Canon 13 Married subdeacons, deacons and presbyters keep their wives

Since we have learned that in the Church of the Romans it has been handed down, in the form of a canon, that those who are about to be deemed worthy of ordination as deacon or presbyter should profess that they will no longer be joined to their wives; we, following the ancient canon of apostolic exactness and order, wish the lawful marriages of men in sacred orders to be in force from now on also, in no way dissolving their union with their wives, or depriving them of their intercourse with one another at the fitting time. So that, if anyone is found worthy of ordination as subdeacon, or deacon, or presbyter, let him in no way be prevented from being raised to such a rank while living with a lawful wife; nor indeed at the time of his ordination let him be required to profess that he will withdraw from lawful intercourse with his own wife; lest we should thereby be forced to insult marriage, which was legislated by God and blessed by his presence; for the voice of the Gospel cries: What God has yoked together, let not man separate; and the Apostle teaches: Marriage is honourable, and the bed undefiled; and: Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. And we know, as those also who assembled in Carthage said, taking forethought for the gravity of life of the ministers, that the subdeacons, who handle the holy mysteries, and the deacons and presbyters, should, within their own set terms, abstain also from their consorts; so that what was handed down through the Apostles, and held from antiquity itself, we too may likewise keep, knowing a time for every matter, and especially for fasting and prayer. For those who attend upon the altar must, at the time of handling the holy things, be continent in all things, so that they may be able to obtain what they ask of God in simplicity. If anyone, therefore, moved contrary to the apostolic canons, should dare to deprive any of those in holy orders, presbyters, we mean, or deacons, or subdeacons, of union and communion with the lawful wife, let him be deposed; likewise also if any presbyter or deacon casts out his own wife on the pretext of piety, let him be excommunicated; and if he persists, let him be deposed.