Canon 49
On the inadmissibility of turning previously consecrated monasteries into secular dwellings.
Resuming this sacred rule, we determine that once consecrated by the will of the bishop, monasteries always remain monasteries, and the things belonging to them are retained by the monastery, and that henceforth these monasteries can no longer be worldly dwellings, and in general no one can give them to worldly people. But if this has happened until now, then we determine that in no case will it have force and that from now on those who attempt to do this will be subject to penance according to the rules.
Greek original
Ἀνανεούμενοι καὶ τοῦτον τὸν ἱερὸν κανόνα, ὁρίζομεν, ὥστε τὰ ἅπαξ καθιερωθέντα μοναστήρια κατὰ γνώμην ἐπισκόπου, μένειν εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς μοναστήρια, καὶ τὰ ἀνήκοντα αὐτοῖς πράγματα φυλάττεσθαι τῷ μοναστηρίῳ, καὶ μηκέτι δύνασθαι γίνεσθαι αὐτὰ κοσμικὰ καταγώγια, μήτε δὲ ὑπό τινος τῶν ἁπάντων κοσμικοῖς ἀνδράσι ταῦτα ἐκδίδοσθαι, ἀλλ᾿ εἰ καὶ μέχρι νῦν γέγονε τοῦτο, μηδαμῶς κρατεῖσθαι ὁρίζομεν. Τοὺς δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ παρόντος τοῦτο πράττειν ἐπιχειροῦντας, ὑποκεῖσθαι τοῖς ἐκ τῶν κανόνων ἐπιτιμίοις.
Parallel canons
IVВс.424VIIВс.13