Canon 3 Election of clergy by secular rulers is void

Every election made by rulers, of a bishop, or a presbyter, or a deacon, is to remain void, according to the canon which says: If any bishop, having made use of secular rulers, becomes master of a church through them, let him be deposed, and let him be excommunicated, and all those in communion with him. For he who is to be promoted to the episcopate must be elected by bishops, as has been defined by the holy Fathers in Nicaea in the canon which says: It is fitting that a bishop be appointed above all by all those in the province; but if such a thing be difficult, either because of pressing necessity or because of the length of the road, three at the very least gathering together in the same place (the absent also voting with them and consenting through letters), then the ordination is to be performed. And the confirmation of what is done is to be given in each province to the metropolitan.