐδεὶς γὰρ δύναται δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν, κατὰ τὴν Κυριακὴν παρακέλευσιν.
The Apostolic Canons, the canons
English: this site's translation of the Greek beside it. Greek: the text of the Pedalion, as transcribed at users.uoa.gr/~nektar and corrected here. About these texts.