Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

Church; they should be considered deserving of hearing after two or three years, and afterwards
of being permitted to stand in their place; but they must be kept from the communion
of the good gift, and only restored to the place of communion after showing some fruit of
repentance.
V. Heretics repenting at death ought to be received; yet to be received, of course, not
indiscriminately, but on trial of exhibition of true repentance and of producing fruit in
evidence of their zeal for salvation. 2632
VI. The fornication of canonical persons is not to be reckoned as wedlock, and their
union is to be completely dissolved, for this is both profitable for the security of the Church
and will prevent the heretics from having a ground of attack against us, as though we induced
men to join us by the attraction of liberty to sin.
VII. Abusers of themselves with mankind, and with beasts, as also murderers, wizards,
adulterers, and idolaters, are deserving of the same punishment. Whatever rule you have
in the case of the rest, observe also in their case. There can, however, be no doubt that we
ought to receive those who have repented of impurity committed in ignorance for thirty
years. 2633 In this case there is ground for forgiveness in ignorance, in the spontaneity of
confession, and the long extent of time. Perhaps they have been delivered to Satan for a
whole age of man that they may learn not to behave unseemly; 2634 wherefore order them
to be received without delay, specially if they shed tears to move your mercy, and shew a
manner of living worthy of compassion. 2635
2632 τῶν κανονικῶν. The Greek is of either gender. The Ben. note is: Clericos sive eos qui in canone recensen-
tur hac voce designari hactenus existimarunt Basilii interpretes, ac ipsi etiam Zonares et Balsamon. Sed ut canon-
icas sive sacras virgines interpreter, plurimis rationum momentis adducor: 1. Basilius hoc nomine clericos appellare
non solet, sed sacras virgines, ut persici potest ex epistolis 52 et 175; 2. præscriptum Basilii non convenit in clericos,
quorum nonnullis, nempe lectoribus et aliis ejus modi venia dabatur ineundi matrimonii, quamvis in canone re-
censerentur; 3. prohibet Basilius ejusmodi stupra quæ honesto matrimonii nomine prætexi solebant. At id non
inconcessum erat matrimonium, alios vero matrimonium post ordinationem inire nulla prorsus Ecclesia patiebatur,
aut certe matrimonii pretium erat depositio. Contra virginibus nubentibus non longior pœna pluribus in locis
imponebatur, quam digamis, ut perspicitur ex canone 18, ubi Basilius hance consuetudinem abrogat, ac virginum
matrimonia instar adulterii existimat.
2633 So the mss. But the Ben. note points out that there must be some error, if a sin knowingly committed
was punished by excommunication for fifteen years (Canons lviii., lxii., lxiii.), and one unwittingly committed
by a punishment of twice the duration.
2634 cf. 1 Tim. i. 20.
To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons.
2635 The Ben. note continues: “Deinde vero testatur Basilius eos fere hominis ætatem satanæ traditos fuisse.
At ætas hominis (γενεά) sæpe annorum viginti spatio existimatur; velut cum ait Dionysius Alexandrinus Alexan-
drinus apud Eusebium, lib. vii. cap. 21. Israelitas in deserto fuisse duabus ætatibus. Ipse Basilius in Epistola 201,
quæ scripta est anno 375, Neocæsarienses incusat quod sibi jam totam fere hominis ætatem succenseant; quos
654
226