The Fourth Ecumenical Synod convened at Chalcedon, in 451, called by Empress Pulcheria, with 630 bishops present. This Synod condemned the teaching of the union of the two natures of the Logos merged in One, abolished this theory, and reaffirmed the decrees of he Third Ecumenical Synod. In regard to the two Natures of Christ, it stated “without confusion and without change.” This Synod issued 30 canons referring to general ecclesiastical discipline and administration. 

EPITOME of CANON 1

The canons of every Synod of the holy fathers shall be observed.

Cf. 6, 2; 7, 1 

EPITOME of CANON 2

Whoso buys or sells an ordination, down to a Prosmuonarius, shall be in danger of losing his grade. Such shall also be the case with go-betweens, if they be clerics they shall be cut-off from their rank, if laymen or monks, they shall be anathematized.

Cf. 8, 29, 30; 6, 22, 23; 7, 3, 4, 5, 19; 24, 91; 16, 12: 31; 33

EPITOME of CANON 3

Those who assume the care of secular houses should be corrected, unless perchance the law called them to the administration of those not yet come of age, from which thee is no exemption. Unless further their Bishop permits them to take care of orphans and widows.

Cf. 8, 6, 81, 83; 4, 7; 7, 10; 9, 11; 19, 18

EPITOME of CANON 4

Domestic oratories and monasteries are not to be erected contrary to the judgement of the bishop. Every monk must be subject to his bishop. Every monk must not leave his house except at his suggestion. A slave, however, cannot enter the monastic life without the consent of his master.

Cf.8, 92; 4,24; 7, 21; 9, 1; 24, 40, 42; 19, 103, 90; 6, 85; 14, 3

EPITOME of CANON 5

Those who go from city to city shall be subject to the canon law on the subject.

Cf. 8, 14, 15; 1, 15, 16; 6, 17; 15, 3, 16, 21; 17, 1, 215, 16, 19; 19, 57, 63, 90

EPITOME of CANON 6

In Martyries and Monasteries ordinations are strictly forbidden. Should any one be ordained therein, his ordination shall be reputed of no effect.

Cf. 13, 13; 4, 6

EPITOME of CANON 7

If any cleric or monk arrogantly affects the military or any other dignity, let him be cursed.

Cf. 8, 6, 81, 83; 4, 3, 6; 9, 11; 19, 18; 7, 10

EPITOME of CANON 8

Any clergymen in an almshouse or monastery must submit himself to the authority of the bishop of the city. But he who rebels against this let him pay the penalty. 

EPITOME of CANON 9

Litigious clerics shall be punished according to canon, if they despise the episcopal and resort to the secular tribunal. When a cleric has a contention with a bishop let him wait till the synod sits, and if a bishop have a contention with his metropolitan let him carry the case to Constantinople.

Cf. 8, 74; 1, 6; 2, 6; 4, 17, 21; 15, 14, 15; 19, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 26, 87, 96, 105, 115, 118, 134, 137, 138, 139

EPITOME of CANON 10

No cleric shall be recorded on the clergy list of the churches of two cities. But if he shall have strayed forth, let him be returned to his former place. But if he has been transferred, let him have no share in the affairs of his former church.

Cf. 8, 15; 1, 15, 16; 4, 5, 20; 6, 17, 18; 7, 15; 15, 3; 19, 63, 98; 17, 15, 16, 19

EPITOME of CANON 11

Let the poor who stand in need of help make their journey with letters pacificatory and not commendatory: For letters commendatory should only be given to those who are open to suspicion.

Cf. 8, 12, 33; 4, 13; 6, 17; 15, 7, 8, 11; 16, 41, 42; 17, 7, 8; 19, 31, 97, 116

EPITOME of CANON 12

One province shall not be cut into two. Whoever shall do this shall be cast out of the episcopate. Such cities as are cut off by imperial rescript shall enjoy only the honour of having a bishop settled in them: but all the rights pertaining to the true metropolis shall be preserved.

Cf. 8, 34; 1, 6, 7, 8; 2, 2, 3; 4, 28; 6, 36, 39; 3, 8

EPITOME of CANON 13

No cleric shall be received to communion in another city without a letter commendatory.

Cf. 8, 12, 15

EPITOME of CANON 14

A Cantor of Lector alien to the sound faith, if being then married, he shall have begotten children let him bring them to communion, if they had there been baptized. But if they had not yet been baptized they shall not be baptized afterwards by the heretics.

