Abtilis (Ethiopian)

Statute 57. Concerning that it is seemly that the bishop who is with you should be ordained by bishops. 15 It is seemly that a bishop should be ordained by three bishops or by two. If one bishop alone laid hand upon htm, he shall be deposed, and he also who ordained him. If it was because of the ferocity of men (that it was done) by a bishop alone, because it was not w possible to gather an assembly on account of the ferocity of men, and not through pride and unbelief : if it was thus, he shall take authority from many bishops, and it shall be proper for him, and it shall be by their commandment, and he shall not be deposed, nor he who 35 ordained him. Statute 58. The bishop shall bless, and they shall not bless him. And (the bishop) shall bless the first-fruits himself. And he shall ordain men. And he shall offer 30 the Oblation, and he shall administer the Eulogia STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES (awlogiya) and take it from a bishop, never from a presbyter. The bishop shall depose all the ordained (clergy) whom it is right to depose, except a bishop, for he alone is not able to do that The presbyter shall bless and shall be blessed, and he shall take the Blessing (barakat) from the bishop and from a presbyter like himself, and he administers to a presbyter like himself. He shall ordain, but shall not lo depose. Further, he shall inhibit those who sin, if they are worthy of such punishment The deacon shall not bless nor give the Blessing. He shall take the Blessing from the bishop or from the presbyter. He shall not baptise or offer (the Oblation), but when the bishop has offered, or the presbyter is alone, then he administers to the people, not as (one of) the priests, but as minister of the priests. Statute 59. And of the different ordained (clergy), the presbyters shall not do the work of the deacons, nor anything which is not theirs lit. his). The deaconesses shall not bless, and they shall not do any work which the presbyters and deacons do, but they shall keep the gates of the church. Except this there is no other work which they do, except the ministering to the presbyters when they baptise the women, for this is that which is proper for them. The deacon shall inhibit the subdeacon and the readers and the singers and the deaconesses. Thus indeed it TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 20 is suitable for him, if the presbyter is not present. It is not suitable for the subdeacons to inhibit either the readers or the server of the Scripture and the deaconesses, neither those in orders nor the (lay) people, because they are the servants of the deacons. 5 Statute 6a Concerning the first-fruits and tithes. All the first-fruits [and tithes] they shall bring to the bishops and presbyters and deacons for their support. But all the tithes they shall bring for the support of the rest of lo those in orders, and for the virgins and the widows, for those are afflicted by poverty, because the first-fruits are for the priests and their ministers. Statute 6i. Concerning that which is left of the 15 Oblations. The Eulogia which is left of the Mystery besides lit from) that which they offered, the deacons shall distribute among the priests, with the knowledge of the bishop or presbyter. Four parts shall be given to the bishop, and three shall be given to the presbyter, 20 and to the deacon two parts, and to the others, to the subdeacon and to the reader and to the singers and to the deaconesses, one part. This then is good and acceptable before God ; every- one shall perform his ordinance. And there is not in the 25 church one who did a sign, except he performed the ordinance in the good and honourable (manner) in which it should be done. Statute 62. Concerning him who desires to partake of STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES the Holy Mystery. He who desires to partake of the mysteries of holiness, which are of the service of God, shall be brought by the deacons to the bishop, or by the presbyters : and they shall examine them as to what was the cause by which they were called to stand and hear for the first time the word of God, And they who bring them shall bear testimony to them. And they shall examine them thoroughly with firmness concerning their works. lO Statute 63. Concerning trades and occupations. Let them examine them with firmness concerning their works and the life of their men, whether they are slaves or free. And if there is one who is a slave, let them examine his master whether he can bear testimony to him concerning his work. If he can bear good testimony he shall be received, and if he cannot bear testimony to him he shall be sent away, that he may make himself worthy of testimony being borne to him by his master, and if he should bear testimony he shall be received. If there is a slave and a handmaid, let them be taught to live according to the will of their masters, that the word of God should not be blasphemed. If there is one who has wife or husband, they shall be taught not to commit adultery and to abstain (from others). If there is one who is not married, they shall be taught not to commit adultery, but to be married accord- ing to law. If his master is a believer, and if he knows that his slave or his handmaid commits adultery, he shall give them in marriage according to law, and if he does TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 207 not give in marriage according to law that servant and that handmaid, that master of slaves shall be rejected from the church, because he made them impure. If there is a man who has a devil, let him be taught that he should be cured, and that he should not come into 5 the church to partake of the Mystery until he is purified. If he was at the point of death, they may bring him to receive the Oblation. If there is a man who eats of the house of the heretics and the adulterers and drinks with them, let him leave 10 off and remove from the place of the unclean and wicked, or he shall be rejected. A harlot, if she wishes to come in, shall leave this habit or be rejected. If there is a man who makes idols, if he wishes 15 to come in, he shall leave his former works or be rejected. If there is a man or woman and they come from another people, if they wish to come into our law, they shall leave their former work or be rejected. 20 If there is a man or woman of the people of the games, or providers (of the games), or painter, or drunkard, or diviner with earth and ashes, and fruit of trees, and anything else with which heathen sorcerers work, they shall not do it. Or he who plays the harp, or he who 25 sings to an instrument, or one who teaches singing, or who guides to fornication and the games, let them leave their works or be rejected. Or the circus-men who play in the circus ; and in like manner if there is a witch, or woman who guides to 30 fornication, or makes sport, or a piper, or a dancer, or STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES a singer, or teacher of this kind, she shall leave off or be rejected. Or one who inspires men with wickedness and hatred, or slanderers, or one of those who do the like of any of those things, they shall leave off and repudiate and be converted and repent They shall walk in the way of the believers, or they shall not be accepted. If there is a man of the army, and if he wishes to come in and know (the Faith), and if he came into our law, let lo him leave his robbery and violence and calumny and transgression and folly, and he shall be content with his pay, and if he left that occupation he shall be received, otherwise he shall be rejected. If there is a man who married a believing woman and did wickedly with his body or adultery, or is a soothsayer and an interpreter of unlucky hours and of good days, wishing to turn the