The Council of Chalcedon
Clergymen and laymen bringing charges against bishops or clergymen are not to be received loosely and without examination, as accusers, but their own character shall first be investigated.
Source details
A.D. 451 · Canon 21 (451)
Checked word-for-word against Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2, Vol. 14 · 2026-07-26