Canon
IV.
Of the different orders that should abstain from their
wives.
Faustinus
, the bishop of the
Potentine Church, in the province of Picenum, a legate of the Roman
Church, said: It seems good that a bishop, a presbyter, and a
deacon, or whoever perform the sacraments, should be keepers of modesty
and should abstain from their wives.
By all the bishops it was said: It is right that
all who serve the altar should keep pudicity from all women.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon IV.
Let those who pray abstain from their wives that they
may obtain their petitions.
This canon is taken from Canon ij., of Carthage 387 or
390, last mentioned.
Johnson.
See Canon XXV. “Abstain from their
wives,” i.e. Some time before and after the Eucharist, as the old
Scholiasts understand it. [i.e. the Greek scholiasts, but see
notes to Canon xiij. of Quinisext.]