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without the offering, and for two years standing with the faithful in prayer, so then let him be deemed worthy of the communion of the good. 217.76 The same rule applies also to those who take their own daughters-in-law. 217.77 He who leaves the wife lawfully joined to him and takes another, according to the Lord's sentence, is subject to the judgment of adultery. It has been decreed by our Fathers that such persons weep for one year, listen for two years, prostrate for three years, and in the seventh year stand with the faithful, and thus be deemed worthy of the offering, if they repent with tears. 217.78 And let the same rule hold also for those who take two sisters in marriage, even if at different times. 217.79 Those who are mad for their own stepmothers are subject to the same canon as those who are mad for their own sisters. 217.80 As for polygamy, the Fathers have passed over it in silence as bestial and altogether foreign to the human race. But to us it seems that the sin is something more than fornication. Therefore it is reasonable for such persons to be subjected to the canons, namely, having wept for one year, and having prostrated for three, so to be received. 217.81 And since many during the barbarian raid transgressed the faith in God, by swearing pagan oaths and tasting some of the unlawful things offered to them in the magic idols, let these be dealt with according to the canons already set forth by our Fathers. For those who endured harsh necessity from tortures and, not bearing the pains and having been tormented into denial, are to be unreceived for three years, and to listen for two, and having prostrated for three, thus to be received into communion. But those who without great necessity betrayed the faith in God and touched the table of demons and swore Hellenic oaths are to be cast out for three years, and to listen for two, and having prayed in prostration for three years, and for another three years standing with the faithful in prayer, thus to be received to the communion of the good. 217.82 And concerning those who have sworn falsely, if they broke their oaths by force and necessity, they are subject to lighter penances, so that after six years they are to be received. But if without necessity they betrayed their own faith, having wept for two years, and having listened for two, and having prayed in prostration for five, and for another two having been admitted to the communion of prayer without the offering, thus at last, having shown, that is, a worthy repentance, they shall be restored to the communion of the body of Christ. 217.83 Let those who practice divination and follow the customs of the pagans or bring people into their own houses for the discovery of sorceries and for purification fall under the canon of six years. Having wept for one year, and having listened for one year, and prostrating for three years, and standing with the faithful for one year, thus let them be received. 217.84 But we write all these things so that the fruits 217.84 of repentance may be tested. For we do not judge such things entirely by the time, but we pay attention to the manner of the repentance. But if they cling tenaciously to their own habits and wish to serve the pleasures of the flesh rather than the Lord, and do not accept the life according to the Gospel, we have no common ground with them. For we, among a disobedient and contrary people, have been taught to hear that: “Save your own soul.” Let us not therefore accept to perish along with such people, but fearing the heavy judgment and the terrible day of the Lord's retribution, taking it before our eyes, let us not wish to perish along with the sins of others. For if the terrible things of the Lord have not taught us, nor have such great plagues brought us to our senses that because of our lawlessness the Lord has abandoned us and delivered us into the hands of barbarians and the people were led away captive to the enemies

