The same Augustus to Julian, Praetorian Prefect. We decree that no venerable cleric shall be accused by anyone, whether cleric or layman, at the outset before the most blessed Patriarch of the province, but first, according to the sacred institutions, before the bishop of the city in which the cleric resides; then, if that one is suspected of partiality, let the accuser prosecute the defendant before the metropolitan bishop; but if perchance not even this should satisfy the accuser, let him bring the accused before the sacred synod of his region; and, together with the metropolitan, with three most religious bishops convening — who are preferred to the rest by reason of their ordination — let the case be examined before the whole synod; and if indeed the things that shall have been judged satisfy him, let him desist from accusing.
But if he thinks himself wronged, let him appeal to the most blessed patriarch of that province, and let him wholly obey whatever this one shall have judged, just as if he had obtained him as judge from the beginning; for it has been established by our predecessors that there is no place for appeal against the sentences of these prelates. The same is to be observed if a bishop has been accused by any layman, or by any cleric, or by another most religious bishop.
For that an accusation be brought immediately before the most holy patriarchs, and that the accused be sent into another province, we altogether forbid — except if someone has brought an accusation on this ground, that the case of that region has been committed to the most religious bishop, in which case it is permitted to bring the accusation to the most holy patriarchs themselves also. Yet let letters be drawn up to one of the bishops of those places, that he may hear the case, as has been said by us before. — § 1. But let it not be permitted to him to cause venerable clerics to go down into the provinces and to incur immoderate fees while they are being accused, in which matter we have recognized that hitherto there has been wrongdoing.
For we do not allow, for the individual persons of the accused, more than a sixth part of a gold coin to be given as fees to those who are sent by the most holy patriarchs and metropolitans; or, if a bishop has been sent, only six gold pieces from whatever amount and cause, and let no more be furnished. Let this hold also among metropolitans, when an accusation is brought before them against a bishop who is under them or against a cleric of their province. For if in civil trials we have taken care to moderate the measure of fees and expenses, and have willed that these be furnished according to law, much more in ecclesiastical accusations do we decree that a limit be observed. — § 2.
Indeed, if, the case having been referred to the most holy patriarch, or to one of the most religious metropolitans, or to another bishop most beloved of God, a sentence has been pronounced which displeases some party and is appealed, let the appeal be referred to this archiepiscopal see, in which (as has hitherto been observed) let the suit be examined. § 3. But if anyone has dared to attempt anything against these provisions, he shall indeed pay to the one who has suffered the wrong all that he received, together with as much again, and he shall become subject to an ecclesiastical fine before the most holy patriarch or the most religious metropolitan, and shall then be cast out from the number of the clergy. § 4.
But these actions, if indeed they pertain to ecclesiastical affairs, we command that it shall be necessary for them to be examined by the most religious bishops or metropolitans alone, or by the sacred synods, or by the most holy patriarchs; but if it is a dispute of civil matters, we will permit those who wish to institute the inquiry before the prelates — yet we will not compel the unwilling, since the courts are civil — if they prefer to resort to these, before which it is also permitted to take cognizance of crimes. § 5. But since there are certain most holy patriarchs who in the provinces in which they exist exercise the office of metropolitans, while others throughout the whole diocese perform the ordinations of bishops, metropolitans, and others who are under them, concerning this matter...
we decree that that be observed which we have previously ordained concerning metropolitans; for by this same law he is called a metropolitan who, according to the sacred canons, has that power over the lesser bishops. Given on the 15th day before the Kalends of November, at Constantinople, in the consulship of Lampadius, 530.