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Longer Rules

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Rule 47: Concerning Those Who Do Not Accept the Regulations of the Superior

If a man does not accept the decisions of the Superior he must gainsay him publicly or privately, if he has any strong reason on his side consonant with Scripture, or else keep silence and do what he is told. But if he is too shy to speak let him use others as intermediaries for this purpose, in order that if the command be contrary to Scripture he may deliver both himself and his brethren from harm; but if it be shown to have good reason on its side then he may free himself from vain and perilous doubts. “For he that doubteth is condemned if he eat because he eateth not of faith”¹—and that the simpler brethren fall not into the snare of disobedience. “For it is profitable,” saith the Lord, “that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.”² But if some abide in disobedience, finding fault secretly but not making their discontent public, let them be expelled from the brotherhood since they cause doubts among the brethren and shake their readiness to fulfil the commandments, and teach disobedience and disaffection. For “cast out the pestilent fellow from the assembly and contention will go out with him.”³ And elsewhere: “Put away the wicked man from yourselves.... For a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”⁴

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