The same Augustus to Mennas, Praetorian Prefect. Taking counsel for the dignity of the most holy churches and the most pious monasteries, we forbid all who inhabit monasteries to consort with monastic women (nuns), or to devise any occasion whereby they might have any communication with them (for this introduces just suspicion of meeting with them assiduously, or whenever they wish); but to be so separated that they have no fellowship with one another for any cause whatsoever, nor that any occasion be devised, either for the men or for the women, of mutual cohabitation between them; but that the men dwell alone by themselves in each monastery, separated for any cause whatsoever from the monasteries of women neighbouring them:
likewise the women alone by themselves, not mingled with men, so that all suspicion of unseemly conduct may be utterly removed. But if there be more men, the women ought, through the providence of the bishops of the several cities, to be transferred to another suitable place, and a monastery be given to them in which they must henceforth conduct themselves honourably among themselves: but if more women be found, or even an equal number, then the men are to be transferred, and the women to remain in the monastery, in such a way that the movable and immovable property of that monastery, and the self-moving (livestock), shall be divided proportionally between those who depart and those who remain. And for the necessary responses of the women dwelling separately by themselves, one old man is to be set apart by the most God-beloved bishop of the city:
and for the performing of the divine liturgies and the participation in holy communion, one presbyter and one deacon of honourable life are to be given, who shall do only these aforesaid things, and not also eat together with them, nor consort, nor cohabit with them. For when these things are observed, both they who have chosen the solitary life shall have a happy life, and we shall obtain a readier aid from the most merciful God for the common affairs of our commonwealth. The things, therefore, which we have judged it right to ordain at present concerning common matters, are of this sort. But we have also believed that no small added benefit will hence be seen to accrue to these from our divine constitution. Section 1. But there is need also of diligent observance and care, that these things be in no way passed over.
And this will not come to pass otherwise than if the most God-beloved bishops of each city diligently inspect the conduct of the monks dwelling in the monasteries ordered under their care; and if they perceive any lapse of this kind, let them by all means restrain such an undertaking of theirs, and subject to penalties those who, after our prohibition, still perpetrate such things; and let them compel that their conduct be pure, and separated from all dealing with women.
For to the most God-beloved bishops themselves, if they will rightly weigh this, it is manifest that, from the observance of this honourable conduct of these most devoted monks—and if it befall them that nothing unseemly or dishonourable occurs—the merciful God, being propitious, will prosper the common affairs of our commonwealth. Section 2.
But lest even the most God-beloved bishops themselves should consider this our precept superfluous, we wish them to know that if any of them be manifestly not investigating these things with all diligence, or not amending a manifest lapse according to the aforesaid manners, he will indeed be liable to the judgement of the Lord God, and now the indignation of our empire shall come upon him, and his priesthood shall be endangered concerning him, nor will there be need of any greater indignation. Section 3. Let your Excellency therefore make this our divine enactment of law manifest to the most God-beloved bishops of every metropolis, and to the most illustrious governors of the provinces:
adding this also: that they too, if there be need, shall render every aid to the most pious bishops of the cities, for the curbing of such lapses, which we have commanded to be removed; and if they shall find that any negligence has been used by them, they shall by their own report make it manifest to us, so that indeed all may know both what things ought to be observed by them, and the penalty defined for negligence. And let the most God-beloved metropolitans also take care to make this our divine law manifest to the other most reverend bishops of the cities of the same province, and to announce it to all, that with vigilant zeal they may keep these things, fearing the defined penalty. Section 4.
And lest the full observance of this our divine law be protracted, and also lest the most reverend monks themselves, who at present consort with monastic women, should think too little a time is given them to make the due and enjoined separation, we define for them a period of one year from the day on which this our divine law shall have been made manifest, so that after the course of the year, if those things which pertain to their living-together shall appear to remain in the same arrangement, there shall be full scope for the penalties inserted into this our divine law. Given on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of February, at Constantinople, in the consulship of Decius, the most distinguished, in the year 529.