Canon 87
On the procedure for convening bishops to a general council of the entire African Church.
It was desired that whenever a Council was to meet, the bishops, who were not hindered by age, illness, or any difficult circumstance, would come to it in a timely manner. And let the primacy of each region be announced regarding (περί) all bishops - 2 or 3 meetings will be held, and let the bishops from each meeting, how many of them will be elected, alternately and with insistence come to the day of the Council. If, however, they cannot come because unexpected circumstances may arise, and the reason that prevented them from coming is not announced to their superior bishop, then they must be content with the communion of their own Church.
Greek original
Ὁμοίως ἤρεσεν, ἵνα, ὁσάκις δήποτε σύνοδον δεῖ συναχθῆναι, οἱ ἐπίσκοποι, οἵτινες οὔτε κείρᾳ, οὔτε ἀσθενείᾳ, οὔτε τινὶ βαρυτέρᾳ ἀνάγκῃ ἐμποδίζονται, ἁρμοδίως ἀπαντῶσι· καὶ τοῖς πρωτεύουσιν ἑκάστης ἰδίας αὐτῶν ἐπαρχίας ἐμφανισθείη περὶ πάντων τῶν ἐπισκόπων, εἴτε δύο, εἴτε τρεῖς συναθροίσεις γένωνται· καὶ ἀπὸ ἑκάστου δὲ ἀθροισμοῦ εἰς ἀμοιβὴν ὁσοιδήποτε ἐπιλεγῶσι πρὸς τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς συνόδου ἐνστατικῶς ἀπαντήσωσιν· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ δυνηθῶσιν ἀπαντῆσαι, ἀθρόον τινῶν ἀναγκῶν ὡς εἰκὸς ἀναφυομένων, εἰ μὴ τὸν λόγον τοῦ οἰκείου ἐμποδισμοῦ παρὰ τῷ οἰκείῳ πρωτεύοντι ἀποδώσωσιν, ὀφείλειν τοὺς τοιούτους τῇ κοινωνίᾳ τῆς ἰδίας αὐτῶν ἀρκεῖσθαι ἐκκλησίας.[1]
Parallel canons
Ап.37IВс.5IVВс.19Трул.8VIIВс.6Антиох.20Лаод.40Карф.18737795