Section 530
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48 COUNCIL OF NICE. tius, and of those who had been ordained by him, still remained to be considered. And what was determined by the Synod with respect to these persons, we proceed, beloved, to make known to you. It seemed advisable to the council, who were moved by feelings of humanity towards Meletius, although in strict justice he merited no indulgence, that he should remain in his own city, but have no power either of ordination, or of designating candi dates for orders, and should not appear in the country, or in any other city, under that pretence ; but should retain the name only of his office.* Those, however, who were admitted by him to any clerical function, after being confirmed by a more sacred ordination,t were to be received into communion on this condition, that although they should retain their honors and ministry, they should always be ranked after those, who, being stationed in any parish or church, had been previously ordained by our most re spected colleague, Alexander. They are not allowed to propose for ordination such as they may think suitable persons, or to sug gest their names ; or, indeed, to do any thing without the consent of some bishop of the Catholic Church under the jurisdiction of Alexander. Such, however, as, by the grace of God, and the aid of your prayers, have never been found in any schism, but have remained in the Catholic Church without spot, have the privilege of voting, and of proposing the names of such as may be worthy of admission into the clerical order ; and, in short, of performing whatever may be agreeable to ecclesiastical law and sanction. It seems that Meletius had undertaken to confer orders in cases which did not belong to him ; and had, moreover, infringed the ancient and universally received usage in regard to the ordination of bishops. For it was the custom, when any episcopal seat became vacant, for the bishops of the province, in the presence of the people, to elect and ordain a successor. But Meletius, wherever he happened to travel, made no scruple of instituting bishops, priests and deacons on his own authority. See Epiphanius, de haeres. 68. t By a more sacred ordination, the synod intended, that the bishops and other clergy, who had been ordained by Meletius, should receive imposition of hands from Alexander. As they had been ordained without his consent, it was espe cially requisite that they should be consecrated by the bishop of Alexandria, ac cording to ancient custom, which exacted obedience from all the bishops of the Egyptian diocese to Alexander, as their spiritual head.