hearts of men by this, and to corrupt their thoughts and their heart, and seduce them from the way of God. Or a shameless man, or a magician, or a charmer, or one who calls together spirits, or a star-gazer, or a fascinator, or lascivious, or drunkard, or who is evil in deed and word, or who speaks with a sign and his face to lead astray, or who divines by a bird, or who seals his hands and feet with a needle, who makes little marks with black and red, and wrote nonsense upon himself, or (who divines) with beans, (or divines) about a noise which he hears or words of men, that might be signs for him, or (divines) by what he sees or hears, or in suspicion he will not do what is known to be good. c Because all this is of the profane and fraudulent and impious. And they have writings, and they are like TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 209 those who know concerning life and death, and they shall not be received into our law, until they have examined them and proved them concerning their occupations, if they repented of their conduct ; and if they turned and left (the occupations) they shall be accepted, otherwise 5 they shall be rejected. Statute 64. If there is a concubine of an unbeliever, if she kept herself to him alone she shall be received, and if she took another she shall be repudiated. 10 And if there is a man who became like us, and if he comes into our law, having a concubine or a handmaid, he shall keep himself, and refrain from her, because he is a Christian, and he shall marry according to law, as we have commanded. If he loves her he shall first 15 write for her a writing of manumission, and afterwards let him marry her. If she is free he shall marry her according to law, and if he does not do thus he shall be rejected. And if there is a man among us, and he did wickedly, 20 or who persuades with the fables of the heathen, and who does like them, let him leave off and turn himself, otherwise he shall be rejected. And he who requests of the believers in Christ that he may be in the number of those who do virtuously, 25 and devote themselves in quietness and purity, shall prove himself in virtue three years. If he was a man who has spiritual gift and goodness and purity, he shall be received (sooner), because this thing shall not be quickly (or slowly) in its time, but it shall be (a matter) 30 of good mind and devotion and prudence. IO STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES And if there is a layman who teaches men aright, he shall be quiet in word and virtuous in his body. He shall not boast, but be correct in his speecL Then he shall teach men, and afterwards he shall be teacher of all of them by God. The prophet says : They shall be all taught by God. Statute 65. Concerning the washing of their hands at the time of prayer. Every believing man and woman at daybreak, having risen from sleep, before they do any work, shall wash their hands and pray. And if there is the word of exhortation, they shall prefer above (every) thing the good word of religion. Believing men and women shall keep their servants in fairness of service, as we have already ordered in the Scripture, and we instructed concerning honest slaves. Statute 66. Concerning the resting on both the sabbaths. Every believing man and woman shall rest on the sabbath and First day. They shall be kindly disposed towards their servants, as we have already taught. And we also commanded thus in our Epistle. Ye and your slaves and your servants, do your works five days. And on the sabbath and First day ye shall not do any work in them ; but they shall have opportunity for (going to) church, and for instruction in religion of God, and the teaching of the Holy Spirit, which gives inheritance of the kingdom of the heavens in the world which is to come, and which in the present world keeps them in much honour and TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 211 blessings, on them who fear God, and those who honour his sabbaths and rest on them. For on the sabbath day God rested from all his work, when he had made and finished the heaven and all that is in it, and the earth and all that is in it, the night and s the day, the sun and the moon and the stars, and the times and the quantities; when he had gathered the waters into their receptacles. And having done all this on all the days and finished his work, God rested on the seventh day, and named it the Sabbath, and hallowed it, lo and magnified it above all the days and blessed it. And see and understand that it is a memorial of his glory and a memorial of his work, and he made it a rest. And he said : God rested from all his work. He revealed it, that he might grant to us, that we also is should honour his sabbath and say that when he had created all creation and finished, he rested on it, (even) on the seventh day, and made it the sabbath holy and blessed and honourable and pure. And therefore he said in the (book of the) Law which (is about) the creation : ao And God blessed the seventh day which is the sabbath, and he hallowed it, because on it he rested from all his work which God began to do. And see that as sacred to God the rest was named Sabbath. Hear and learn the honour of the sabbaths, as that the sabbath was not first honoured by men, but by God, its maker and creator, was it honoured. And he honoured it and blessed it, and it was instituted as a rest for man and beast, and chiefly for a memorial of his glory and his work, that he might be known that he 30 is the maker and creator of aU. And he said : Keep my STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES sabbath, because it is my sign between me and you and your children, that ye may know that I am he who sanctifieth you. Then the First day is the day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the First (day) was named sabbath, and both were named sabbaths. And in the prophets also he plainly declares that both are sabbaths, and says : Honour my sabbaths and continue in my law and in my statutes. Thus said God to those who xo gather to him from other people and serve him and love the Name of God : Verily those become to me servants and handmaids. And all of those who honour my sabbaths, and profane them not, and continue in my ordinances, I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them rejoice in my house of prayer ; and my sacrifices and my Oblations from them shall be acceptable and pleasing, my house also shall be named the house of prayer for all peoples, saith God. And if they keep my command- ments and my sabbaths, and choose that which I wish, and continue in my ordinances, I will give them the house of my sanctuary, and in my court a place which he nameth, and which is better than sons and daughters and I will give them a name which is for ever, and which shall not pass away nor perish. Attend and understand when he said. My sabbaths, he said (it) of both days. When he said : Those who gathered together from another people, he said (it) of the Christian people and not concerning Esrael alone. And therefore observe both for our Lord Christ and honour both with great care. And having fulfilled all the law, ye shall find honour and glories and blessings which TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 213 God has prepared for them that love him in this world and in that also which is to come. Statute 67. And further, they shall not do work in the week (sabu’a) of the Pascha (Fasika). The first 5 week (samun), the great one which is of the Passion, in which our Lord was crucified ; and that which comes after it, the week (samun) of Fasika, which is the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and our Saviour. And the first week (samun) because our Lord and our God 10 was crucified in it ; and the second week (samun) because he rose