Folia Theologica et Canonica 7. 29/21 (2018)
Ius canonicum
312 SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.Praem. The Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua contains mainly rules concerning duties and rights of bishops, their activity in administering sacraments and canons about the degrees of Holy Orders. However, the basic relationship among deacon - presbyter - bishop is clearly recognizable from this text. The deacon - based on this disciplinary source - is ordained for serving presbyter or bishop.“ The deacon ought to obey to a presbyter who instructs him* 60 61, moreover he ought to give responsible answer to the questions of colleagueship of presbyters.62 It is also clear that the essential difference between the state of bishop and the state of presbyter did not have a theologically precise definition.63 On one hand, the deaconate ordination was reserved for the bishop, but we cannot recognize a difference between the relation of a deacon and a presbyter, and the relation of a deacon and a bishop, because both of these degrees are usually found together in the canonical texts. The presence or the consent of the presbyters was necessary for all of the important licit decisions of the bishop which shows clearly the dependence on one another within the relationship of bishop and the colleagueship of presbyters.64 But the discipline concerning bishops and presbyters does not make an orderly impression. The Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua contains 101 canons; 36 of 101 (the largest group) deal with rules concerning bishops.6-'1 24 of 36 speak about the bishop’s own activity and rights, without any reference to presbyters.66 This discipline should compare with tradition of canons of the Canones apostolid concerning the same theme. There 52 canons of 85 deal sacerdotes: quos metropolitanus episcopus advocare debebit. Et si quidem omnes occurrerim, optime; quod si hoc difficile fuerit, saltem plures adesse omnimodo convenit: certe scriptis eius dem sententiae comprobari, et ita sub plurimorum vel praesentia vel decreto ordinatio celebretur. Quod si secus contra definita factam fuerit, nullas ordinatio vires habeat; si vero iuxta definitam regulam fiat, et nonnulli pro contentione propria contradicant, obtineat sententia plurimorum. Joannou, P. P. (ed.), Les Canons, 120-21; cf. Szuromi, Sz. A., Rules concerning Bishops in ihr Collectio Dionysio-Hadriana, in Rivista internationale di diritto comune 20 (2009) 267-278. 60 Can. 57: Diaconus ita se presbyteri ut episcopi ministrum nouerit. Munier, C. (ed.). Concilia Galliae, 175. 61 Can. 59: Ut diaconus quolibet loco, iubente presbytero, sedeat. Munier, C. (ed.), Concilia Galliae, 176. 62 Can. 61: Ut diaconus in conuentu presbyterorum interrogatus loquatur. Munier, C. (ed.). Concilia Galliae, 176. 63 Cf. Reynolds, R. E., Patristic 'presbiterianism', 312-315. Szuromi, Sz. A., Die patristischc Wurzel der bischöflichen Kirchendisziplin in der „ Collectio Anselmi Lucensis ”, in Rivista internationale di diritto comune 12 (2001) 249-263, especially 261-262. 64 See i.e. Cann. 2, 10, 14. Very importantly Canon 14 orders the bishop to listen cases in the presence of the whole clergy: Ut episcopus nullius causam audiat absque praesentia clericorum suorum; alioquin irrita erit sententia episcopi nisi clericorum praesentia confirmetur. Munier. C. (ed.), Concilia Galliae, 168-169. 65 Cann. 1-12, 14-17,47-48, 50-51,54, 56, 57,68, 84-85,88-95,97,99. “ Cann. 1-9, 11-12, 16-17, 54, 84-85, 90-95, 97, 99.
