Canon LIV.
The
divine scriptures plainly
teach us as follows, “Thou shalt not approach to any that is near
of kin to thee to uncover their nakedness.” Basil, the
bearer-of-God, has enumerated in his canons some marriages which are
prohibited and has passed over the greater part in silence, and in both
these ways has done us good service. For by avoiding a number of
disgraceful names (lest by such words he should pollute his discourse)
he included impurities under general terms, by which course he shewed
to us in a general way the marriages which are forbidden. But
since by such silence, and because of the difficulty of understanding
what marriages are prohibited, the matter has become confused; it
seemed good to us to set it forth a little more clearly, decreeing that
from this time forth he who shall marry with the daughter of his
father; or a father or son with a mother and daughter; or a father and
son with two girls who are
sisters;
or a mother and daughter with two brothers; or two brothers with two
sisters, fall under the canon of seven years, provided they openly
separate from this unlawful union.
Ancient Epitome of Canon
LIV.
Thou shalt not permit the marriage of a son of a
brother to the daughter of a brother; nor with a daughter and her
mother shall there be the marriage of a son and his father; neither a
mother and a daughter with two brothers; nor brothers with two
sisters. But should anything of this sort have been done,
together with separation, penance shall be done for seven
years.