Topic: The canons were declared in response to prevalent issues

[NicholasMyra]

"When one has become engaged to a girl, but has in addition deflowered her sister too, so that she has been made pregnant by him, and he has after this married the one betrothed to him, but the one deflowered has hanged herself. Those aware of the facts have been ordered to spend ten years as co-standers in order to gain admission, in accordance with the fixed degrees."

 -Canon 25, Council at Ancyra 314

[FormerReformer]

I wonder what the penalty would be in this day where scorned sisters hang themselves less in favor of posting angry videos on youtube.

[biro]

  

Wow. Just wow.

[ialmisry]

This was a plot on an episode of "Soap."

[JamesRottnek]

I wonder if this had to do with some small number of well-known cases, a large number of not-so-well-known cases, or someone thought this may be a problem somewhere, but couldn't point out a case?

[yeshuaisiam]

Wow... At one time people turned to the church with issues....

Today we have "Bishop Jerry Springer" giving guidance to the masses....

[Shanghaiski]

I don't know that it tood more than one such instance for a canon to be made regarding it, since the canon would be a guide in similar cases as well. Probably, it only too one bear entering a church for there to be a canon against it. Bishop N. tells the council, "Look, this was problematic for us. The bear totally wrecked the place because Subdeacon Quintus forgot to close the doors. If we just make a canon, we'll at least have something to reference and Quintus won't be so bent out of shape for being excommunicated for six months."

[Asteriktos]

Bishop N. tells the council, "Look, this was problematic for us. The bear totally wrecked the place because Subdeacon Quintus forgot to close the doors. If we just make a canon, we'll at least have something to reference and Quintus won't be so bent out of shape for being excommunicated for six months."

 

[JamesRottnek]

I don't know that it tood more than one such instance for a canon to be made regarding it, since the canon would be a guide in similar cases as well. Probably, it only too one bear entering a church for there to be a canon against it. Bishop N. tells the council, "Look, this was problematic for us. The bear totally wrecked the place because Subdeacon Quintus forgot to close the doors. If we just make a canon, we'll at least have something to reference and Quintus won't be so bent out of shape for being excommunicated for six months."

I so want to find some record of the time a bear actually DID enter a church; I am nearly in disbelief that it ever happened; I can't help but think that someone got bored one day at a Church council and tagged that canon onto another one, with the bishops not even realizing what they were voting on.

[Shanghaiski]

I don't know that it tood more than one such instance for a canon to be made regarding it, since the canon would be a guide in similar cases as well. Probably, it only too one bear entering a church for there to be a canon against it. Bishop N. tells the council, "Look, this was problematic for us. The bear totally wrecked the place because Subdeacon Quintus forgot to close the doors. If we just make a canon, we'll at least have something to reference and Quintus won't be so bent out of shape for being excommunicated for six months."

I so want to find some record of the time a bear actually DID enter a church; I am nearly in disbelief that it ever happened; I can't help but think that someone got bored one day at a Church council and tagged that canon onto another one, with the bishops not even realizing what they were voting on.

Usually the canons are couched in some record of discussion or explanation, and we have some minutes. I don't know if there's a specific canon against bears, but the only animals allowed in church at all are cats since they, of course, are more other-worldly and ascetical and put people and mice in their appropriate place.

[Riddikulus]

I don't know that it tood more than one such instance for a canon to be made regarding it, since the canon would be a guide in similar cases as well. Probably, it only too one bear entering a church for there to be a canon against it. Bishop N. tells the council, "Look, this was problematic for us. The bear totally wrecked the place because Subdeacon Quintus forgot to close the doors. If we just make a canon, we'll at least have something to reference and Quintus won't be so bent out of shape for being excommunicated for six months."

I so want to find some record of the time a bear actually DID enter a church; I am nearly in disbelief that it ever happened; I can't help but think that someone got bored one day at a Church council and tagged that canon onto another one, with the bishops not even realizing what they were voting on.

but the only animals allowed in church at all are cats since they, of course, are more other-worldly and ascetical and put people and mice in their appropriate place.

Isn't that the truth!

[LBK]

but the only animals allowed in church at all are cats since they, of course, are more other-worldly and ascetical and put people and mice in their appropriate place.

Isn't that the truth!

Seconded! 

[JamesRottnek]

I don't know that it tood more than one such instance for a canon to be made regarding it, since the canon would be a guide in similar cases as well. Probably, it only too one bear entering a church for there to be a canon against it. Bishop N. tells the council, "Look, this was problematic for us. The bear totally wrecked the place because Subdeacon Quintus forgot to close the doors. If we just make a canon, we'll at least have something to reference and Quintus won't be so bent out of shape for being excommunicated for six months."

I so want to find some record of the time a bear actually DID enter a church; I am nearly in disbelief that it ever happened; I can't help but think that someone got bored one day at a Church council and tagged that canon onto another one, with the bishops not even realizing what they were voting on.

Usually the canons are couched in some record of discussion or explanation, and we have some minutes. I don't know if there's a specific canon against bears, but the only animals allowed in church at all are cats since they, of course, are more other-worldly and ascetical and put people and mice in their appropriate place.

The first time I ever heard of such a canon was actually something - I think - Handmaiden had posted in another thread a while back.

[Fr. George]

The canon came from a council of a local church (Ancyra), not a larger (Ecumenical, Pan-Orthodox, etc.) meeting, so they were likely dealing with a thorny issue in one of the constituent diocese that needed conciliar action.

[NicholasMyra]

The canon came from a council of a local church (Ancyra), not a larger (Ecumenical, Pan-Orthodox, etc.) meeting, so they were likely dealing with a thorny issue in one of the constituent diocese that needed conciliar action.

Ah, that explains it. Strange how it seems to go from general language to specific language.

[podkarpatska]

The canon came from a council of a local church (Ancyra), not a larger (Ecumenical, Pan-Orthodox, etc.) meeting, so they were likely dealing with a thorny issue in one of the constituent diocese that needed conciliar action.

Perhaps one of royal or noble succession as to the preservation of hereditary rights.