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NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

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To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons.To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons.Letter CXCIX. 2692Canonica Secunda.I wrote some time ago in reply to the questions of your reverence, but I did not sendthe letter, partly because from my long <strong>and</strong> dangerous illness I had not time to do so; partlybecause I had no one to send with it. I have but few men with me who are experienced intravelling <strong>and</strong> fit for service of this kind. When you thus learn the causes of my delay, forgiveme. I have been quite astonished at your readiness to learn <strong>and</strong> at your humility. You areentrusted with the office of a teacher, <strong>and</strong> yet you condescend to learn, <strong>and</strong> to learn of me,who pretend to no great knowledge. Nevertheless, since you consent, on account of yourfear of God, to do what another man might hesitate to do, I am bound for my part to goeven beyond my strength in aiding your readiness <strong>and</strong> righteous zeal.XVII. You asked me about the presbyter Bianor—can he be admitted among the clergy,because of his oath? I know that I have already given the clergy of Antioch a general sentencein the case of all those who had sworn with him; namely, that they should abstain from thepublic congregations, but might perform priestly functions in private. 2693 Moreover, hehas the further liberty for the performance of his ministerial functions, from the fact that2692 Placed in 375.2693 The Ben. Ed. note: “Sæpe vituperantur apud sanctos Patres, qui sacra in privatis ædibus sive domesticisoratoriis celebrant. Hinc Irenæus, lib. iv. cap. 26, oportere ait eos, qui absistunt a principali successione etquocunque loco colligunt, suspectos habere, vel quasi hæreticos et malæ sententiæ, vel quasi scindentes et elatoset sibi placentes; aut rursus ut hypocritas quæstus gratia et vanæ gloriæ hoc operantes. <strong>Basil</strong>ius, in Psalm xxvii.n. 3: Non igitur extra sanctam hanc aulam adorare oporet, sed intra ipsam, etc. Similia habet Eusebius in eundempsalmum, p. 313. Sic etiam Cyrillus Alex<strong>and</strong>rinus in libro adversus Anthropomorphitas, cap. 12, et in libro decimoDe adorat., p. 356. Sed his in locis perspicuum est hæreticorum aut schismaticorum synagogas notari, vel quasvocat <strong>Basil</strong>ius, can. 1. παρασυναγωγάς, sive illicitos conventus a presbyteris aut episcopis rebellibus habitos, auta populis disciplinæ expertibus. At interdum graves causæ suberant, cur sacra in privatis ædibus impermissa nonessent. Ipsa persecutio necessitatem hujus rei sæpe afferebat, cum catholici episcoporum hæreticorum communionemfugerent, ut Sebastiæ ecclesiarum aditu prohiberentur. Minime ergo mirum, si presbyteris Antiochenis eam sacerdotiiperfunctionem <strong>Basil</strong>ius reliquit, quæ et ad jurisjur<strong>and</strong>i religionem et ad temporum molestias accommodata videbatur.Synodus Laodicena vetat, can. 58, in domibus fieri oblationem ab episcopis vel presbyteris. Canon 31.Trullanus id clericis non interdicit, modo accedat episcopi consenus. Non inusitata fuisse ejusmodi sacra in domesticisoratoriis confirmat canon <strong>Basil</strong>ii 27, ubi vetatur, ne presbyter illicitis nuptiis implicantus privatim autpublice sacerdotii munere fungatur. Eustathius Sebastenus Ancyræ cum Arianis in domibus communicavit, utex pluribus <strong>Basil</strong>ii epistolis discimus, cum apertam ab eis communionem impetrare non posset.”678

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