Pearls from the Pedalion: Clergy Who Require Payment for the Mysteries Should Be Deposed

Read the two-part introduction to the "Pearls from the Pedalion" series here.

From the Orthodox Ethos: Canon 23 of the Quinisext Ecumenical Council, and the accompanying interpretation and footnote from St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite, clarify that it is forbidden for clergy to require payment in exchange for the Mysteries, and those who do so should be deposed.

St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite

Canon 23 of the Quinisext Ecumenical Council [OE1]

Concerning the rule that no one, whether a Bishop, or a Priest, or a Deacon, that imparts of the undefiled Communion shall collect from the partaker coins or any compensation whatsoever in exchange for such communion. For neither is grace bought, nor do we impart the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit for money; but, on the contrary, it must be imparted to the worthy without the incentive of knavishness. If, however, any person enrolled in the Clergy should be found to be demanding compensation of any kind of him to whom he imparts the undefiled Communion, let him be deposed, on the ground that he is a follower of Simon’s delusion and malfeasance.

Interpretation [OE2]

The present Canon orders that no bishop, or priest, or deacon shall demand money of those to whom he imparts the divine mysteries, nor shall lie ask for any other compensation, even though it should be the very slightest, for the sake of partaking of the divine communion. For the grace of the Mysteries cannot be sold, nor do we impart the sanctification of the Holy Spirit for money, but, on the contrary, we impart it without being bribed to do so, to those who are worth of it. It is on this account that the divine Communion is called among the masses the gift (or dorea), because, according to Balsamon, it is imparted without gifts. Concerning anyone who does this, let him be deposed, as having become an imitator of the delusion and heresy of Simon the Sorcerer, who thought that the grace of the All-holy Spirit could be sold for money.[SNH30] 

Footnote 30[OE3]

MONEY FOR MYSTERIES IS LIKE THE SIN OF JUDAS

From this Canon it becomes manifest that those spirituals (i.e., confessors) must needs be deposed who, deeming piety to be a regular business, as St. Paul says, and being traffickers in Christ, demand money from the Christians who confess their sins to them, and who therefore give them permission, even though they be unworthy, to commune in the Divine Mysteries. This is exceedingly great impiety, which most learned and most theologically well-grounded Joseph Bryennius censures and speaks of it despicably in one of his discourses, saying that this is what caused the race of us Orthodox Christians to be taken captive and to be delivered into the hands of the impious and godless Hagarenes. “What will you give me if I allow you to commune?” But what else is this than that which Judas said to the Jews in betraying the Lord into their hands? “What are you willing to give if I deliver him to you?” Most all-holy prelates, take care, for the love of God, to extirpate: this great evil from your provinces, the result of which is that every day gentle Jesus Christ, who was sold but once for the sake of our race, is being sold over and over again.

ENDNOTES

1. Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite and Monk Agapios, The Rudder, translated by Denver Cummings, edited by Ralph Masterjohn, (Chicago, IL: The Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1957), p. 704.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid., p. 804.