Canon XCIV. (Greek
xcvii.)
Summary of Chapters.
That
a free delegation be sent
to the council from all the provinces to Mizoneum.
Legates
475
and letters were ordered to be sent for
the purpose of directing the free legation: that became the unity
had been made only at Carthage, letters should also be given to the
judges, that they might order in the other provinces and cities the
work of union to be proceeded with, and the thanksgivings of the Church
of Carthage for the whole of Africa concerning the exclusion of the
Donatists should be sent with the letters of the bishops to Court
(
ad Comitatum
).
The letters of Pope Innocent were read: that
bishops ought not readily to carry causes across seas, and this very
thing was confirmed by the judgment of the bishops themselves; that on
account of thanksgiving and the exclusion of the Donatists, two clerics
of the Church of Carthage should be sent to Court.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon
XCIV.
It seemed good that letters be sent to the
Magistrates that the Donatists be expelled.
476
This introduction is taken from the Synod of Carthage of
August 23, 405. There is also added the introduction of the Synod
of Carthage of June 13, 407.
In this synod certain things already decreed are
corrected.
Under the most illustrious emperors Honorius for the
VII
th
time, and Theodosius for the
second time, the consuls being the Augusti, on the Ides of July in
Carthage in the basilica of the second region, when bishop Aurelius
together with his other bishops had taken his seat, and while the
deacons stood by, he said: Since it was decreed in the council of
Hippo, that each year there should assemble a plenary council of
Africa, not only here in Carthage but also in the different provinces
in their order, and this was reserved that we should determine its
place of meeting sometimes in Numidia and sometimes in Byzacium.
But this seemed laborious to all the brethren.
475
The Latin text here
is certainly corrupt.
476
This is placed by
Beveridge under Greek canon xcviij.