Paganism, Superstitions, and Cultic Practices

OE Introduction

Scriftboc

Canons of Theodore

OE Penitential

OE Handbook

NOTE: “Paganism” has been used to include not only references to specifically pagan practices but also to describe “heathen” (Old English “hæþen”) customs, a term which sometimes refers to the behavior of those not bapized as Christians.

1. OE Introduction

S31.06.04 And keep the twelve Ember Days that are in the year, and guard yourself against witchcraft and sorcery and fornication and detraction and pride and covetousness of other men’s possessions;

S31.06.05 guard yourself against all these things.

2. Scriftboc

X06.00.00 VIII Concerning the heathens, how they marry, and concerning those who are twice baptized through ignorance and concerning those baptized by an adulterous priest and those who voluntarily are baptized twice

X06.01.01 Whatever heathen man forsakes a heathen woman, (it is) in his power, after their baptism, to have it (the marriage) or not to have it.

X06.01.02 In the same way, if one of them is heathen and the other is baptized, the heathen is allowed to depart from the baptized one, as the Apostle says: “If the unbeliever wishes to depart, let him depart.”

X07.01.01 If a child dies a heathen, his father and mother are to fast three years.

X07.02.01 He who murders his heathen child is to fast ten years according to the judgment of the canon; some wish (it to be) six years.

X07.03.01 If a pagan child is entrusted to a priest and it is unwell and it dies a heathen, the priest is to be cast out from his order. If it (the negligence) is dependent on the parents, the priest is to fast one year.

X07.04.01 Whichever priest, whether (he is) in his own shire or on a journey and someone on a journey asks him for baptism, and he refuses because of the haste of his journey, and the man dies a heathen, let the priest be removed from his order.

X08.02.01 However, the Pope in Rome determined that even though the priest is sinful or is a heathen, it is another who baptizes, for the ministry of the Holy Sprit dwells in the grace of baptism, rather than (in the ministry) of the man.

X08.06.01 A baptized person is not allowed to eat with a catechumen nor give him the kiss; how much more so is he not allowed to do this with a heathen.

X14.05.01 If a woman practices magic and incantations and sorcery and the like, she is to fast twelve months or the three 40-day fasting periods or forty days; ascertain how great the sin is.

X14.06.01 If a woman kills someone with her sorcery, she is to fast six years.

X14.08.01 A woman who mixes a man’s seed in her food and then eats it so she be more agreeable to the male is to fast for three years.

X15.11.01 A woman who drinks her husband’s blood as a remedy must fast forty days.

X16.01.00 XVIII Concerning sacrifices which are offered to demons

X16.01.01 If a man sacrifices something trivial to the devils, he is to fast one year. If he sacrifices something substantial, he is to fast ten years.

X16.02.01 If a woman sets her daughter on a rooftop or in an oven to cure (her: MS “men”) of a fever, she is to fast seven years.

X16.03.01 Whoever burns grain in a place where a man died in order to give health to living men and to the house, he is to fast five years.

X16.04.01 Whichever man eats food that has been consecrated to devils and afterwards confesses to the priest, let the priest discern what rank the man has, or what age, or how skilled the man is, and then he should judge as he thinks is wisest.

3. Canons of Theodore

B66.04.01 If a woman practice witchcraft and diabolical incantations, she is to cease and fast one year, and the three fasting periods or yet more according to the merits (of the case).

B66.04.02 If a woman effects an abortion of her child, the same measures are judged (as above, 66.04.01). Then, if it is after 40 nights from the seed’s reception, she is to be accused as a homicide and must then fast for three years every Wednesday and Friday and the three fasting periods.

B78.01.01 Whoever offers anything to the devil (and) concerning the most trivial things must fast for 1 year.

B78.01.02 If a woman sets her child on a roof or in an oven for the cure of a certain sickness (she) must fast for 7 years.

B78.01.03 Whoever burns corn for the health of the living where dead men are buried must fast for 7 years.

B78.01.04 In the canons it says that whoever performs exorcisms and divinations and the interpretation of dreams, that is done according to the calculation of the heathens. And who brings other men into such incantations, if they belong to the clergy they shall be degraded, and if they are lay people they are to repent with full penance.