Cf. 8, 26; 6, 6, 72; 16, 10, 31; 19, 19, 29, 33

EPITOME of CANON 15

No person shall be ordained deaconess except she be forty years of age. If she shall dishonor her ministry by contracting marriage, let he be anathema.

Cf. 1, 19; 6, 14, 40; 24, 44

EPITOME of CANON 16

Monks or nuns shall not contract marriage, and if they do so let them be excommunicated.

Cf. 4, 7; 6, 44; 19, 19; 24, 6, 18, 29, 20, 60

EPITOME of CANON 17

Village and rural parishes if they have been possessed for thirty years, they shall so continue. But if within that time, the matter shall be subject to adjudication. But if by the command of the Emperor a city be renewed, the order of ecclesiastical parishes shall follow the civil and public forms.

Cf. 8, 74; 1, 6; 4, 9, 21; 15, 14, 15; 19, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 36, 87, 96, 105, 115, 118, 128, 129, 130, 137, 138, 139; 6, 25, 38

EPITOME of CANON 18

Clerics and Monks, if they shall have dared to hold conventicles and to conspire against the bishop, shall be cast out of their rank.

Cf. 8, 31; 5, 34; 19, 26, 81, 84, 85, 104

EPITOME of CANON 19

Twice each year the Synod shall be held wherever the bishop of the Metropolis shall designate, and all matters of pressing interest shall be determined.

Cf. 8, 37; 1, 5; 6, 8; 7, 6; 15, 20; 19, 26, 81, 84, 85, 104

EPITOME of CANON 20

A clergyman of one city shall not be given a cure in another. But if he has been driven from his native place and shall go into another he shall be without blame. If any bishop receives clergymen from without his diocese he shall be excommunicated as well as the cleric he receives.

Cf. 8, 15; 1, 15, 16; 4, 5, 10, 23; 6, 17, 18; 7, 15; 15, 3; 19, 63, 98; 17, 15, 16, 19

EPITOME of CANON 21

A cleric or layman making charges rashly against his bishop shall not be received.

Cf. 8, 74; 2, 6; 19, 8, 27, 137, 138, 139

EPITOME of CANON 22

Whoever seizes the goods of his deceased bishop shall be cast forth from his rank.

Cf. 8, 40; 15, 24; 6, 35; 19, 30, 89

EPITOME of CANON 23

Clerics or monks who spend much time at Constantinople contrary to the will of their bishop, and stir up seditions, shall be cast out of the city.

Cf. 8, 15; 1, 15, 16; 4, 5, 10, 20; 6, 17, 18; 7, 15; 15, 3; 19, 63, 98; 17, 15, 16, 19

EPITOME of CANON 24

A monastery erected with the consent of the bishop shall be immovable.And whatever pertains to it shall not be alienated. Whoever shall take upon him to do otherwise, shall not be held guiltless.

Cf. 4, 4; 6, 49; 7, 12, 19; 9, 1; 30, 2

EPITOME of CANON 25

Let the ordination of bishops be within three months: necessity however may make the time longer. But if anyone shall ordain counter to this decree, he shall be liable to punishment. The revenue shall remain with the economus.

Cf. 8, 58; 6, 19; 9, 16; 17, 11, 12; 19, 79, 82, 86, 131, 132, 133; 22, 10

EPITOME of CANON 26

The Economus in all churches must be chosen from the clergy. And the bishop who neglects to do this is not without blame.

Cf. 8,38, 41; 7, 11, 12; 15, 24, 25; 9, 7; 19, 34, 41; 14, 7; 12, 15; 29, 70; 30, 2

EPITOME of CANON 27

If a clergyman elope with a woman, let him be expelled from the Church.If a layman, let him be anathema. The same shall be the lot of any that assist him.

Cf. 6, 92; 12, 11; 24, 22, 30, 38, 47, 53

EPITOME of CANON 28

The bishop of New Rome shall enjoy the same honor as the bishop of Old Rome, on account of the removal of the Empire. For this reason the (metropolitan) of Pontus, of Asia, and of Thrace, as well as the Barbarian bishops shall be ordained by the bishop of Constantinople.

Cf. 8, 34; 2, 3; 6, 36

EPITOME of CANON 29

He is sacrilegious who degrades a bishop to the rank of a presbyter. For he that is guilty of crime is unworthy of the priesthood. But he that was deposed without cause, let him be (still) bishop. 

EPITOME of CANON 30

It is the custom of the Egyptians that none subscribe without the permission of their Archbishop. Wherefore they are not to be blamed who did not subscribe the Epistle of the holy Leo until an Archbishop had been appointed for them.

Cf. 8,20,34

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