Many of the council's
canons were reiterations. It endorsed not only the six
ecumenical councils already held (canon 1), but also: • the 85
Apostolic Canons, • the
Synod of Ancyra • the
Synod of Neocaesarea, • the
Synod of Gangra, • the
Synod of Antioch in 341, • the
Council of Serdica, • the
Synod of Laodicea, •
Councils of Carthage, • the
Council of Constantinople (394) The council also confirmed authority of
Church Fathers: • 4 canons of
Pope Dionysius of Alexandria, • 12 canons of
Gregory Thaumaturgus, • 15 canons of
Peter I of Alexandria, • 3 canons of
Athanasius of Alexandria [including
39th Festal Letter of Athanasius (canon 2)], • 18 canons of
Timothy I of Alexandria, • 92 canons of
Basil of Caesarea, • 1 canon of
Gregory of Nazianzus, • 8 canons of
Gregory of Nyssa, • 1 canon of
Amphilochius of Iconium, • 14 canons of
Theophilus I of Alexandria, • 5 canons of
Cyril of Alexandria, • 1 canon of
Gennadius of Constantinople,
Ban on pre-Christian practices The Council banned certain festivals and practices which were thought to have a
Pagan origin. Therefore, the Council gives some insight to historians about pre-Christian religious practices. As a consequence, neither cleric nor layman was allowed to observe the Pagan festivals of
Vota, the
Kalends or the
Brumalia. choosing children of clergy for appointment as clergy, and eating eggs and cheese on Saturdays and Sundays of
Lent. And the council proclaimed deposition for clergy and
excommunication for
laypeople who contravened the canons prohibiting these practices. and fasting on Saturdays of
Lent. Nevertheless, it also prescribed continence during those times when serving at the altar. nor were grapes to be mixed with wine for the oblation. Whoever came to receive the Eucharist may receive in the hand by holding his hands in the form of a cross, but was forbidden from receiving the Eucharist in vessels of gold or other materials. The Eucharist was not allowed to be given to dead bodies. During the liturgy the psalms were to be sung in modest and dulcet tones, and the phrase 'who was crucified for us' was not to be added to the
Trisagion. Prelates were to preach the gospel as propounded by the fathers. Priests received special instructions on how to deal with those who were not baptized and they were also given rubrics to follow on how to admit heretics to the faith. Women were not permitted to speak at the time of the Divine Liturgy.
Moral guidelines for clerics and laity In addition to these, the council also condemned
clerics that had improper or illicit relations with women. It condemned
simony and the charging of fees for administering the Eucharist. It enjoined those in
holy orders from entering public houses, engaging in usurious practices, attending horse races in the
Hippodrome, wearing unsuitable clothes or celebrating the liturgy in private homes (
eukterion) without the consent of their bishops. Both clergy and laity were forbidden from gambling with dice, attending theatrical performances, or consulting
soothsayers. No one was allowed to own a
house of prostitution, engage in
abortion, arrange hair in ornate plaits or to promote
pornography. It also ordered law students at the
University of Constantinople to cease wearing "clothing contrary to the general custom". ==Acceptance==