in it from the dead. They shall not do any work on those days, and they shall know that he died and rose again from the dead. And further, they shall not do work on the day of the feast of the fortieth, 15 which is the day of the feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he made an end on it And further, they shall not do work on the day of the feast of the fiftieth, because the Holy Spirit, the Paraklltos, was manifested, he who came down upon the believers in our 20 Lord Christ. And further, they shall not do work on the day of the Nativity, which is of the Birth of our Lord Christ, because the grace of God was given quickly to men, when God was born, the Word, who is our Lord Jesus Christ, of our Lady Mary, the Saviour of the 25 world. And further, they shall not do work on the feast of the day of the Epifanya, because on that day the Divinity of our Lord Christ was shown, and the Father bore testimony to his Son in the baptismal place, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like the form of a 30 dove, and he was shown before all the people ; and those STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES who Stood by bore testimony to him, saying : This is God in truth, the Son of God in truth. And further, they shall not do work on the day of the feast of the Apostles, because they are those who became teachers of you to know our Lord Jesus Christ, and made you worthy to partake of the gift of the Holy Spirit And further, ye shall not do work on the day of Estifanos, the chief deacon and the first of martyrs, and (the days of) the other righteous and holy martyrs, all those who lo loved Christ our Lord more than their lives, and preferred him, honour them as much as ye can. Statute 68. Concerning the times of prayers. When ye rise at daybreak, pray. And pray at the third hour, IS and pray at the sixth hour, and pray at the ninth hour, and pray in the evening, and pray at the time of sleep, and pray at the time of midnight and at cock-crow. At daybreak let us give thanks because God causes the light to shine upon us, having turned away for us the ao night, and brought the day. And also at the third hour, because in this hour Pilatos delivered up our Lord. And at the sixth hour our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. And at the ninth hour he gave up his spirit, and the world was disturbed, and when they pierced his side blood and water came forth from him. And when they crucified our Lord all creation was afraid and trembled before him concerning that which the impious Jews did, and they could not look upon the mocking of the Lord. And also at the time of evening let us give thanks because he has given rest to us at night from the toil of the day. And also at cock-crow, because at that TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 21 hour he announces the coming of the day to do the work of the day. Statute 69. And if ye cannot go to the church because of unbelievers, thou, bishop, make prayer in 5 thy house, that the servants of God mingle not with the assembly of the impious ; because it is not the place which sanctifies the man, but the man sanctifies the place. And if the impious seize the place, flee from it, because they pollute it As the pure man sanctifies the church, so it 10 is defiled by the unclean. And if ye cannot assemble together in a house or in the church, each one shall sing psalms where he is by himself, and shall read the Scripture and pray. If there are two and three they shall pray, because our Lord said : Where 15 there are two and three gathered together in my Name, there am I in their midst. And the believers shall not pray with a catechumen in the (same) house, because it is not right that he who partakes of the holy Mystery should be defiled. 20 The servants of God shall not pray with the heretics, nor in the house (of any) Who would join light with darkness, and believers with doubters ? Believing men or women, if they live with slaves, shall be excommunicated and go out of the church. 25 Statute 70. Concerning the memorial of those who have fallen asleep. The third day shall be observed with psalms and prayers, because of the resurrection of our Lord the third day. Further, they shall observe seven 3 days for a memorial of the living and the dead. And l6 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES further, they shall observe the completion of a month in likeness of the old ordinance, even as the people mourned for Moses thirty days. And further, they shall observe the completion of forty days ; and they shall observe half a year. And further, they shall observe the completion of a year in likeness of their memorial. And they shall give to the poor of the goods of those who die as propitiation for their soul, for their memorial. This we say only concerning the servants of God. As lo for the wicked indeed, if they gave the riches of all the world to the poor there would be no profit to them : for if being alive he was an enemy of God, the thing (lit. his word) is clear that he was his enemy when he went out of the world. He finds no mercy, because there is no respect of persons with him (sc. God), for God is righteous and loves righteousness, and lo ! the man (is judged) from his work, and lo ! the man who is good they say his work is also (good). And if ye are invited, eat moderately and in the fear of God, because it is seemly to pray for those who departed from this world. And ye presbyters and deacons who are in our Lord Christ, it is seemly that ye should be temperate at all times, ye and others also, that ye may be able to do what the Scripture says : The strong and angry shall not drink wine, lest they should be drunken and should for- get wisdom, and not be able to judge rightly. Because as administrators under God the almighty and the only Son our Lord Jesus Christ are the presbyters and the deacons, and the powers of the church. And we say this, not forbidding them to drink wine, TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 217 because we cannot despise what God has created for the joy of man, but that they should not drink for drunken- ness. And the Scriptures do not say ; They shall not drink wine, but they say : They shall not drink wine for drunkenness. And again he says : Drunkenness causeth thorns to spring up in the hand of a man. This which we say is not for the priests alone, but for all Christian people, who are named with the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who spoke concerning them and said : To whom (shall be) sorrow and indignation and blackness of eyes lo and fighting and breaking of bones to whom shall they be except to those who exceed in drinking wine, and to those who ask and go where there is drinking. Statute 71. Concerning those who are persecuted for 15 the Faith. And those who flee from city to city for the Faith and in remembrance of the word of our Lord : and they know that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, and they flee from place to place, and they patiently endure being spoiled of their goods that they might keep the name of Christ and not deny him ; help them and give them all that they desire, and fulfil the commandment of God, our Lord. And all this we command you in common. And every- one shall stay in the Order which was given to him, and as shall not step out of the commandment which they ordained for him. And this commandment is not our own, but that of God the Father, for he said : He who heard you heard me, and he who heard me heard him who sent me. And he who rejected you rejected me, y and he who rejected me rejected him who sent me. l8 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES Do not those created things which have no soul keep the commandment which was given to them, day and night, sun and moon and