Synod of Rome (721)


The Synod of Rome was a synod held in St. Peter’s Basilica under the authority of Pope Gregory II to establish canons to improve church discipline.

Background

On April 5, 721, Pope Gregory II opened a synod to deal with tightening up the rules of matrimony, and a number of minor offenses committed against the Church. Present along with the Pope were nineteen Italian bishops, and three non-Italian bishops: Sindered of Toledo, Sedulius from Britain, and Fergustus Pictus from Scotland. Also present were a number of Roman priests and deacons.

The seventeen canons of the synod

The synod drew up seventeen canons to improve church discipline. These included a prohibition on marrying:


It further placed anathemas on:


It mentioned specific anathemas against:


Finally, the synod also anathematized:


The synod finished its deliberations on the same day it started.