Canon XII.
If
any one, under pretence of
asceticism, should wear a
peribolæum
and, as if this gave
him righteousness, shall despise those who with piety wear the
berus
and use other common and customary dress, let him be
anathema.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon
XII.
Whoso despises those who wear beruses, let him be
anathema.
Hefele.
The
βήροι
(
lacernæ
)
were the common upper garments worn by men over the tunic; but the
περιβόλαια
were rough mantles worn by philosophers to show their contempt for all
luxury. Socrates (
H. E.
, ii. 43) and the Synodal Letter of
Gangra in its third article say that Eustathius of Sebaste wore the
philosopher’s mantle. But this canon in no way absolutely
rejects a special dress for monks, for it is not the distinctive dress
but the proud and superstitious over-estimation of its worth which the
Synod here blames.
This canon is found in the
Corpus Juris Canonici
,
Gratian’s
Decretum
, Pars I., Dist. xxx., c.
xv.