stars and winds and changes of moons and weeks and hours and days ? and they perform the work which was ordained to them : as it was spoken at the beginning. And he said : He gave them command- ment and they do not transgp-ess. And concerning the sea he said : I have placed for it an ordinance, and I have placed against it a bar and a gate, and I said : Thus far lo come, and thou shalt not pass beyond. How much more ought ye not to be moved at all in that which is ordained to you according to the will of God. And there are some who make this as nothing, and confuse ordina- tions, and (yet) offices which have been assigned to each IS shall not be confused, and ye shall not seize for your own selves an ordination which was not given to you, and ye shall not pass beyond by force to possess that which is not yours, but belongs to others, over which ye have no authority. Because of this (offence) ye provoke God like the children of Kore and king ‘Ozyan who grasped the priestly work without the will of God : the former indeed were burnt with fire, and of the latter his face was changed by leprosy. For they provoked God, Jesus Christ, who commanded that it should be thus, and they caused to be pained the heart of the Holy Spirit, and they rejected his testimony, and despised him, and they fear not his judgpnent which is prepared for them who do this thing, and the carelessness which they commit with regard to the Oblation, and the bread of the Blessing, whenever they are offered by those who are not worthy, who TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 219 think to do the honourable work of the priesthood, which is in the likeness of the great Chief Priest, Christ ; and there are some who make this (work) to be foolishness. And we indeed desired to teach them this, but hence- forth we speak of Moses, the servant of God, with whom s God spoke face to face, as one speaks with his neighbour ; who said : I know thee above all men, with whom Gkxl spoke face to face, (not) with signs and miracles and visions and angels and interpretations this in the day on which he commanded the holy Law. And he ordained this lo ordinance, and as was proper that they should fulfil it, con- cerning the ordination of the priesthood, and what was suitable for the priests, and what was suitable for the levites : and he separated each as was proper for him and as was right for his service ; that which the chief priests 15 were commanded to do and which was not proper to be done by the priests, and not by the decree of the law to be done ; and that which the priests were commanded, the levites could not approach (to do) ; but each one should keep to the service of God which he received, and should not step out of it. And when anyone transgressed and stepped out of his service which he received, he should be condemned to death. And this is abundantly plain to us from what happened to Saol, when he thought to offer sacrifice of his own 25 will, before that the prophet and chief priest Samuel came, and caused to come upon himself sin and a curse, for ever. The prophet was not afraid because of the anointing with which he anointed him to be king. And God has made known to us by the declaration of 30 the great thing which happened to king ‘Ozyan. Not long STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES tarried the vengeance for the perverseness with which he acted, and made him an alien from his kingdom, because of the ordination of the priesthood to which he aspired. Statute 72. Concerning the Order of the Priesthood. Each one of you knows what we have ordained for you, and further ye know that there are some whom we name bishops, and others whom we name presbyters, and others are named deacons. With prayer we laid hand upon them, and we appointed to each an Order according to its different name. And among us there is no one who desires a filling of our hand, nor will he receive from us that which he wishes for of priesthood, as the priests of the oxen of lyurebe am, which were made as an abomination to God. Unless there had been a special Order for each accord- ing to law, one name would have sufficed for all the world ; but having been taught by God a guidance for all func- tions, we have separated for the bishops the ordination of the priesthood, for the presbyters the priesthood, for the deacons the service …. that the work of the service might be completed withal. It is not seemly for the deacons to offer the Oblation, or to baptise, or to give the Eulogia to small or to great. And the presbyter shall not ordain anyone, because he was not worthy (of anything) beside his Order. For God is not a God of confusion, so that the inferiors may not grasp (at office) with audacity. What work then will be com- pleted by the imperfect And they make a new law to the Arabic insan,’ man,’ being read for etnain,’ two.’ TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 221 their own destruction, and do not know that it is a small thing which is in their power lit. with them) ; and they kick with their feet in the net And if thus, they do not oppose us, but they oppose the Bishop of all the world, the Son of God, the Chief Priest Jesus Christ our Lord, j A chief priest, priests, and levites were ordained by Moses, the lover of God, and we the twelve Apostles were ordained by our Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ, and we ordained for us Klementos and Ya’ekob and others with them, that we might send ‘ each one of them, lo and further, we all of us ordained withal presbyters and deacons. And the first Presbyter, the only true Chief Priest, is our Lord Jesus Christ, who did not grasp for himself the honour, but the Father ordained him. And as he is the Chief Priest for us, so he offered spiritual 15 sacrifice to God the Father before he was crucified, and he commanded us to do likewise. And there were others with us who believe in him, but he does not grant to all who believe in him to be priests, nor to obtain the Order of ordination of priesthood like us. And after his 20 Ascension we offered according to the ordinance of the holy bloodless Oblation. And we ordained bishops and presbyters and deacons in number seven, and amongst them Estifanos, the first martyr, who was not the least of us in his love of God : but he showed his service of God aj by faith and love of Jesus Christ our Lord, so much that he gave his life up for his sake ; and the wicked Jews, the murderers of the Lord, stoned him with stones for his name and killed him. But he was a man of such fervent unpointed Arabic ‘send’ instead of describe.’ STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES spirit that he saw our Lord Christ at the right hand of God, and he saw the open gates of the heavens. And it is nowhere found that he did what was not suitable for him as deacon, that he offered sacrifice or laid hand upon anyone, but he kept to his Order of deacon unto the end. For thus it was proper for the martyr of our Lord Christ to fulfil the duties of his Order. And if there are any who blame Filepos the deacon and Hananya the faithful brother because the one lo baptised the eunuch and the other baptised even me, Pawlos, they are deluded as to what we say ; for we say that no one should take by force the ordination of priesthood, but he obtained it from God, as Malkasedek and Ya’ekob; or from the chief priest, as Aron from IS Muse ; therefore that Filepos and Hananya themselves took not ordination from themselves, but from our Lord Christ. They believed in the Chief Priest of God, with whom there is none to be compared. PRAYER OF EARLY MORNING And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father of our Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ, while thank- ing him because he has kept us throughout the night, and brought us from