Наставление Феофила Аммону Правило 2 Феофила Александрийского

With the Arians who were in communion, and who still hold the churches behind them, let it be done according to custom, that is, in such a way that others who are testified in Orthodoxy are appointed, and they remain in communion, and that the orders about them are consistent with how the Orthodox bishops living in Thebaid acted in other cities. Those who were appointed by Bishop Apollo and were in communion with the Arians, who have churches, may be subject to penance, if they did this of their own free will; if, however, out of obedience to their bishop, then they remain in communion as if they did not understand, as if they acted unreasonably. However, if all the people reject them with the others, then let others be ordained. If he accepts them together with those with whom they have entered into communion, then let the custom followed by all the Orthodox bishops in Thebaid be applied to them. (Ap. 62; I Universe. 10; Ankyr. 1, 2, 3, 9, 12; Petra Alex. 10, 14; Athanasius Vel. 3). The present and the following nine rules (2–11) are compiled from the ύπομνηστικόν (commonitorium), received by Theophilus' envoy Ammon, who went to Lycon, of which Apollo was bishop, in order to resolve some questions posed to Theophilus from the region of Apollo. Some Orthodox clergy, during the time of Arian dominance, entered into church communion with the Arians, although they themselves did not profess the Arian teaching. When the Arian dominance ceased and the Arian teaching lost its strength, and the churches taken away from them by the Arians were returned to the Orthodox, then even after that, in many churches the priests were persons who went over, at least temporarily, to the side of Arianism. When asked what should be done with such priests, Theophilus replies that in this matter one must adhere to the practice that exists in other countries, in particular in Thebaid, namely, that, in view of instability in Orthodoxy, the mentioned priests should be removed from their positions and other persons who have proven their firmness in Orthodoxy should be put in their places, and those removed from positions should be given the priestly name and honor, but without any hierarchical rights. In particular, regarding the priests appointed by Apollo, who, despite the advice of the bishop to remain constant in their faith, to Arianism, Theophilus orders that they be subjected to appropriate penance. Regarding the priests who were also inclined to Arianism, because they followed the advice of their bishops, who themselves were inclined to Arianism, Theophilus prescribes that such priests, in view of the impossibility of completely blaming them, should not be punished, but should be left in their places, unless, however, the Orthodox people oppose this. A more detailed explanation of this rule is the letter of Athanasius the Great to Rufinian, or the 3rd rule of St. Athanasius in this edition. You might be interested in: