Canons of the Holy Apostles

The fact that a bishop is ordained by 2 or 3 bishops.

That the presbyter and the deacon and other clergy should be appointed by one bishop.

That nothing should be brought to the altar that has no liturgical use in the New Testament Church, only bread, wine, incense and oil for lamps.

That the firstfruits are sent to the house of the bishop and elders, but not to the altar.

On the inadmissibility of clerics to expel their wife under the guise of piety.

On the inadmissibility of “worldly concerns” for clergy.

On the inadmissibility of clergy to celebrate Easter before the spring equinox with the Jews.

On the need for communion for clergy celebrating the Eucharist.

On the inadmissibility of the faithful to leave the Liturgy without participating in prayer and communion.

About the prohibition for Christians to pray with those excommunicated from the Church, even privately.

About the prohibition for clergy to pray together with those defrocked.

On the excommunication of those who accepted and were accepted into the clergy without a representative letter.

About penance for those who concealed excommunication from the bishop.

On the impermissibility of a bishop from leaving his diocese.

On the inadmissibility of clergy from leaving their diocese.

On the excommunication of a bishop who accepted a cleric without a letter of dismissal.

About the fact that bigamists and fornicators cannot be clerics.

About the obstacles to being in the clergy due to marital status.

About the fact that those married to two sisters or a niece cannot be clergy.

On the prohibition for clergy to be guarantors.

The fact that an eunuch, who became such for reasons beyond his control, can be a bishop.

About the fact that someone who has castrated himself cannot be accepted into the clergy.

That a cleric who has castrated himself must be cast out of the clergy.

About the fact that a layman who castrates himself is excommunicated from the Holy Mysteries for three years.

The fact that someone convicted of fornication, or perjury, or theft is deposed from office, but is not excommunicated, like someone who has already been punished.

About the fact that of those who entered the clergy as celibates, only readers and singers can marry.

About the eruption of clergy who beat their offenders from the faithful or the infidels.

On the excommunication of banned clergy who dared to perform divine services without permission.

About simony: the ejection and excommunication of clergy who were ordained to the priesthood for money.

About simony: the ejection and excommunication of clergy who were appointed and placed in the priesthood under the pressure of secular authorities.

That he who separated from the bishop without guilt and set up another altar will be defrocked along with the one who accepted it.

That those excommunicated by their own bishops should not be accepted or allowed to do penance by other bishops.

On the need to test the faith of clergy transferring from other dioceses.

On the subordination of bishops.

That a bishop should ordain clergy only within his diocese.

On the excommunication of clergy who did not accept the ministry entrusted to them.

That meetings of the bishops of each diocese should be held twice a year: on the fourth week of Pentecost and on October 12.

That bishops are not obliged to give an account of the management of church things, while the bishop does not have the right to give these things as gifts to his relatives or to sell.

About the impermissibility of a presbyter or deacon without the will of his bishop to do what is entrusted to the bishop.

That a bishop should not mix his personal property with church property.

That the bishop must take care of church property and make alms through presbyters and deacons.

About the eruption of clergy devoted to drunkenness and participation in gambling.

On the excommunication, if they do not correct themselves, of subdeacons, singers, readers or laymen who are devoted to drunkenness and participation in gambling.

The fact that a cleric who demands interest on a debt, if he does not stop, will erupt.

That a cleric who prays with heretics is excommunicated; and whoever recognizes them as clerics is ejected.

About the overthrow of those bishops and priests who accept baptisms and sacrifices of heretics.

About the deposition of those bishops and priests who re-baptize the truly baptized, and who do not re-baptize those baptized by heretics.

On the excommunication of a layman who expelled his wife and took another, or who married a divorcee.

That a bishop or presbyter who performs the sacrament of Baptism not in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit is deprived of the priesthood.

That a bishop or presbyter who performs the sacrament of Baptism not by three immersions, but by one into the death of the Lord, is deprived of the priesthood.

About the ejection of clergy and the excommunication of laity who abhor wine, meat and marriage not for the sake of heroism.

About the ejection of clergy who do not accept the repentance of converted sinners.

About the eruption of clergy who do not eat wine and meat, not for the sake of the feat of abstinence.

On the excommunication of clergy visiting public houses.

About the eruption of clergy who offend the bishop.

On the excommunication of clergy who offend a presbyter or deacon.

About the excommunication of those who laugh at the blind, deaf, and lame.

That the bishop must teach piety to the clergy and people. Otherwise, he is absent; and if even after excommunication he does not fulfill this, then he is subject to expulsion.

On the excommunication and expulsion of unmerciful clergy.

About the eruption of clergy reading apocryphal books in the temple under the guise of true ones.

There is a parable for fornicators and adulterers about the impossibility of joining the team.

That he who renounces Christ is subject to excommunication; and whoever renounces the clergy, in case of conversion, is accepted as a layman.

About the fact that a priest who eats strangled meat, beast-eating meat, or carrion is disgorged, and a layman is excommunicated.

About the fact that a clergyman who fasts on Sunday or Saturday (except for Great Saturday) is ejected, and a layman is excommunicated.

About the fact that a cleric who prays with Jews or heretics is ejected, and a layman is excommunicated.

About the killer cleric erupting; the layman is absent.

On the excommunication of rapists.

The fact that a twice ordained cleric is expelled along with the ordainer, if the first hand was not heretical.

That a cleric who does not fast on Holy Pentecost, or on Wednesday and Friday, is subject to eruption, and if a layman, to excommunication (except in cases of bodily weakness).

That a cleric who fasts or celebrates with Jews or heretics is ejected, and a layman is excommunicated.

That a Christian is subject to excommunication who celebrates with Jews or pagans, or who burns oil or a lamp during their false worship.

The fact that the one who steals the wax, or church oil, is excommunicated, with the return of the stolen goods fivefold.

On the excommunication of those who appropriate a church sacred vessel or fabric.

About summoning the accused bishop to the council of bishops.

That an accusation against a bishop can only be accepted from 2 or 3 witnesses from the faithful.

That the bishop himself should not appoint his own heir.

About the fact that someone who has a physical defect (lameness, lack of an eye) can be a bishop if he is worthy.

That a deaf or blind person cannot be a bishop.

That a person possessed by a demon is not accepted into the clergy and is not allowed to pray with the faithful.

About the impermissibility of appointing a newly baptized person or someone who has recently left a vicious lifestyle as a bishop.

About the inadmissibility of a bishop or presbyter to participate in public secular affairs.

About the impermissibility of bringing slaves into the clergy without the consent of their masters.

About the ejection of clerics combining priestly and military service.

About the fact that a cleric who unjustly annoys the prince and the king is subject to ejection, and a layman is subject to excommunication.

On the approval of the canon of the books of Holy Scripture.