His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the Church’s laws covered many matters related to diocesan affairs and the sacerdotal ordinations of priests and deacons, and the Church’s sacraments (Holy Communion, feasts, prayers and fasting), and family dealings like marriage and divorce.

Nature of historical penalties
He shows that the apostolic age and the early centuries applied strict penalties (cases lasting decades and in some cases full deprivation), but the modern Church tended to soften and rely more on confession and repentance because the old penalties might be harsh on people.

Prohibition of mixing and sacraments
The canons affirm non-participation in the sacraments with unbelievers or heretics; participation in common prayer may occur for the sake of unity, but participation in sacraments (communion) is forbidden with those not sharing our faith.

Rulings on slaves and servants
The Apostolic canons regulated the work of servants and slaves: they have work days and days set aside for the church (Saturday and Sunday and the Paschal feasts), and they must be treated kindly and with dignity and not be abused.

Fasting days and rites
Fasting and liturgical orders are clearly mentioned (the Forty Fast, Wednesday and Friday fasts, the Paschal weeks), and there are canons penalizing those who do not observe if they are of the clergy except in real cases of illness.

Magic, divination, and idol-making
The laws forbid baptism or communion for those practicing magic or divination or for makers of idols; they must repent and abandon these practices before any ecclesiastical acceptance.

Stance on adultery and moral crimes
He clarifies that there are penalties for perpetrators of adultery and sexual deviation and some other moral crimes, and that the Church was stricter in the past, but today tends toward mercy with conditions of repentance.

Sensitive issues: abortion and repentance
Abortion is mentioned as an ecclesiastical crime that may incur deprivation for a period, but the text also notes the Church’s inclination toward leniency in some cases, using means of repentance and confession, stressing that killing a fetus is forbidden. In cases of genuine remorse on the deathbed, the penitent is accepted.

Etiquette of worship and presence in church
There used to be strict etiquette for entering the sanctuary and starting the liturgy (closing doors, forbidding entry and exit during the liturgy, deacons guarding the doors), and there are rites for handling the dust of the sanctuary and its treatment.

Spiritual and educational dimension
The spiritual core of the lecture affirms that the laws aim to safeguard the holiness of the sacraments and the life of the Church, and that ecclesiastical discipline and repentance are the means to preserve the holy community, while considering mercy and flexibility in practical application according to times and circumstances.

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