The Holy Canons Chalcedon Canon 16
Canon 16 Dedicated virgins and monks may not marry
Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Χαλκηδόνι Ἁγίας καὶ Οἰκουμενικῆς Δ´ Συνόδου
The Fourth Ecumenical Council · Chalcedon, 451 · convened by the emperor Marcian · Fourth Ecumenical Council: Chalcedon (451) on the map
It is not lawful for a virgin who has dedicated herself to God the Master, nor likewise for monks, to enter into marriage. And if they should be found doing this, let them be out of communion. But we have decreed that the bishop of the place is to have authority over the lovingkindness to be shown to them.
Παρθένον ἀναθεῖσαν ἑαυτὴν τῷ δεσπότῃ Θεῷ, ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ μονάζοντας, μὴ ἐξεῖναι γάμῳ προσομιλεῖν. Εἰ δέ γε εὑρεθεῖεν τοῦτο ποιοῦντες, ἔστωσαν ἀκοινώνητοι. Ὡρίσαμεν δὲ ἔχειν τὴν αὐθεντίαν τῆς ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς φιλανθρωπίας τὸν κατὰ τόπον ἐπίσκοπον.
The Fourth Ecumenical Council, 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.