Canon 43
About the fact that monastic tonsure does not require a strict godly life in the past.
It is permissible for a Christian to choose an ascetic life and, leaving the troubled storm of everyday affairs, enter a monastery and take monastic vows, even if he has been convicted of any kind of sin. For God our Savior said: Him who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37). And since monastic life imprints the image (στηλογραφούσης) of life in repentance, we approve of those who sincerely join such life; and whatever his temper may be, it will not prevent him from fulfilling his intention.
Greek original
Ἐξὸν ὑπάρχει Χριστιανῷ, τὸν ἀσκητικὸν ἑλέσθαι βίον, καί, τὴν πολυτάραχον ζάλην τῶν βιωτικῶν πραγμάτων ἀποθέμενον, ἐν μοναστηρίῳ εἰσιέναι, καὶ κατὰ τὸ μοναχικὸν σχῆμα ἀποκαρῆναι, κἂν ἐν οἱῳδήποτε πταίσματι ἁλῷ. Ὁ γὰρ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν Θεὸς ἔφη· Τὸν ἐρχόμενον πρός με οὐ μὴ ἐκβάλω ἔξω. Ὡς οὖν τῆς μοναχικῆς πολιτείας, τὴν ἐν μετανοίᾳ στηλογραφούσης ζωὴν ἡμῖν, τῷ γνησίως ταύτῃ προστιθεμένῳ, συνευδοκοῦμεν· καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτὸν παρεμποδίσει τρόπος πρὸς τὴν του οἰκείου σκοποῦ ἀποπλήρωσιν.
Parallel canons
IVВс.4Двукр.2