Dear St. Nicholas Cathedral Family,
Today we will be discussing the Quinisext Council which convened in 692 by Justinian II and occurred to supplement the Fifth Ecumenical Council of 553 and the Sixth Ecumenical Council of 681. The work of the council was mainly legislative because this council created 102 canons and confirmed decisions of the two earlier Ecumenical Councils. Some historians say this is where we begin to see the tensions rise between the East and West. Some of the canons that were created went against Western Church customs and legislation; they also showed the differences between the Eastern and Western churches such an example is the celibacy of Clergy. The Church in the East did not require its clergy to be celibate, and the West did.
The Western Church and the Pope were not represented at the council. Justinian, however, wanted the Pope as well as the Eastern bishops to sign the canons. Pope Sergius I (687–701) refused to sign, and the canons were never fully accepted by the Western Church however some were accepted. Some of these cancons were Canon 13 about if the clergy was already married it will stay but no more would be married, Canon 30 about commerce with wives, and Canon 55 fasting on sabbaths of Lent). Other thant he canons mentioned the canons of this council were not observed by the West at all, and that even in the East their authority was rather theoretical than real.
I want to take some moment today to talk about some of the Canons that were established at this Council as they have relevance to our lives today.
-Canon 1: No innovation upon the faith of the Apostles is to be allowed. The faith of the Nicene Fathers is perfect.
-Canon 6: Priests must be married before they are ordained.
-Canon 14: A presbyter should be 30 years of age, For our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized and began to teach when he was thirty. In like manner let no deacon be ordained before he is twenty-five, nor a deaconess before she is forty.
-Canon 32: Importance to mix wine with water during communion. Chrysostom, Basil and James do this in their Liturgies as they ordered that water mixed with wine should be used at the unbloody sacrifice, so as to shew forth the mingling of the blood and water which for the life of the whole world and for the redemption of its sins, was poured forth from the precious side of Christ our Redeemer; and moreover in every church where spiritual light has shined this divinely given order is observed.
-Canon 52: Throughout the whole of Lent except upon the Lords day, the Sabbath, and upon the day of the Annunciation, the Presanctified Gifts shall be offered.
-Canon 95: When people convert from different beliefs we are to anoint with Chrism while saying “the Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
-Canon 100: “Let thine eyes behold the thing which is right,” orders Wisdom, “and keep thine heart with all care.” For the bodily senses easily bring their own impressions into the soul. Therefore we order that henceforth there shall in no way be made pictures, whether they are in paintings or in what way so ever, which attract the eye and corrupt the mind, and incite it to the enkindling of base pleasures. And if any one shall attempt to do this he is to be cut off.
With Love in the Lord,
Rev. Fr. Sampson N. Kasapakis