О святом Поместном соборе, собранном вновь в Константинополе

This holy Local Council took place in Constantinople after the holy Second Ecumenical Council in 394, during the reign of Arcadius and Honorius, as stated in Dositheus and in the “Synodikon” compiled by Milias. Three patriarchs were present at the Council: Nektarios of Constantinople, Theophilus of Alexandria and Flavian of Antioch, as well as 17 bishops known by name, and various bishops whose names are unknown, with all the clergy. They sat in the baptistery of the Great Church. The reason for this meeting was the case of two bishops, Agapius and Vagadius, who both simultaneously sought episcopacy in the Vostra episcopal region, and in particular the reason was the fact that Vagadius had already been deposed, but only by two bishops, who at that time, by the time of the Council, had already died. On this occasion, the Council drew up these two rules necessary for church deanery and order. They were approved indirectly by the rules of the IV Omnibus. 1 and VII Omni. 1, and directly – VI Omni. 2 (the present Council is the one about which rule VI Ecumenical. 2 says: “Moreover, once again in this God-saved and reigning city the fathers gathered under Nektarios, the primate of this reigning city, and Theophilos, archbishop of Alexandria”). Because of this statement, the rules of this Council in some way receive the force of the rules of the Ecumenical Council. The materials of the present Council, entitled “Notes on the acts in Constantinople relating to Agapius and Vagadius, each of whom disputed the Vostrian episcopal region,” are incorrectly located in the Pandects after the materials of the Council of Carthage. Therefore, here we placed this Council before the Carthage Council, in accordance with the time of its holding, as we did with other Local Councils. 2 rules of the Holy Local Council, meeting in Constantinople with interpretations Following the Council of Nicaea, we determine that a bishop cannot be ordained by two bishops. Since the Holy First Ecumenical Council, following the second provision of the rule of the Apostle. 1, in its 4th canon determines that at least three bishops should gather and ordain a bishop, then this holy Council determines that bishops, if there are only two of them, not to ordain a bishop. We determine that henceforth a bishop found guilty should be deposed by a decision not of three or, especially, two bishops, but of a larger assembly, and, if possible, of all the bishops of the metropolitan region, as prescribed by the apostolic canons; so that the decision of many, and in the presence of the defendant, will more thoroughly confirm the verdict of the one who is worthy of eruption. Since, as we said above, Bp. Vagadius was illegally deposed by only two bishops, this Council cancels this and says that henceforth the guilty bishop should be deposed not by two bishops, and not by three, but by a meeting of a larger number, and if possible, even all the bishops of the metropolitan region, according to the definition of the Apostle. 74. so that, thanks to the decision of many, the ejection of such a bishop would be more justified. This bishop is required to be present at the trial, and in his absence no verdict is passed.