Canon 71
On a petition to the emperors to ban pagan feasts.
It is appropriate to ask the Christian emperors about the following: since, contrary to divine commands, feasts are held in many places, stemming from pagan error, so that even Christians secretly gather together with the pagans for their celebration, then let the emperors command that this be prohibited both in cities and in private possessions, especially since in some cities, even on the very birthdays of the blessed martyrs, and, moreover, in the sacred places themselves, this lawlessness is revealed. On these days (which is even shameful to talk about) they organize disgusting dances in the fields and squares, so that with their obscene insolence they encroach on the honor of the mothers of families and the dignity of the other numerous reverent women who come there on the holy day - to the point that they almost have to flee from the haven of the holy faith.
Greek original
Κακεῖνο ἔτι μὴν δεῖ αἰτῆσαι παρὰ τῶν Χριστιανῶν βασιλέων, ἐπειδὴ παρὰ τὰ θεῖα παραγγέλματα ἐν πολλοῖς τόποις συμπόσια οὕτως ἐπιτελοῦνται, ἐκ τῆς ἐθνικῆς πλάνης προενεχθέντα, ὡς καὶ Χριστιανοὺς τοῖς Ἕλλησι λάθρα προσσυνάγεσθαι ἐπὶ τῇ τούτων τελετῇ, ἵνα κελεύσωσι τὰ τοιαῦτα κωλυθῆναι καὶ ἐκ τῶν πόλεων καὶ ἐκ τῶν κτήσεων· μάλιστα, ὅτι καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῖς γενεσίοις τῶν μακαρίων μαρτύρων ἀνά τινας πόλεις καὶ εἰς αὐτοὺς τοὺς ἱεροὺς τόπους τὰ τοιαῦτα πλημμελεῖν οὐχ ὑφορῶνται· ἐν αἷς ἡμέραις, ὅπερ καὶ λέγειν αἰσχύνη ἐστίν, ὀρχήσεις μυσαρὰς εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς καὶ εἰς τὰς πλατείας ἐκτελοῦσιν, ὥστε τῇ τῶν οἰκοδεσποινῶν τιμῇ, καὶ ἄλλων ἀναριθμήτων γυναικῶν τῇ αἰδοῖ, τῶν εὐλαβῶς εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν ἡμέραν παραγενομένων, λάγναις ὕβρεσιν ἐφορμᾷν, ὡς καὶ αὐτῆς τῆς ἁγίας πίστεως σχεδὸν φεύγεσθαι τὴν προσέλευσιν.[1]
Parallel canons
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