Folia Theologica et Canonica 10. 32/24 (2021)
Ius canonicum
152 SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM. Examining the conciliar sources, the scholarly research unanimously confirms that the collection of canons, called the Council of Elvira, which on the basis of the textual-critical research of the last five years I date to before 300 (according to my latest specification, to the second half of the 3rd century)14, is currently the earliest known ecclesiastical text that uses the term ‘anathema’. The concrete decision is Can. 52: “Let those who are found to have placed a defamatory document in the church be anathematized.”15 It is clear from the brief statement that the meaning of the phrase ‘anathema’ in this passage is exactly the same as that of 'excommunication ’. We also know, that at the end of the creed of the first general council, i.e. the Council of Nicaea (325)16, there is also an ‘anathema’ for all those who reject the dogmatic position laid down by the council.17 Another example is the Council of Gangra [about 340]18, which gives the solemn reprobation ‘anathema’ to those practices or beliefs that are condemned in its twenty canons. In this light, it is also relevant to examine the use of the term ‘anathema’ in the texts of two further councils (Council of Laodicea [second half of the 4th century]19, Council of Chalcedon I [451]20)21: 14 Hess, H., The Early Development of Canon Law and the Council ofSerdica, Oxford 2002. 40- 42. Sotomayor, M. - Berdugo, T., Valoración de las actas, in Sotomayor, M. - Urbina, F. (dir.), El Concilio de Elvira y su tiempo, Granada 2005. 94—114. Erdő, P., Az ókori egyházfegyelem emlékei (Ókori Keresztény írók 2), Budapest 2018. 73-76, 373. Szuromi, SzvA., Suitability for Priesthood in the Early Canonical Discipline (An Overview based on the First Centuries), in Szuromi, Sz. A. - Alvarez de las Asturias, N. (ed.), Becoming a Priest. Canonical Discipline and Criteria on Suitability for Candidates (Aus Religion und Recht 22), Berlin 2019. 15-38, especially 24-26. Szuromi, Sz. A., Liturgical Discipline at the Early Councils and their Effect on the Canonical Collection up to the Decretum Gratiani, in Benyik, Gy. (ed.), Sacrifice and Ritual from Abraham to Christ (31st International Biblical Conference, Szeged, 24-26 August 2020), Szeged 2021. 397-410, especially 398-399. 15 Critical edition: Martinez Diez, G. - Rodríguez, F. (dir.), La Colección Canonica Hispana (Monumenta Hispaniae sacra. Serie 3a subsidia, 4), IV. Madrid 1984. 233-268 (The original Latin text has been translated into English by the author of this article). 16 Critical edition: Conciliorum oecumenicorum decreta, Bologna 1973.3 (hereafter: COD) 2. 17 Lietzmann, H., Symbolstudien, XIII, in Lietzmann, H., Gesammelte Schriften, III. Berlin 1962. 243. 18 Critical edition: Joannou, P.-P., Les canons des Synodes Particuliers (Discipline générale antique, IV6 - IXe s. 1/2) [Pontificia Commissione per la redazione del Codice di diritto canonico orientale, Fonti, IX], Grottaferrata 1963. 85-99. 19 Critical edition: Joannou, P.-P., Les canons des Synodes, 130-155. 20 Critical edition: COD 77-82. 21 The original Greek text has been translated into English by the author of this article.
