Abtilis

Canon 50

Overview

This canon forbids priests from cursing or reviling their bishop, and similarly forbids the bishop from cursing a priest, citing scriptural authority against speaking evil of rulers.

1Abṭelis, 50. If a priest curses a bishop or reviles him as a man of the mouth, and it is found that he has no fault, let him be removed from his name. And likewise, if a bishop reviles one of the priests and speaks against him as if this thing were without fault, let him be removed from his name. For it is said in the law: 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'