Kánonok

Kánonok is the plural form of kánon in Hungarian. The term has several closely related meanings in ecclesiastical and historical contexts.

In ecclesiastical law, a kánon is a rule or normative act of church law. Collections of such rules are referred to as canons, and together they form kánonjog, the body of canonical law. Canons regulate aspects such as liturgy, sacraments, discipline, and church governance. The code most commonly associated with this field is the Code of Canon Law, used by the Roman Catholic Church, though other Christian traditions have their own canons and codifications.

A kánon can also denote a member of a cathedral chapter or a collegiate church. In this sense, the kánonok (plural) are the canons who form the chapter, participate in governing the cathedral, and perform regular liturgical duties. They are typically appointed or elected according to the rules of their church and may hold positions such as provost or dean within the chapter.

Historically, kánonok also appear in documents and collections that compile canonical rules or decisions from church councils and legal compilations. These usages emphasize the role of canons as both rule-makers and rule-keepers within church structure.

In modern Hungarian usage, kánonok most often appear in discussions of church law (kánonjog) or in descriptions of cathedral chapters, though the precise meaning depends on historical and denominational context.