darkness into light, from corruption into that which is incorruptible, and from ignorance into the knowledge of the truth, that throughout the day also he may cause us to be in all peace and health, and pro- tect his people with the power of his angels, who has authority over all work of blessing, the Lord our God. the Lord, etc’ TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 223 The deacon shall say : Pray. O Lord the almighty, do thou cause us to be in all peace and health throughout the day, for thou hast kept us throughout the night Thou, Lord, the almighty, send to us thine angel the good guide. And have mercy upon 5 us according to the greatness of thy mercy, and accord- ing to the multitude of thy clemency blot out our wicked- ness. And none of us is an alien and a backslider, put us not away from thy favour, because of thy name which was named over us. Be forgiving to us and forsake us 10 not. Grant us to obtain favour before thee and before Christ thy Son, through, etc. PRAYER FOR THE SICK And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc., for the sick brethren, that he may remove all sick- ness and all suffering from them. Having taken away the spirit of disease, may he who has authority for all healing give to them life, the Lord our God. 20 The deacon shall say : Pray for the sick. God the almighty, the Father, etc., we pray thee and we beseech thee for the sick brethren. Grant to them life. Take away the spirit of sickness. Cause to pass away from them all disease and all suffering. Speedily 35 let thy mercy find us, O Lord. The deacon shall say : Let us all say. The people shall say : Have mercy upon us. Physician of the soul and physician of the body, thou art the overseer of all flesh, and of those who are troubled 50 with unclean spirits; deliver every tormented and IS STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES oppressed soul, give health and give rest, drive away all disease from this house, and from those who call upon thy holy and blessed name. Having healed the disease of all of our souls, grant perfect soundness, through, etc. PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO MAKE A JOURNEY And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, JO etc, for those our brethren who make a journey, and also for those who are about to make a journey, whether by sea, or by rivers, or by the deeps, or by road, in whatever journey they may travel, that he may bring all into the safe harbour, the almighty Lord our God. IS The deacon shall say : Pray. Lord our God the almighty, we pray thee and we beseech thee for our brethren who make a journey, and also for those who are about to make a journey abroad ; direct (them) as fellow (traveller) though we are many. Speedily let thy mercy find us, O Lord. The deacon shall say : Let us all say. The people shall say : O Lord, have mercy upon us. Bring them into the safe harbour. Restore them to their people with joy and with peace, rejoicing and causing to rejoice, through, etc PRAYER FOR RAINS And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc, for rains, that he may send his rain into the place where it is needed, the almighty Lord our God. TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 225 The deacon shall say : Pray. Lord our God the almighty, we pray thee and we beseech thee, send thy rains into the place where they are needed. Make to rejoice the face of the earth, and water its furrows. Bring the sowing and the harvest, 5 and bless the circle of the year with thy goodness. Speedily let thy mercy find us, O Lord. The deacon shall say : Let us all say. The people shall say : O Lord, have mercy upon us. For the poor of thy people, and for all those who hope 10 in thee, work with us according to thy clemency, and nourish our mind with the doctrine of the Godhead, and with understanding which is from thee, through, etc. PRAYER FOR THE FRUIT OF THE EARTH 15 And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father etc., for the fruit of the earth, that he may increase the fruit of the earth, and that he may be pleased to bring the sowing and the harvest. May he grant rich favour, 20 the Lord our God. The deacon shall say : Pray for the fruit of the earth. Lord our God the almighty, we pray thee and we beseech thee, increase the fruit of the earth, and be pleased (and) bring the sowing and the harvest, which 25 is from thy goodness. Speedily let thy mercy find us, O Lord. The deacon shall say : Let us all say. The people shall say : O Lord, have mercy upon us. For the poor of thy people and for all who call upon 30 thy holy and blessed name, through, etc. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES PRAYER FOR THE WATERS OF THE RIVERS And again we’ beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc, for the waters of the rivers, that he may cause (them) to rise up to their (proper) measure. Make to rejoice the face of the earth. May he bring the sowing and the harvest May he grant rich favour, the Lord lo our God. The deacon shall say : Pray for the waters of the rivers. God the almighty, we pray thee and we beseech thee, cause to rise the waters of the rivers up to their (proper) measure. Make to rejoice the face of the earth, and water its furrows. Multiply food, and bless the circle of the year with thy goodness. Speedily let thy mercy find us, O Lord. The deacon shall say : Let us all say. ao The people shall say : O Lord, have mercy upon us. For the poor of thy people, and for all who call upon thy holy and blessed name, through, etc. PRAYER FOR THE KING as And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc., for the lover of God, our king, lyasu, that he should keep his kingdom without trouble, in peace and righteous- ness, the almighty Lord our God. The deacon shall say : Pray for the king. Lord our God the almighty, we pray thee and we TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 22 beseech thee for the king of this land, the lover of God, our king, lyasu, and grant to him what is useful for him. Cause to submit his enemy, the peoples who are against his wall And speak in his heart for thy holy Church. Speedily let thy mercy find us, O Lord. 5 The deacon shall say : Let us all say. The people shall say : O Lord, have mercy upon him. Grant him without error to keep (his) understanding concerning the faith in the excellence of thy Godhead, through, etc. lo PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO OFFER AN OFFERING And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, is etc., for those who offer an offering in the holy, one, catholic lit. which is over all) Church, a scurrifice, first fruits, tithes, a thanksgiving, a memorial, whether much or little, secret and open. And as for those who have nothing and wish to give, (though) they have nothing to to give, accept their desire, and having accepted the longing of every one of them, grant to them the heavenly Spirit And as for those who have somewhat and do not wish to give, soften their heart to do good, thou (lit. he) who hast authority for all work of blessing, the Lord our sj God. The deacon shall say : Pray for those who offer an offering. God the almighty, we pray thee and we beseech thee for those who offer an offering to the holy, one, catholic 50 Church, to the honour of thy name, an offering and a STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES thanksgiving of first-fruits and of tithes, of much and of little, of secret and of open. And as for those who have nothing (yet) who wish to give, accept their desire as the offering of Abel : and as the Hebrew woman who offered the two mites, and as the sacrifice of the forefathers. And thus accept into the heavenly altar. Repay them with a reward of blessing, heavenly in return for earthly, and much in return for little, and open