Encyclopedia of Canon Law (Legislative Theology)

What Are the Approved Ecclesiastical Canons in Our Church?

What Are the Approved Ecclesiastical Canons in Our Church?

The subject of ecclesiastical canons is a deep and broad one, and not every person is able to comprehend it fully, in its spirit, depth, and purpose.
Many Copts rely heavily on the collection of Ibn al-‘Assal. Ibn al-‘Assal has very many errors, and in the view of legal scholars he is merely a compiler, not a critic.
He collected everything that came into his hands of canons, the sound and the spurious, the approved and the unapproved, and even included the laws of kings among the laws of the Church as well.
In the same manner as Ibn al-‘Assal, Ibn Kabar proceeded, but with even more errors.

Thus the ecclesiastical canons remained in need of someone to collect them, arrange them, analyze them, and write them in the style of a deeply learned scholar, distinguishing between approved and unapproved canons.
Moreover, some ecclesiastical canons were issued under specific circumstances and for particular needs whose time has passed; therefore, a distinction must be made between permanent canons and temporary canons.

Furthermore, not all canons are of the same rank.
There are canons concerning doctrine and faith, and these can never be compromised, nor is it permissible for anyone to change or alter them.
There are canons concerning penalties, which used to sentence some people to excommunication from the Church for two, three, or seven years, and sometimes twenty years or more. These are canons that are absolutely not implemented in our generation.
There are also canons concerning general order in the Church, and others concerning rites, worship, or other matters.

There are canons that the Church has reconsidered, and others that need reconsideration. There are also matters that require codification by the Church.
The canons of the Church include the following:

1. The Canons of the Apostles and the Didascalia.

2. The canons of the three Ecumenical Councils.

3. The canons of the local and regional councils approved in the Church.

4. The canons of the great Fathers that are approved, such as the canons of Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, the canons of Pope Peter the Seal of the Martyrs, Pope Timothy of Alexandria, and others. There are also canons issued in later eras that need review.

His Holiness the Pope has issued his directive to collect and classify the canons, so that the Church may have an approved book of canons that includes all the canons upon which it has agreed throughout the eras of its history.

1. An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, published in Al-Keraza Magazine – Sixth Year – Tenth Issue – dated March 7, 1975.

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