Folia Canonica 5. (2002)

STUDIES - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: The Development of the Clerical Orders prior to the Discipline of Statuta Ecclesiae Antique (5th Century)

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLERICAL ORDERS

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Canons of the Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua give minute directions about the degrees of Holy Orders. These contain rules for the psalmist (c. 98); janitor [ostiarius] (c. 97); lector (c. 96); exorcist (c. 95); acolyte (c. 94); subdeacon (c. 93); deacon (c. 92); presbyter (c. 91); and for bishops (c. 90). These canons also give rules on virgins who are devoted to God (c. 99); widows (c. 100); and other persons who have made public profession (cc. 101—102).

Ordination is an essential element for receiving any order except that of psalmist.33 Reception takes place mostly at the hands of the bishop. The text of the Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua expressly contains the active cooperation of the bishop in a deacon’s ordination. The deacon can be ordained only by a bishop (solus episcopus), who blesses him and stretches out his hands over the applicant’s head.34 We know also a short rule about ordination in the Canones apostolid (c. 2),35 which dates from the end of the 4th Century. This canon informs us that the priest, deacon and other elected persons for the clerical degree can receive their ordination from the bishop.36 In the discipline of Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua the subdeacon’s ordination takes place without the imposition of hands by the bishop, but by the handing arm of a paten and chalice, which are given to him by the bishop. He receives a jug, a towel and a lavabo bowl from the archdeacon.37 The priest’s ordination takes place with the imposition of hands by the bishop and then all other priests present impose their hands on the newly ordained priest.38 The bishop is required to call together the college of priests be33 C. 98 „Psalmista, idest cantor, potest absque scientia episcopi, sola iussione presbyteri, officium suscipere cantandi, dicente sibi presbytero: Vide ut quod ore cantas, corde credas, et quod corde credis operibus probes.” Munier, C., (ed.), Concilia Galliae (nt. 25), 184.

34 C. 92 „Diaconus cum ordinatur, solus episcopus, qui eum benedicit, manum super caput illius ponat, quia non ad sacerdotium sed ad ministerium consecratur.” Munier (ed.), Concilia Galliae (nt. 25), 181.

35 Cf. P. Erdő, Die Quellen des Kirchenrechts. Eine geschichtliche Einführung (Adnotationes in lus Canonicum 23), Frankfurt am Main 2002. 19-20. J. Gaudemet, Le sources du droit de l’Eglise en Occident du If au VIE siècle, Paris 1985. 24-25. Edition: M. Metzger, Les constitutions apostoliques III (Sources chrétiennes 336) Paris 1987. 274-309.

36 C. 2. „Presbyter ab uno episcopo ordinetur, et diaconus, et reliqui clerici.” Patrologiae cursus completus. Series Latina, ed. I.-P. MlGNE, I-CCXXI, Lutetiae Parisiorum 1844-1864. (PL) 67. col. 141. In old greek: Metzger, Les constitutions (nt. 35), III. 274.

37 C. 93 „Subdiaconus cum ordinatur, quia manus impositionem non accipit, patenam de manu episcopi accipiat uacuam et calicem uacuum, de manu uero archidiaconi accipiat urceolum cum aquamanile ac manutergium.” Munier (ed.), Concilia Galliae (nt. 25), 182.

38 C. 91 „Presbyter cum ordinatur, episcopo eum benedicente et manum super caput eius tenente, etiam omnes presbyteri, qui praesentes sunt, manus suas iuxta manum episcopi super caput illius teneant.” Munier (ed.), Concilia Galliae (nt. 25), 181.