From the Responses of Timothy, Bishop of Alexandria, A.D. 380-385

From the former series.

Question XI. If someone has called a cleric to join in marriage, but he hears that it is an illicit marriage, as, for instance, either a union with an aunt, or that she who is to be joined in marriage is the sister of a deceased wife, ought the cleric to follow or to make the oblation?

Response. Say in one word: if the cleric has heard that the marriage is illicit and contrary to the laws, the cleric ought not to communicate in the sins of others.

Question XV. If someone's wife is seized by a spirit, so that she even wears iron fetters and manacles (that is, there is need to restrain her in this way), but the husband says: I cannot contain myself and I wish to take another; ought he to take another, or not?

Response. In this matter indeed adultery intervenes, nor do I find what I should answer concerning that matter; nevertheless, according to the spiritual sentence, he ought not.

The response, says Balsamon here, is that he can say nothing; for it is adultery if, the marriage standing, a man takes another woman as wife. But the question was whether the man could dissolve the prior marriage. Timothy responds that, according to the spiritual sentence, he ought not.

From the other series.

Question XXII. Certain men, when they have been received into the clergy, after their wives have died, marry others, some indeed virgins, others widows, and still others even those cast off. Ought they to be received to the liturgy, or not?

Response. The canon does not admit these men, but wholly reproves them.