Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XIV/Additional Canons 1/Synod of Laodicea/Canons/Canon XL

Canon XL.

called to a synod must not be guilty of contempt, but must attend, and either teach, or be taught, for the reformation of the Church and of others.&#160; And if such an one shall be guilty of contempt, he will condemn himself, unless he be detained by ill health.

Notes.

Whoso summoned to a synod shall spurn the invitation, unless hindered by the force of circumstances, shall not be free from blame.

By &#7936;&#957;&#969;&#956;&#945;&#955;&#8055;&#945;, illness is commonly understood, and Dionysius Exiguus and Isidore translated it, the former &#230;gritudinem, and the latter infirmitatem.&#160; But Balsamon justly remarks that the term has a wider meaning, and, besides cases of illness includes other unavoidable hinderances or obstacles.

This Canon is found in the Corpus Juris Canonici, Gratian&#8217;s Decretum, Pars I., Dist. XVIII., c. v.