4. OE Penitential

Y41.08.02 These are the vanities of this world: first is pride, and hatred, and envy, and anger, and theft, and drunkenness, and luxury, and fornication, and witchcraft, and avarice, and robbery, and sorcery, and manslaughter, and many other similar things.

Y42.22.00 Concerning those who practice heretical things

Y42.23.00 Concerning that it is not allowed to practice useless auguries

Y42.22.01 If any man promises his almsgiving (to false gods) or brings it to some well or stone or to a tree or to any other created thing except in God’s name, to God’s Church, he is to fast 3 years on bread and water. And although he presumes at some such place that he eat and drink and [but] bring no offering, nevertheless he is to fast 1 year on bread and water.

Y42.23.01 It is indeed not permitted to any Christian man that he practice useless auguries as heathen men do, that is that they believe in the sun and the moon and the stars’ course and seek time-auguries to begin their events, nor (in) gathering herbs with no incantation other than with the Pater Noster and with the Credo or with some prayer that belongs to God.

Y42.23.02 If anyone practice these vain things, he is to cease and confess and fast 40 days, and if he turns again to this idleness then he is to fast 3 Lenten fasts.

Y44.12.01 If any one kill another with witchcraft, he is to fast 7 years, 3 years on bread and water and for 4 years (he is to fast) 3 days each week on bread and water.

Y44.13.01 If someone drives a stake into another man, he is to fast 3 years, 1 year on bread and water and for 2 years he is to fast 3 days each week on bread and water; and if the man is dead because of the stake, then he is to fast 7 years as it is written above.

Y44.14.01 If anyone use witchcraft in the matter of any man’s desire and gives to him to eat or drink or any kind of incantation so that their love be the greater because of it: if a layman does it, he is to fast half a year on Wednesdays and Fridays on bread and water and the other days partake of his meals without meat.

Y44.14.02 If it is a cleric, he is to fast 1 year for 2 days (each week) on bread and water and the other days forgo meat.

Y44.14.03 If it is a deacon, he is to fast 3 years for 2 days each week on bread and water and every other day to forgo meat.

Y44.14.04 If it is a masspriest, he is to fast 5 years, 1 year on bread and water and for 4 years every Friday on bread and water and the other days forgo meat.

Y44.15.01 If anyone practice auguries or omens or keep a vigil at any well or at any other establishment except at God’s church, he is to fast 3 years, 1 on bread and water and for 2 years on Wednesdays and Fridays (he is to fast) on bread and water and on the other days partake of his meals except for meat only.

Y44.16.01 The woman is assessed the same (gets the same punishment) for that if she cures her child with any witchcraft or at a crossroads lets it be drawn through the earth, for that is a very heathen practice.

5. OE Handbook

D54.35.01 If someone destroy another with witchcraft, he is to fast three years on bread and water, and for 4 years (fast) 3 days each week on bread and water and repent ever after.

D54.36.01 If someone drive a stake into another he is to fast three years, 1 year on bread and water and 2 (years) 3 days each week on bread and water; and if he dies because of the stake, then he is to fast 7 years as it is written here and repent his offense ever after.

D54.37.01 If anyone performs witchcraft because of love of another and gives him (something) in his food or drink or (puts him) under in a magic spell, if it is a layman, he is to fast a half year on Wednesdays and Fridays on bread and water, and the other days take his food, except meat; if it is a cleric, 1 year as above, 3 days each week on bread and water; a deacon (is to fast) three years, as above; a masspriest, 5 years, 1 on bread and water and for 4 every Friday on bread and water, and the other days forgo meat.

C54.40.01 If an unhealthy child dies a heathen, responsibility for that belongs to the priest. He is to forfeit his rank and repent it earnestly; and if it came about through the negligence of friends, they are to fast for three years on bread and water and, for two years, three days in the week and repent it ever after.

C54.41.01 If someone gives (in exchange) a Christian man to a heathen, he is not deserving of any rest among Christian people unless he redeem him whom he gave. And if he cannot do that, is to he give the value (of the sale) to God’s worship and release another of the value of the other and free then him. And for that he must repent three years fully, as his priest instructs him, and if he does not have the means with which he can redeem someone, he must do penance more deeply, that is for seven years fully, and repent ever after.