Canon LXXXIII.
(Greek lxxxvi.)
Of false Memories of Martyrs.
Item
, it seemed good that the
altars which have been set up here and there, in fields and by the
wayside as Memories of Martyrs, in which no body nor reliques of
martyrs can be proved to have been laid up, should be overturned by the
bishops who rule over such places, if such a thing can be done.
But should this be impossible on account of the popular tumult it would
arouse, the people should none the less be admonished not to frequent
such places, and that those who believe rightly should be held bound by
no superstition of the place. And no memory of martyrs should at
all be accepted, unless where there is found the body or some reliques,
on which is declared traditionally and by good authority to have been
originally his habitation, or possession, or the scene of his
passion. For altars which have been erected anywhere on account
of dreams or inane
quasi
-revelations of certain people, should
be in every way disapproved of.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon
LXXXIII.
An altar in the fields or in a vineyard which lacks the
reliques of the martyrs should be thrown down unless it would cause a
public tumult to do so: and the same is the case with such as
have been set up on account of dreams and false revelations.
This is Canon xvij. of Carthage, September,
a.d.
401.