Gitsew

Canon 52

Overview

This canon prohibits recently baptized individuals from becoming bishops, forbids bishops from engaging in trade, and regulates the treatment of clergy who are lame.

1Command 52: Let a newly baptized person not be made a bishop. If one comes from the nations or lives wickedly and is baptized, let him not be made a bishop in his time. Let him not be a teacher to the Gentiles, for he is not worthy by the grace of God. Let a bishop not engage in trade or gather wealth, but let him attend to the work of the church. If a bishop does not do so, let him be deposed, for he is like a two-horned beast, as our Lord commanded. Let no one command a bishop to trade, except in the case of his own household, so that his household may not be distressed, for by this he may provide for his house. If a bishop is found trading in his time, let him be deposed, let his office be taken away, let his household be removed from his house, and let him be deposed.