Canonical Letters

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

In the ancient church, were testimonials of the orthodox faith which the bishops and clergy sent each other to keep up the Catholic communion, and distinguish orthodox Christians from heretics.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(called also Letters Dimissory) were granted in the early Christian Church to the country clergy who wished to remove from one diocese to another. The Council of Antioch forbade country presbyters granting such letters, but the privilege was not taken from the cho-episcopi. Such letters might be granted or refused at the will of the bishop, but no clergyman was allowed to remove from his own church or diocese without canonical letters from his own bishop.