What are the ecclesiastical canons approved in our Church?
What are the ecclesiastical canons approved in our Church?
The subject of ecclesiastical canons is a deep and broad subject, 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. In the view of legal scholars, he is merely a compiler, not a critic. He collected everything that came into his hands of the canons, the sound and the false, the approved and the unapproved. He even included the laws of kings among the laws of the Church. In the same manner as Ibn al-Assal, Ibn Kabar proceeded, but with more errors. The ecclesiastical canons remained in need of someone to collect them, arrange them, and analyze them, and to write about them in the manner of a profound scholar, distinguishing between approved and unapproved canons. Indeed, some ecclesiastical canons were issued under certain circumstances and for a particular need whose time has passed. Therefore, a distinction should be made between permanent canons and temporary canons. Likewise, the canons are not all of the same degree. There are canons concerning doctrine and faith, and these can never be changed or altered by anyone. There are also canons concerning penalties that sentenced some people to excommunication from the Church for two, three, or seven years, and sometimes twenty years or more. These canons are not implemented at all in our generation. There are also canons concerning the general order of the Church, and other canons concerning rites, worship, or other matters. There are canons that the Church has reconsidered, and others that need reconsideration. There are also matters that need 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 approved canons of the great Fathers, such as the canons of Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and the canons of Pope Peter, Seal of the Martyrs, and Pope Timothy of Alexandria, and others. There are also canons issued in later ages that need review. His Holiness the Pope issued an order to collect and classify the canons, so that the Church may have an approved book of canons containing all the canons upon which it has agreed throughout the ages of its history.
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