Послание Кирилла Александрийского к Епископам Ливии и Пентаполя Послание 4 Кирилла Александрийского

It is proper to take care of everything that is useful and necessary for the edification of the people and that serves the glory of the holy Churches. For the Scripture says: protect the children of Israel from uncleanness (Lev. 15:31). The fathers of the monasteries located in the Thebes region, pious men and living a wondrous life, having come to Alexandria, having been asked by me about the state of the monasteries there, announced that many were being tempted for the following reason: some, having recently entered into marriage and leaving, as it were, the bridal chamber itself, catch some of the most God-loving bishops, and, perhaps, because no one discovers their condition, are ordained clergy, that is, presbyters. Others from the monasteries themselves, having been expelled as disorderly, also admire the ordination, and having become clergy, enter the very monasteries from which they were expelled, and want to offer the Bloodless Sacrifice and do everything that is appropriate for clergy. And from this it happens that some who know them shy away from church meetings and do not want to receive communion when they are serving. So, since everything, as I have said, is appropriate for us to do for the edification of the people, then let your piety observe this; and if someone is to be ordained a clergyman, test his life, also: whether he has a wife or not, how and when he married her, and whether he is one of those expelled from another most pious bishop, or from a monastery - and then, if he is found blameless, ordain him. In this way we keep our conscience pure and our sacred and honorable service blameless. (Ap. 80; I Om. 2; II Om. 2; Laod. 12; Cerdic. 10; Dvukr. 17). You might be interested in: