It is necessary to determine the age at which those who desire to enter a monastic life can do so, for the reason that different rules have been laid down by Our Holy Fathers upon this subject; and, as many of them conflict, the differences should be reconciled. Therefore We, together with Your Holiness and your pious archbishops, have carefully examined the opinion of the great and admirable Basil, namely, that persons can not assume the monastic habit until they are sixteen or seventeen years old, and that of the Sixth Council, which held that they could do so at ten. We have adopted both of these rules and decided that anyone is eligible at either of these ages. So far as the power of alienation of property is concerned, We have determined that whoever assumes the monastic habit at sixteen or seventeen years of age can dispose of the same as he pleases, for We think that the great Basil fixed this age in order that it might not be an impediment to the exercise of this power. When a boy at the age of ten years desires to change his status by embracing a monastic life, it is clear that the Holy Council established the age at which he could do this with a view to aiding him in this respect; but We, nevertheless, do not grant him authority to dispose of his property by will, and decide that he cannot enjoy this right until he has reached the requisite age. If he should die before having done so, all his slaves shall be entitled to their freedom, and his estate shall be divided into three equal parts, one of which shall go to his relatives, and the other two to the monastery. When he has no relatives, the monastery shall be entitled to his entire estate.