Canons

• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 1 — It is right, according to the ecclesiastical Canon, that the Communion should by indulgence be given to those who have freely and lawfully joined in second marriages, not having previously made a secret marriage;…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 2 — They who have sinned in divers particulars, if they have persevered in the prayer of confession and penance, and are wholly converted from their faults, shall be received again to communion, through the mercy and…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 3 — He who has been recently baptized ought not to be promoted to the sacerdotal order.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 4 — They who are of the sacerdotal order ought not to lend and receive usury, nor what is called hemioliæ.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 5 — Ordinations are not to be held in the presence of hearers.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 6 — It is not permitted to heretics to enter the house of God while they continue in heresy.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 7 — Persons converted from heresies, that is, of the Novatians, Photinians, and Quartodecimans, whether they were catechumens or communicants among them, shall not be received until they shall have anathematized every…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 8 — Persons converted from the heresy of those who are called Phrygians, even should they be among those reputed by them as clergymen, and even should they be called the very chiefest, are with all care to be both…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 9 — The members of the Church are not allowed to meet in the cemeteries, nor attend the so-called martyries of any of the heretics, for prayer or service; but such as so do, if they be communicants, shall be…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 10 — The members of the Church shall not indiscriminately marry their children to heretics.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 11 — Presbytides, as they are called, or female presidents, are not to be appointed in the Church.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 12 — Bishops are to be appointed to the ecclesiastical government by the judgment of the metropolitans and neighbouring bishops, after having been long proved both in the foundation of their faith and in the conversation…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 13 — The election of those who are to be appointed to the priesthood is not to be committed to the multitude.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 14 — The holy things are not to be sent into other dioceses at the feast of Easter by way of eulogiæ.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 15 — No others shall sing in the Church, save only the canonical singers, who go up into the ambo and sing from a book.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 16 — The Gospels are to be read on the Sabbath [i.e. Saturday], with the other Scriptures.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 17 — The Psalms are not to be joined together in the congregations, but a lesson shall intervene after every psalm.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 18 — The same service of prayers is to be said always both at nones and at vespers.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 19 — After the sermons of the Bishops, the prayer for the catechumens is to be made first by itself; and after the catechumens have gone out, the prayer for those who are under penance; and, after these have passed under…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 20 — It is not right for a deacon to sit in the presence of a presbyter, unless he be bidden by the presbyter to sit down. Likewise the deacons shall have worship of the subdeacons and all the [inferior] clergy.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 21 — The subdeacons have no right to a place in the Diaconicum, nor to touch the Lord’s vessels.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 22 — The subdeacon has no right to wear an orarium [i.e., stole], nor to leave the doors.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 23 — The readers and singers have no right to wear an orarium, and to read or sing thus [habited].vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 24 — No one of the priesthood, from presbyters to deacons, and so on in the ecclesiastical order to subdeacons, readers, singers, exorcists, door-keepers, or any of the class of the Ascetics, ought to enter a tavern.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 25 — A subdeacon must not give the Bread, nor bless the Cup.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 26 — They who have not been promoted [to that office] by the bishop, ought not to adjure, either in churches or in private houses.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 27 — Neither they of the priesthood, nor clergymen, nor laymen, who are invited to a love feast, may take away their portions, for this is to cast reproach on the ecclesiastical order.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 28 — It is not permitted to hold love feasts, as they are called, in the Lord’s Houses, or Churches, nor to eat and to spread couches in the house of God.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 29 — Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 30 — None of the priesthood, nor clerics [of lower rank] nor ascetics, nor any Christian or layman, shall wash in a bath with women; for this is the greatest reproach among the heathen.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 31 — It is not lawful to make marriages with all [sorts of] heretics, nor to give our sons and daughters to them; but rather to take of them, if they promise to become Christians.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 32 — It is unlawful to receive the eulogiæ of heretics, for they are rather ἀλογίαι [i.e., follies], than eulogiæ [i.e., blessings].vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 33 — No one shall join in prayers with heretics or schismatics.