Apostolic Canons

The Apostolic Canons are a collection of ecclesiastical laws that originated in early Christianity. While their title suggests they were transmitted by the Apostles, modern scholarship indicates they were likely compiled in Syria around 380 CE by a single author, possibly an Arian. These canons, along with other early Christian writings like the Didascalia Apostolorum and the Apostolic Tradition, form the basis of early Christian ethics, church governance, and liturgical practices.1

These early collections, including the Apostolic Constitutions which incorporated the Apostolic Canons, were foundational for the development of canon law in both Eastern and Western churches. Canon law has historically played a significant role in organizing church liturgy, charity, and the transmission of legal principles, influencing secular law and the concept of the state in Europe. The Roman Catholic Church later codified its canon law, with official compilations issued in 1917 and revised in 1983.234