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χωρὶς προσφορᾶς, καὶ δύο ἔτη συστὰς εἰς τὴν εὐχὴν τοῖς πιστοῖς, οὕτω λοιπὸν καταξιούσθω τῆς τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ κοινωνίας. 217.76 Ὁ αὐτὸς τύπος καὶ περὶ τῶν τὰς νύμφας ἑαυτῶν λαμβανόντων. 217.77 Ὁ μέντοι καταλιμπάνων τὴν νομίμως αὐτῷ συναφ θεῖσαν γυναῖκα καὶ ἑτέραν ἀγόμενος κατὰ τὴν τοῦ Κυρίου ἀπόφασιν τῷ τῆς μοιχείας ὑπόκειται κρίματι. Κεκανό νισται δὲ παρὰ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν τοὺς τοιούτους ἐνιαυτὸν προσκλαίειν, διετίαν ἐπακροᾶσθαι, τριετίαν ὑποπίπτειν, τῷ δὲ ἑβδόμῳ συνίστασθαι τοῖς πιστοῖς, καὶ οὕτω τῆς προσφορᾶς καταξιοῦσθαι, ἐὰν μετὰ δακρύων μετανοήσωσιν. 217.78 Ὁ αὐτὸς δὲ τύπος κρατείτω καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν δύο ἀδελφὰς λαμβανόντων εἰς συνοικέσιον, εἰ καὶ κατὰ διαφό ρους χρόνους. 217.79 Οἱ δὲ ταῖς μητρυιαῖς ἑαυτῶν ἐπιμαινόμενοι τῷ αὐτῷ ὑπόκεινται κανόνι, ᾧ καὶ οἱ ταῖς ἑαυτῶν ἀδελφαῖς ἐπιμαινόμενοι. 217.80 Τὴν δὲ πολυγαμίαν οἱ Πατέρες ἀπεσιώπησαν ὡς κτηνώδη καὶ παντελῶς ἀλλοτρίαν τοῦ γένους τῶν ἀνθρώ πων. Ἡμῖν δὲ παρίσταται πλέον τι πορνείας εἶναι τὸ ἁμάρτημα ∆ιὸ εὔλογον τοὺς τοιούτους ὑποβάλλεσθαι τοῖς κανόσι, δηλονότι ἐνιαυτὸν προσκλαύσαντας, καὶ τρισὶν ὑποπεσόντας, οὕτω δεκτοὺς εἶναι. 217.81 Ἐπειδὴ δὲ πολλοὶ ἐν τῇ τῶν βαρβάρων καταδρομῇ παρέβησαν τὴν εἰς Θεὸν πίστιν, ὅρκους ἐθνικοὺς τελέ σαντες καὶ ἀθεμίτων τινῶν γευσάμενοι τῶν ἐν τοῖς εἰδώλοις τοῖς μαγικοῖς προσενεχθέντων αὐτοῖς, οὗτοι κατὰ τοὺς ἤδη παρὰ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν ἐξενεχθέντας κανόνας οἰκονομείσθωσαν. Οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἀνάγκην χαλεπὴν ἐκ βασάνων ὑπομείναντες καὶ μὴ φέροντες τοὺς πόνους καὶ αἰκι σθέντες πρὸς τὴν ἄρνησιν ἐν τρισὶν ἔτεσιν ἀδέκτους εἶναι, καὶ ἐν δυσὶν ἀκροᾶσθαι, καὶ ἐν τρισὶν ὑποπε σόντας, οὕτω δεκτοὺς γενέσθαι εἰς τὴν κοινωνίαν. Οἱ δὲ ἄνευ ἀνάγκης μεγάλης προδόντες τὴν εἰς Θεὸν πίστιν καὶ ἁψάμενοι τῆς τραπέζης τῶν δαιμονίων καὶ ὀμόσαντες ὅρκους Ἑλληνικοὺς ἐκβάλλεσθαι μὲν ἐν τρισὶν ἔτεσι, καὶ ἐν δυσὶν ἀκροᾶσθαι, ἐν ὑποπτώσει δὲ εὐξαμένους ἐν τρισὶν ἔτεσι, καὶ ἐν ἄλλοις τρισὶ συστάντας τοῖς πιστοῖς εἰς τὴν δέησιν, οὕτω δεκτοὺς εἶναι τῇ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ κοινωνίᾳ. 217.82 Καὶ περὶ τῶν ἐπιορκησάντων, εἰ μὲν ἐκ βίας καὶ ἀνάγκης παρέβησαν τοὺς ὅρκους, κουφοτέροις ὑπόκεινται τοῖς ἐπιτιμίοις, ὥστε μετὰ ἓξ ἔτη εἶναι αὐτοὺς δεκτούς. Εἰ δὲ ἄνευ ἀνάγκης προδόντες τὴν ἑαυτῶν πίστιν, ἐν δυσὶν ἔτεσι προσκλαύσαντες, καὶ ἐν δυσὶν ἀκροασάμενοι, καὶ ἐν πέντε ἐν ὑποπτώσει εὐξάμενοι, καὶ ἐν δυσὶν ἄλλοις ἄνευ προσφορᾶς εἰς τὴν κοινωνίαν τῆς προσευχῆς παρα δεχθέντες, οὕτω τελευταῖον ἀξιόλογον, δηλαδή, τὴν μετά νοιαν ἐπιδειξάμενοι ἀποκατασταθήσονται εἰς τὴν κοινω νίαν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ. 217.83 Οἱ καταμαντευόμενοι καὶ ταῖς συνηθείαις τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐξακολουθοῦντες ἢ εἰσάγοντές τινας εἰς τοὺς ἑαυτῶν οἴκους ἐπὶ ἀνευρέσει φαρμακειῶν καὶ καθάρσει ὑπὸ τὸν κανόνα πιπτέτωσαν τῆς ἑξαετίας. Ἐνιαυτὸν προσκλαύσαντες, καὶ ἐνιαυτὸν ἀκροασάμενοι, καὶ ἐν τρισὶν ἔτεσιν ὑποπίπτοντες, καὶ ἐνιαυτὸν συστάντες τοῖς πιστοῖς, οὕτω δεχθήτωσαν. 217.84 Πάντα δὲ ταῦτα γράφομεν, ὥστε τοὺς καρποὺς 217.84 δοκιμάζεσθαι τῆς μετανοίας. Οὐ γὰρ πάντως τῷ χρόνῳ κρίνομεν τὰ τοιαῦτα, ἀλλὰ τῷ τρόπῳ τῆς μετανοίας προσ έχομεν. Ἐὰν δὲ δυσαποσπάστως ἔχωσι τῶν ἰδίων ἐθῶν καὶ ταῖς ἡδοναῖς τῆς σαρκὸς μᾶλλον δουλεύειν θέλωσιν ἢ τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ τὴν κατὰ τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον ζωὴν μὴ κατα δέχωνται, οὐδεὶς ἡμῖν πρὸς αὐτοὺς κοινὸς λόγος. Ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἐν λαῷ ἀπειθεῖ καὶ ἀντιλέγοντι δεδιδάγμεθα ἀκούειν ὅτι· «Σώζων σῶζε τὴν σεαυτοῦ ψυχήν». Μὴ τοίνυν καταδεξώμεθα συναπόλλυσθαι τοῖς τοιούτοις, ἀλλὰ φοβη θέντες τὸ βαρὺ κρίμα καὶ τὴν φοβερὰν ἡμέραν τῆς ἀντα ποδόσεως τοῦ Κυρίου πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν λαβόντες, μὴ θελή σωμεν ἁμαρτίαις ἀλλοτρίαις συναπόλλυσθαι. Εἰ γὰρ μὴ ἐπαίδευσεν ἡμᾶς τὰ φοβερὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, μηδὲ αἱ τηλι καῦται πληγαὶ εἰς αἴσθησιν ἡμᾶς ἤγαγον ὅτι διὰ τὴν ἀνομίαν ἡμῶν ἐγκατέλιπεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Κύριος καὶ παρέδωκεν εἰς χεῖρας βαρβάρων καὶ ἀπήχθη αἰχμάλωτος εἰς τοὺς πολεμίους ὁ λαὸς