LXXXI. During the invasion of the barbarians
many men have sworn heathen oaths, tasted things unlawfully offered
them in magic temples and so have broken their faith in God. Let
regulations be made in the case of these men in accordance with the
canons laid down by our Fathers. The Ben. n.
thinks that the Fathers of Ancyra are meant, whose authority seems
to have been great in Cappadocia and the adjacent
provinces.
Those who have endured
grievous tortures and have been forced to denial, through inability to
sustain the anguish, may be excluded for three years, hearers for two,
kneelers for three, and so be received into communion. Those who
have abandoned their faith in God, laying hands on the tables of the
demons and swearing heathen oaths, without under going great violence,
should be excluded for three years, hearers for two. When they
have prayed for three years as kneelers, and have stood other three
with the faithful in supplication, then let them be received into the
communion of the good thing.