Canon
CVI. (Greek cix.)
That those who are going to carry their case to court
should be careful to inform either the bishop of Carthage
or
478
the bishop of Rome.
It
seemed good that whoever
wished to go to court, should give notice in the form which is sent to
the Church of the city of Rome, that from thence also he should receive
a formed letter to court. But if receiving only a formed letter
to Rome, and saying nothing about the necessity which he had of going
to court, he willed immediately to go thither, let him be cut off from
communion. But if while at Rome the necessity of going to court
suddenly arose, let him state his necessity to the bishop of Rome and
let him carry with him a rescript of the same Roman bishop. But
let the formed letters which are issued by primates and by certain
bishops to their own clergy have the date of Easter; but if it be yet
uncertain what is the date of Easter of that year, let the preceding
Easter’s date be set down, as it is customary to date public acts
after the consulship.
It further seemed good that those who were sent as
delegates from this glorious council should ask of the most glorious
princes whatever they saw would be useful against the Donatists and
Pagans, and their superstitions.
It also seemed good to all the bishops that all
conciliar letters be signed by your holiness alone. And they
subscribed: I, Aurelius, Bishop of Carthage, have consented to
this decree, and having read it, now subscribe my name. Likewise
also the rest of the bishops subscribed.
Ancient Epitome of Canon
CVI.
Whoever from any necessity was going to court, must
declare his intention to the bishop of Carthage and to the bishop of
Rome, and receive a letter dimissory, and otherwise he shall be
excommunicated.
Whatever shall seem to the legates useful against the
Donatists and Greeks, and their superstitions, that shall be sought
from the Emperor.
(Greek cx.)
Synod against the pagans and heretics.
In the consulship of those most illustrious men Bassus
and Philip, the xvi
th
Calends of July, at Carthage, in the
secretarium of the restored basilica.*
479
In this council the bishop
Fortunatian received a second appointment as legate against the pagans
and heretics.
Item, a council against the pagans and heretics.
In the consulship of those most illustrious men Bassus
and Philip, the iii. Ides of October at Carthage, in the Secretarium of
the restored basilica*. In this council the bishops Restitutus
and Florentius received a legation against the pagans and heretics, at
the time Severus and Macarius were slain, and on their account the
bishops Euodius, Theasius and Victor were put to death.
Notes.
This canon is Canon xij. of Carthage,
a.d.
407.
Johnson.
Of “Formal Letters” see Can. Ap., 10
(13).
478
“And”
in the Greek, which omits the preceding “either.”
479
Between these
asterisks all is missing in the Greek.