Canon (religious)

• • 'the rules of the Church'. This was used collectively ( the canon) to mean the body of church law. Nowadays this branch of law is usually called canon law, "ecclesiastical law, as laid down in decrees of the pope and statutes of councils" (OED).
  • A particular rule that was established fairly early was that laying down which religious 'Books' were authentic, and should be included in the Bible. The Canon nowadays is not used for Canon Law but this list of Books of the Bible is the official list of the 'right' books to be included in the Bible. (Different Christian sects have slightly different canons.) See Books of the Bible for a list.
    • Some priests in some Christian sects are known as canons, because, at least historically, they lived under the rules governing societies of priests. (See also college.) Such priests may wear 'canonical dress', or a particular form of clothes that identifies them as canons.