Lesson plan
Episcopal intercession
Episcopal Intercession is the act of a church official interceding on behalf of a criminal. The right to do so was granted by the secular power to the bishops of the Early Church and originated from respect for the church in the early centuries of Christianity, rather than by law or decree. Reference to its existence is made in the seventh canon of the Council of Sardica. It is also mentioned by St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and by Socrates in his "Church History". St. Augustine repeatedly interceded for criminals with Macedonius, then governor of Africa. Martin of Tours interceded with Emperor Maximus for the imprisoned Priscillianists in 384–5. Bishop Flavian of Antioch interceded with Emperor Theodosius I in 387 on behalf of the inhabitants of Antioch, who had wantonly destroyed the imperial statues in that city. St. Ambrose induced Theodosius to enact a law which forbade the execution of the death penalty and the confiscation of property until thirty days after sentence had been passed. It was the purpose of this law to leave room for clemency and to prevent the punishing of the innocent. To enable them to exercise their right of intercession, the bishops had free access to the prisons.…
Article summary
Episcopal Intercession is the act of a church official interceding on behalf of a criminal. The right to do so was granted by the secular power to the bishops of the Early Church and originated from respect for the church in the early centuries of Christianity, rather than by law or decree. Reference to its existence is made in the seventh canon of the Council of Sardica. It is also mentioned by St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and by Socrates in his "Church History". St. Augustine repeatedly interceded for criminals with Macedonius, then governor of Africa. Martin of Tours interceded with Emperor Maximus for the imprisoned Priscillianists in 384–5. Bishop Flavian of Antioch interceded with Emperor Theodosius I in 387 on behalf of the inhabitants of Antioch, who had wantonly destroyed the imperial statues in that city. St. Ambrose induced Theodosius to enact a law which forbade the execution of the death penalty and the confiscation of property until thirty days after sentence had been passed. It was the purpose of this law to leave room for clemency and to prevent the punishing of the innocent. To enable them to exercise their right of intercession, the bishops had free access to the prisons.…
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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