Decretum De Ecclesia Toletana

FLAVIUS GONDEMARUS’S DECREE CONCERNING THE CHURCH OF TOLEDO. Flavius Gundemarus, king, to our venerable Fathers, the Carthaginian priests. Although the care of our reign in arranging and governing the affairs of the human race may seem most diligent, yet our majesty is especially adorned with a more glorious reputation for virtues when those things that pertain to the order of the Divinity and religion are arranged with the equity of the most correct path; knowing that on this account our piety obtains not only the long-lasting title of temporal rule, but also attains the glory of eternal merits. For many, in ecclesiastical disciplines, contrary to the authority of the canons, through the delays of preceding times, have taken license for themselves from the usurpation of a former prince: so that certain bishops of the Carthaginian province do not scruple, contrary to the judgment of canonical authority, everywhere and freely, against the power of the metropolitan Church, through certain brotherhoods and conspiracies, to advance all men of unexamined life to the episcopal office, and to despise this very dignity of the aforementioned Church, exalted by the throne of our rule; disturbing the truth of the ecclesiastical order and abusing the authority of that see, which the ancient judgment of the canons declares.

We by no means permit this to happen henceforth in perpetuity, but we show that the bishop of the see of the church of Toledo holds the honor of primacy, according to the ancient authority of the synodal council, throughout all the churches of the Carthaginian province; and that among his fellow bishops he excels both in the dignity of honor and in name, in accordance with what the ancient tradition of the canons decreed concerning metropolitans in each province, and what the old authority allowed. Nor do we permit the same Carthaginian province to be divided under the uncertain rule of two metropolitans, contrary to the decrees of the Fathers, from which a variety of schisms might arise, by which faith is overturned and unity is rent asunder; but this same see, as has been said, by the antiquity of its name and by the cultivation of our empire, so also shall it flourish in the dignity of the church of the whole province and excel in power. Moreover, as for what was formerly noted in the general synod of the council of Toledo by the venerable bishop Euphemius with the subscription of his hand—that the see of Toledo is the metropolitan see of the province of Carpetania—we correct that sentence of ignorance, knowing without doubt that the region of Carpetania is not a province, but a part of the Carthaginian province, as the ancient records of historical events also declare.

Because it is one and the same province, we decree that, just as the provinces of Baetica, Lusitania, or Tarraconensis, and the others belonging to the governance of our kingdom, are known to have their own individual metropolitans according to the ancient decrees of the Fathers, so also the province of Carthaginensis shall have one and the same man, whom the ancient synodal authority declares, and shall venerate him as its primate, and honor him as the highest bishop among all the bishops of the province; nor shall anything further be done in contempt of him, such as the arrogant presumption of haughty priests has hitherto attempted. By this edict of our authority, we henceforth give both a rule of life and a law of religion and innocence; nor do we permit similar disorderly license in episcopal matters to occur hereafter, but through our clemency, out of regard for piety, we grant pardon for past negligence and offer the help of indulgence: and while it is a great fault to have offended thus far, a greater and inexpiable penalty shall hold liable those who, with reckless audacity, attempt to violate this decree of ours, which comes from the authority of the ancient Fathers; nor shall we grant further pardon for the offense committed, if henceforth any priest of Carthaginensis should despise the honor of that same Church; the disobedient one will undoubtedly undergo both the sentence of ecclesiastical degradation or excommunication, and also the censure of our severity.

For we, arranging such things in the divine churches, faithfully believe that the kingdom of our imperial rule is thus governed by the divine helm, just as we ourselves, kindled with zeal for justice, both strive to correct the cultivation of order and resolve to persevere in it forever.