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The Holy Canons Nicaea II Canon 13

Canon 13 Seized episcopal residences and monasteries must be restored

Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Νικαίᾳ Ἁγίας καὶ Οἰκουμενικῆς Ζ´ Συνόδου

The Seventh Ecumenical Council · Nicaea, 787 · convened by the empress Irene and the emperor Constantine VI · Seventh Ecumenical Council: Nicaea II (787) on the map

Since, through the calamity that befell the churches on account of our sins, certain pious houses were seized by certain men, both episcopal residences and monasteries, and became common lodgings: if those who hold them choose to give them back, so that they may be restored as of old, it is well and good; but if not, if they are of the priestly roll, we command that they be deposed; and if monks or laymen, that they be excommunicated, as being condemned by the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and let them be placed where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched, because they oppose the voice of the Lord which says: Do not make the house of my Father a house of trade.

Ἐπειδὴ διὰ τὴν γενομένην κατὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν συμφορὰν ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις, καθηρπάγησάν τινες εὐαγεῖς οἶκοι ὑπό τινων ἀνδρῶν, ἐπισκοπεῖά τε, καὶ μοναστήρια, καὶ ἐγένοντο κοινὰ καταγώγια· εἰ μὲν οἱ διακρατοῦντες ταῦτα, προαιροῦνται ἀποδιδόναι, ἵνα κατὰ τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἀποκατασταθῶσιν, εὖ καὶ καλῶς ἔχει· εἰ δὲ μή γε, εἰ μὲν τοῦ καταλόγου τοῦ ἱερατικοῦ εἰσι, τούτους καθαιρεῖσθαι προστάσσομεν· εἰ δὲ μοναχοί, ἢ λαϊκοί, ἀφορίζεσθαι· ὡς ὄντας κατακρίτους ἀπὸ τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος· καὶ τετάχθωσαν, ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ οὐ τελευτᾷ, καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται· ὅτι τῇ τοῦ Κυρίου φωνῇ ἐναντιοῦνται, τῇ λεγούσῃ· Μὴ ποιεῖτε τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Πατρός μου οἶκον ἐμπορίου.

The Seventh 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.