in return for secret, and life everlasting in Christ in return for food lo and drink, through, etc PRAYER FOR THE CATECHUMENS And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc., as regards his servants the catechumens, that he may impart to them in due time the washing of reneration for the forgiveness of sin, the almighty Lord our God. The deacon shall say : Pray for the catechumens, ao God the Lord almighty, the Father, etc., we pray thee and we beseech thee, have mercy upon thy servants the catechumens. Be kind, (and) remove from them all the remains of the idols. Impose upon their hearts thy law and thy commandment, and thy righteousness and thine ordinance. Speedily let thy mercy find us. The deacon shall say : Let us all say. The people shall say : O Lord, have mercy upon us. In proper time (impart to them) the washing of regeneration for the forgiveness of sin. Make them the shrine of the Holy Spirit, through our Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ, through whom, etc. TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 229 PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc., Lord of the living, Life of the dead, and Hope 5 of the desperate, Helper of the afflicted, Cleanser of sinners, who hast abolished death and burst the bonds of Satan (Sayetan). Thou hast granted life to the race of men, thee we pray and beseech, who wilt not die for ever and ever, with whom is the treasure of life, for 10 those who have fallen asleep and rested in the faith ; the forefathers, the bishops, (papasat), presbyters and deacons, and readers (anaguenestis), and monks, and virgins, and widows (of the order), infants, widows and orphans lit. offspring of the dead) ; and for the soul of 15 thy servant N(egale) and for the soul of all those who are there in that place, whom thou calledst from among thy people in righteousness and in uprightness. Give rest to their soul in the place of pasturage by the water of rest, in the bosom of Abreham, Yeshak, and Ya’ekob, in the 20 garden of joy, among the guides of light, thine angels, having united (them) with thy holy ones. And raise up their body in the day which thou hast appointed, accord- ing to thy holy unlying promise of thy heavenly kingdom ; for there is no death to thy servants, but 25 rather a passing, and although one has sinned, and the law of man was hidden from them, be indulgent; for thou, God, art good and the lover of man ; for there is none pure from uncleanness before thee, even though he lived one hour upon the earth. Do thou grant passings 30 to their soul freely, without hindrance. Send the Spirit STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES of the Comforter, and who gives consolation to their people. Comfort them, cause them to rejoice in Christ, through, etc. PRAYER FOR PEACE And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc, for the peace of the holy, one, catholic Church, that he may grant much peace upon all rulers lit. shepherds) and peoples and upon all flocks, he who has authority lo for all peace, the Lord our God. The deacon shall say : Pray for peace. Lord our God the almighty, we pray thee and we be- seech tliee for the peace of the holy, one, catholic Church. King of peace, give to us peace, because thou gavest to IS us everything. Possess us, God, and reward us, for beside thee there is no other whom we know. And thy holy name we name and we invoke. Do thou impart thy heavenly peace upon us all. Preserve (our) life lit. soul) and our condition of this world peacefully. Give peace ao to the king of this land, and through thy holy name give counsel to the rulers of the neighbouring peoples. Guard our coming in and our going out in peace, that living in a quiet and tranquil life we may be found in all piety, in the fear of God and virtue in Christ, through, etc. PRAYER FOR THE CONGREGATION And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc., for the congregation, this as well as all our congre- gations, that he may grant that it may be according to his holy will, the almighty Lord our God. TRANSLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 23 1 The deacon shall say : Pray for our congregation. God the almighty, we pray thee and we beseech thee for this our congregation as well as all our congregations. Grant that it may be according to thy holy will, where we do this service of our congregation and other congre- s gations also. And make it a house of prayer and a house of blessing. Vouchsafe to bestow upon us, and upon those who (come) after us, the everlasting salvation. Rise up, O Lord, and let all thine enemies be scattered, and let all flee away from before thy face who hate lo thy holy and blessed name, and make thy people ten thousand of ten thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand, through, etc PRAYER FOR THE PAPAS ‘ And again we beseech the almighty God, the Father, etc., for the blessed and holy Papas, Aba N(egale), that thou wilt in keeping keep him for us during many years and during times of peace, while he fulfils the priesthood ao which has been entrusted to him by thee. May the Lord our God grant rich favour. The deacon shall say : Pray for Papas N. Lord our God the almighty, we pray thee and we beseech thee for the blessed Papas N. In keeping keep 25 him for us during many years, during times of peace, while he fulfils the priesthood which was entrusted to him by thee, together with all the bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and with all the fulness of the holy, one, catholic Church. And the prayer which they make for y us and for all thy people hear (it), and accept them ; and STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES open to them the treasury of thy clemency ; and further, pour down upon him abundantly thy grace of thy Holy Spirit, thy heavenly blessing, that he may bless thy people ; and moreover, cause to submit every enemy, visible or invisible, and bruise (them) under his feet ; and himself indeed keep for thy Church in glory, through thine only Son, through whom to thee with him and with the Holy Spirit (be) glory and might, now and ever and for ever and ever. Amen. TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT The statutes of the apostles. The second In the name of God, one in essence (and) threefold in eternal Persons, glory to him for ever, and upon us 5 his mercy. These are the Canons of our Fathers, the Apostles, which they ordered for the establishment of the Church by the hand of Clement. The first chapter, the introduction of the Canon of the Apostles, and the mention of the names of some of them. All hail, O sons, 10 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first chapter: Said John and Matthew and Peter and Philip and Simon and James and Nathaniel and Thomas and Kayfas and Andrew and Bartholomew and Jude and James by the command of our Master Jesus 15 Christ and our Saviour. When we were assembled together he commanded and said : Verily ye have not divided the countries among you, but (now) let each of you take his place according to your number. Define the rank of the 20 bishops and the seats of the presbyters and the probably translated the wrongly pointed Arabic MS. Paris, 25 1, corrected the pointing from ‘ take ‘ or ‘ begin ‘ to ‘ define.’ STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES administration of the deacons, and the intelligence of the readers (agnustisin), and the widows without fault, and the works upon and by which it is proper to strengthen the foundations of the Church; that S ye may know the pattern of that which is in the heavens : and that they may be kept from all defile- ment, and know that they indeed will answer at the day of judgment for that which they have heard, and have not kept. lo He commanded us to send these words into all the world ; and it is proper for us all to be according as the Lord has revealed to each by the will of God the Father through the Holy Spirit, and we remember his words and command this, by way of remembrance and instruction, my brethren. The second chapter : Concerning the reproof of him who says what is not ‘ proper, and concerning the love of God and the love of thy neighbour. Said John : O men, O brethren, we know that we shall ao answer for everything which has been offered to us : and let no one accept the person of him who is with him, but if one of those who are with him should happen to say what is not proper, then let him reprove him that what he says is not good. And cause John to speak first. And John said : Verily (there are) two places, the place of life and the place of death, and between lit. in) these two places difference. The place of life is this, that thou shouldst love the Lord thy God who created thee with all thy heart, and shouldst glorify him who TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 235 saved thee from death. This is the first commandment ; and the second is this, that thou shouldst love thy com panion as thyself. On this are hung all the law and the prophets. The third chapter: Concerning a thing which thou 5 hatest thou shalt not do it to another. Said Matthew : All that thou wishest not should come to thee, do not thou it to another. This is the same as that all that thou hatest, do it not (to another). And thou, O brother Peter, teach them with these words. 10 The fourth : Concerning the commandments. Said Peter : Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not dishonour a young boy. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not be a soothsayer. Thou shalt not be a star-gazer. Thou shalt not be a sorcerer. 15 Thou shalt not cause abortion, nor after (the child) is bom shalt thou kill it. Thou shalt not covet anything of thy companion. Thou shalt not hate any man. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not say evil of any- one Thou shalt not think about contriving wickedness. 30 Thou shalt not be of double heart, nor double tongue. Surely to be double-tongued is a deadly snare. Nor shall thy words be vain or false. Nor shalt thou be a lover of the greater portion, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor one of evil heart, nor proud, nor deviser 35 of evil counsel against thy neighbour, nor hate any man, but reprove some, and on others have pity, and pray for others, and love others more than thyself. The fifth : It warns, and forbids anger and envy and obstinacy. 50 Said Andrew : O my son, fly from all wickedness and STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES hate all evil. Thou shalt not be angry, for anger leads to killing ; because anger is an evil demon. Thou shalt not be envious or obstinate or a lover of fighting, for by this thou shalt gain evils. The sixth : Thou shalt not be lustful. Said Philip : Thou shalt not be lustful, for lust leads to adultery and leads the man by compulsion ; because lust is a female demon ; because when the demon of anger is united with that of (sensual) pleasure, it is perdition to him who receives them both ; and the place of the unclean spirit is the sin of the soul. When he finds a little entrance, then he enlarges the place and takes with him all the unclean spirits, and they enter into that soul and allow not that man to rise at all to behold the right Let your anger put a limit to it(self). Break it off and put an end to it, lest it cast you into a deed of very great evil. Anger and (sensual) pleasure are evil ; if they remain for much time they become demons, and when they prevail over the man they set fire to his soul, and when they have brought him to deeds of iniquity they mock him and rejoice over the perdition of the soul of that man. The seventh: Thou shalt not be (one) of the evil- speakers. Said Simon : O my son, thou shalt not be (one) of the evil-speakers, nor lofty of eye, for by this will be adultery. The eighth: Thou shalt not interpret lit. say by) prodigies and star-gazing, or by magic and other things. Said James: O my son, thou shalt not interpret TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 237 prodigies, for this leads to idolatry, nor be a magician or a master of hours and chooser of days nor star-gazer, nor shalt thou desire earnestly to be acquainted with them, for in all this is idolatry. The ninth: Thou shalt not be a liar nor a lover of 5 gold or vainglory. Said Nathaniel : O my son, be not a liar, because lying leads to theft ; nor be a lover of gold or vainglory, for by all this thou shalt be drawn to theft O my son, do not murmur, because grumbling leads the man to blasphem- 10 ing. Be not overbearing nor thinker of evil, for in all this is unbelief Be gentle, for the gentle will inherit the kingdom of the heavens. Be kind, merciful, peaceable, with heart pure from all evil and without sin, gentle, meek, virtuous, observant, trembling at the words which 15 thou hast heard. Do not exalt thyself only, nor put thyself with the lofty ones, but be a companion of the righteous and humble, and all that happens to thee receive with thankfulness, and know that there will be nothing except (ordained) by the Lord. 30 The tenth : Him who says to thee the words of God and became life to thee, thou shalt honour and support with thy toil it. sweat). Said Thomas : O my son, him who says to thee the words of God, and became to thee the cause of life, and 35 gave to thee the seal of dominion, love as the apple of thine eye, remember him day and night and honour him like the Lord, for the place in which is remembered the Lordship, the Lord is there ; ask of him tt. his face) STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES every day, him and the rest of the holy ones, and thou shalt rest on their words. He who is associated with the holy ones will become holy. Honour him as (lies in) thy power and with thy toil it. sweat) and the labour of s thy hands. I f the Lord has made thee worthy to receive from him spiritual food and eternal life, then it is most proper for thee to give to him food perishable and temporal The labourer is worthy of his hire. Thou shalt not muzzle the bull in the threshing-floor. No man planteth t. soweth) a vine and eateth not of the fruit thereof TAe eleventh: Thou shalt not cause division, but reunite the separated. Said Ka(a : Thou shalt not cause division, but reunite IS the separated in peace, and judge with justice. Thou shalt not accept the person of the sinner for sin, because riches have no power with God ; and do not respect rank. Thou shalt not make double the writing, but (act) with him equally in all things. Thou shalt not be of double heart ao in thy prayer, and think whether he will fulfil to thee what thou desirest or not Thou shalt not think when thou stretchest forth thy hand (to receive and) when thou hast finished [and] hast drawn it back to thee. If there was anjrthing in thy hand and thou hast given it, thou shalt seek deliverance from thy misdeeds. Thou shalt not be of double heart, for if thou hast given, (it is) thy acquisition : know who it is who will repay thee. Thou shalt not turn away him who asks, but share with the TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 239 needy in all things. Thou shalt not say, Surely they are mine alone those which are mine. If ye are sharers one with another in what is imperishable, how (much more) in perishable ? The twelfth : The exhortation to giving alms. 5 Said Bartholomew : I beseech you, O my brethren, while time remains to you, and ye are yourselves able to do good to others it. them), do not be slack in giving ; while anything remains to you ye shall give it. For the day of the Lord is near, and all that will be seen in it and 10 the wicked will perish ; and the Lord will come, and his reward with him. Be lawgivers to yourselves, be teachers of yourselves, as God taught you, and keep that which I said, and add not to them, nor diminish from them. 15 Said Peter : O brethren, the Scriptures teach them concerning the rest of the commandments. As for us, we speak to them what we were commanded. They said with one accord : Let Peter speak. The thirteenth : Concerning the ordination of the 20 Bishop. Said Peter : If it is a place with few people in it of the Faithful, and the assembly not large enough to elect a bishop, being not more than twelve men, then let them write to the churches of the neighbourhood, the place 25 (in) which there are many of the Faithful, to bring three of the Faithful, trustworthy men, chosen from that place ; and they shall test carefully as to which is worthy of the bishop unto the limit of twelve men,’ reading ‘ tadhkirah,’ voting-ticket, for ‘ tazkirah,’ purity. