Правило 18
On the need for clergy who left their churches for good reasons to return after these reasons cease.
The clergy who, under the pretext of a barbarian invasion or for some other circumstance, have become migrants, are commanded, as soon as these circumstances change or the barbarian invasions that caused their removal cease, to return to their churches again and not to leave them for a long time without reason. If anyone behaves inconsistently with this rule, then let him be excommunicated until he returns to his church. Let the bishop who restrains him be subject to the same punishment.
Greek original
Τοὺς προφάσει βαρβαρικῆς ἐπιδρομῆς, ἢ ἄλλως πως ἐκ περιστάσεως μετανάστας γενομένους κληρικούς, ἡνίκα ἂν ὁ τρόπος αὐτοῖς ἀποπαύσηται, ἢ αἱ τῶν βαρβάρων ἐπιδρομαί, δι᾿ ἃς τὴν ἀναχώρησιν ἐποιήσαντο, αὖθις ἐν ταῖς οἰκείαις ἐκκλησίαις προστάσσομεν ἐπανέρχεσθαι, καὶ μὴ ἐπὶ πολὺ ταύτας ἀπροφασίστως καταλιμπάνειν. Εἰ δέ τις μὴ κατὰ τὸν παρόντα διαγένηται κανόνα, ἀφοριζέσθω, μέχρις ἂν πρὸς τὴν οἰκείαν ἐκκλησίαν ἐπαναδράμῃ. Τὸ αὐτὸ δὲ τοῦτο, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ κατέχοντι αὐτὸν ἐπισκόπῳ γινέσθῳ.
Parallel canons
Ап.15IВс.1516IVВс.5102023Трул.17VIIВс.15Антиох.3Сард.151619