The Apostolic Canons

Section 30

Canon XXIX. Concerning the consultation of the bishop. No elder or deacon shall do anything whatever without the advice of the bishop ; for he is the one to whom the people of the Lord have been entrusted, and he again it is who will answer for their souls. the bishop, if he has private property ; and it should be known what is the property of the Lord, so that when the bishop dies, he can control his propérty and give it to whom he pleases. For it is not right that the property of the bishop should be destroyed on the pretext of the property of the church, especially if he has a wife or children or kindred or servants. For it is not right that the property of the church be destroyed because it is unknown what is the property of the bishop, nor [is it right] that the property of the bishop and of his kindred be destroyed, on the pretext of the property of the church, and that these fall into famine and*curse over his death.