Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XIV/Additional Canons 2/Canons/Canon LXXVII

by Philip Schaff et al.

Canon LXXVII.

It is not right that those who are dedicated to religion, whether clerics or ascetics,^[1] should wash in the bath with women, nor should any Christian man or layman do so.  For this is severely condemned by the heathens.  But if any one is caught in this thing, if he is a cleric let him be deposed; if a layman, let him be cut off.

Notes.

Ancient Epitome of Canon LXXVII.

A Christian man shall not bathe with women.  Should a cleric do so he is to be deposed, and a layman cut off.

This is a renewal of the XXX^th canon of Laodicea.  It will be noted, as Zonaras remarks, that the monks must be counted among the laymen who are to be cut off, since they have no clerical character or tonsure.

Footnotes

1. The Latin adds “that is to say ‘Exercisers,’ (Exercitatores) or monks.”