Canon 4 Monks and monasteries are subject to the bishop

Let those who truly and sincerely pursue the solitary life be counted worthy of fitting honour. But since some, making use of the monastic guise, throw into confusion both the churches and civil affairs, going about in the cities indiscriminately, and even taking it upon themselves to set up monasteries for themselves, it has seemed good that no one anywhere build or set up a monastery or a house of prayer against the will of the bishop of the city; and that the monks in each city and country be subject to the bishop, and embrace stillness, and give heed only to fasting and prayer, persevering in the places in which they made their renunciation; and that they neither meddle in ecclesiastical or worldly affairs nor take part in them, leaving their own monasteries, unless perhaps they should be permitted to do so for necessary need by the bishop of the city; and that no one receive a slave into the monasteries to become a monk against the will of his own master. And whoever transgresses this our decree we have decreed to be out of communion, that the name of God be not blasphemed. The bishop of the city, however, must make due provision for the monasteries.