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 34 — No Christian shall forsake the martyrs of Christ, and turn to false martyrs, that is, to those of the heretics, or those who formerly were heretics; for they are aliens from God. Let those, therefore, who go after…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 35 — Christians must not forsake the Church of God, and go away and invoke angels and gather assemblies, which things are forbidden. If, therefore, any one shall be found engaged in this covert idolatry, let him be…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 36 — They who are of the priesthood, or of the clergy, shall not be magicians, enchanters, mathematicians, or astrologers; nor shall they make what are called amulets, which are chains for their own souls. And those who…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 37 — It is not lawful to receive portions sent from the feasts of Jews or heretics, nor to feast together with them.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 38 — It is not lawful to receive unleavened bread from the Jews, nor to be partakers of their impiety.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 39 — It is not lawful to feast together with the heathen, and to be partakers of their godlessness.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 40 — Bishops called to a synod must not be guilty of contempt, but must attend, and either teach, or be taught, for the reformation of the Church and of others. And if such an one shall be guilty of contempt, he will…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 41 — None of the priesthood nor of the clergy may go on a journey, without the bidding of the Bishop.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 42 — None of the priesthood nor of the clergy may travel without letters canonical.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 43 — The subdeacons may not leave the doors to engage in the prayer, even for a short time.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 44 — Women may not go to the altar.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 45 — [Candidates] for baptism are not to be received after the second week in Lent.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 46 — They who are to be baptized must learn the faith [Creed] by heart, and recite it to the bishop, or to the presbyters, on the fifth day of the week.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 47 — They who are baptized in sickness and afterwards recover, must learn the Creed by heart and know that the Divine gifts have been vouchsafed them.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 48 — They who are baptized must after Baptism be anointed with the heavenly chrism, and be partakers of the Kingdom of Christ.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 49 — During Lent the Bread must not be offered except on the Sabbath Day and on the Lord’s Day only.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 50 — The fast must not be broken on the fifth day of the last week in Lent [i.e., on Maunday Thursday], and the whole of Lent be dishonoured; but it is necessary to fast during all the Lenten season by eating only dry meats.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 51 — The nativities of Martyrs are not to be celebrated in Lent, but commemorations of the holy Martyrs are to be made on the Sabbaths and Lord’s days.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 52 — Marriages and birthday feasts are not to be celebrated in Lent.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 53 — Christians, when they attend weddings, must not join in wanton dances, but modestly dine or breakfast, as is becoming to Christians.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 54 — Members of the priesthood and of the clergy must not witness the plays at weddings or banquets; but, before the players enter, they must rise and depart.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 55 — Neither members of the priesthood nor of the clergy, nor yet laymen, may club together for drinking entertainments.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 56 — Presbyters may not enter and take their seats in the bema before the entrance of the Bishop: but they must enter with the Bishop, unless he be at home sick, or absent.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 57 — Bishops must not be appointed in villages or country districts, but visitors; and those who have been already appointed must do nothing without the consent of the bishop of the city. Presbyters, in like manner, must…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 58 — The Oblation must not be made by bishops or presbyters in any private houses.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 59 — No psalms composed by private individuals nor any uncanonical books may be read in the church, but only the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Canon 60 — These are all the books of Old Testament appointed to be read: 1, Genesis of the world; 2, The Exodus from Egypt; 3, Leviticus; 4, Numbers; 5, Deuteronomy; 6, Joshua, the son of Nun; 7, Judges, Ruth; 8, Esther; 9, Of…vatican.va

Editor's excursus

• Synod of Laodicea, Preface — The holy synod which assembled at Laodicea in Phrygia Pacatiana, from divers regions of Asia; set forth the ecclesiastical definitions which are hereunder annexed.vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Excursus on the Choir Offices of the Early Church — Nothing is more marked in the lives of the early followers of Christ than the abiding sense which they had of the Divine Presence. Prayer was not to them an occasional exercise but an unceasing practice. If then the…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Excursus on the Worship of the Early Church — St. Paul is by some learned writers supposed to have quoted in several places the already existing liturgy, especially in I. Cor. ij. 9., and there can be no doubt that the Lord’s prayer was used and certain other…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Excursus on the Vestments of the Early Church — It would be out of place to enter into any specific treatment of the different vestments worn by the clergy in the performance of their various duties. For a full discussion of this whole matter I must refer my…vatican.va
• Synod of Laodicea, Excursus on the Minor Orders of the Early Church — Some of these lower orders, the subdeacons, readers, door-keepers, and exorcists, are mentioned in the celebrated letter of Cornelius bishop of Rome (a.d. 251) preserved by Eusebius (H. E., vi., 43), and the readers…vatican.va