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES work, if he has a life of good repute among the peoples, and without sin or anger, a lover of the poor, and kind, not a drunkard, nor adulterer, nor lover of the greater portion, not a railer, nor a hypocrite and the like of that And it is good that he have no wife, but if he has been married to one wife before he becomes bishop, let him live with her; and he shall have a share of all sound doctrine and be able to expound the Scriptures ; and if he knows not how to write, then he shall be humble and lo abound in love to all men, that he may not be judged about anything and so be convicted. Said John : The bishop who is ordained, if he knows how to keep himself and (has) the love of God and of those who are with him, let him appoint two presbyters, having tested them. They all said : Not two, but three, because they are four and twenty elders, twelve on the right hand and twelve on the left hand. Said John : It is good that ye have reminded me, O brethren. Those who are on the right hand take the cups from the archangels, they offer them to the Lord ; and those who are on the left hand are over the multitude of the angels. It is proper that the presbyters should be in the form of elders, and past the time of intercourse with wife, and they shall share in the Mysteries with the bishop, and help him in everything, and gather to (him) loving (him) as their shepherd. And the presbyters who are on the right hand shall be occupied with those who toil at the altar : TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT Z41 let them be worthy of the honour, and they shall reject him who is worthy to be rejected. And the presbyters who are on the left hand shall be occupied with the assembly, that they may be quiet and not make disturb- ance, but being controlled with all control, may be obedient with all obedience. The fourteenth : Concerning the ordination of the Readers (agnustisin). Said James : Let the reader (agnustis) be appointed after he has been first tested. And he shall not be of lo many words, nor a drunkard, nor speak in mockery ; he shall have a life of good repute, (and be) a lover of virtue, and quick of going to the place of assembly, one who remembers in it the judgment, and he shall be obedient and read well, and know that the duty of the reader is to is do what he reads, he who fills the hearing of others. Is it not proper for him that he should know what he says ? Is not it written : This is a sin in him before God ? The fifteenth : Concerning the ordination of the Deacons. ao Said Matthew : Let them be tested in all service, and the assembly shall bear testimony to them that they live with one wife and bring up their children in purity, and they shall be kind and meek, and not grumblers, nor double-tongued, nor wrathful, for anger irritates the 25 wise man ; and they shall not accept the person of the rich, nor oppress the poor, nor drink much wine, and they shall work hard for the Mysteries, the hidden, the beautiful, the cheering. And they shall oblige him of the brethren who has anything, to comfort 30 him who has not, and to be sharers with them also STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES in giving, and they shall honour the assembly with all honours and modesty and fear, and they shall keep themselves with all firmness. Some they shall teach, others they shall question, and for others they shall pray. Those who are rejected they shall expel at once, and they shall know that the adversaries, the rejected, the insulters are nothing but your adversaries. The sixteenth : Concerning the Widows. Said Kaia : Let three widows be appointed ; they lo shall devote themselves to prayer, and attend to all (who) are in afflictions, and (who) wish to tell them what it is ; and let the other (widow) be appointed with the women who are afflicted with sicknesses, that they may attend to them in the best way, sitting up at night ; and they shall inform the presbyters what is the matter. She shall not be a lover of gain, nor a drunkard, lest she should neglect, and not keep watch in the service of the night. And if anyone (of the widows) wished to do good works, let her do it in the kindliness of her heart, because the goodness of the Lord has been first announced (to her). The seventeenth: Concerning the Deacons, they shall be doers of good works. Said Andrew : The deacons shall be doers of good works by night and day in every place, and shall not exalt themselves above the weak nor accept the person of the rich, but they shall take knowledge of the feeble and give to them of what is over, and oblige them who have anything to gather for them good things, and TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 243 fulfil the words of our Teacher : Verily ye saw me hungry and ye fed me. And they who minister a good (ministry) without fault shall surely gain for themselves the place of the pasture. The eighteenth : The statute of the Layman. Said Philip : Let the layman hear the commands which are said to him, with cheerfulness. Let them obey those who devote themselves to the altar, and let each one please God in what they have given him (to do) and defined for him. And ye shall not learn to be lo quarrelsome with one another because of what ye are commanded to do ; but let each labour in what is put him (to do) by God, and let not anyone make to stumble his companion in what he labours; neither do the angels transgress what is defined for them 15 (to do). The nineteenth : It reminds that the Oblation (is) the Body of Christ, and what comes after it Said Andrew : We have already defined this con- cerning the Oblation, which is the Body of Christ and w his Blood, and we are explaining it carefully. Said John : Ye have forgotten, O brethren, that at the time in which the Teacher asked for bread and wine and blessed them and said : This is my Body and this is my Blood, he did not command that they should i be regarded as material.’ Said Martha concerning Mary : Look at her, and she laughs. Said Mary : Not because of (this) that I laughed. ‘ The leading of i. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES The Teacher said : It is good (that) the sick should be healed by the strong The twenty: It is not proper for women to pray when they are standing up ; and that they have no ministry except ministering to the needy ; charity, and what comes after it Said Kaia : Certain have said that it is not proper for women to pray when they are standing up, but they should prostrate themselves upon the ground, lo Said James : How can we find for the women any ministry except this ministry only, that they should help the needy? Said Philip : O brethren, concerning the charity which he does, surely (in doing it) he gathers for himself a good treasure, and one which he gathers for himself in the heavenly kingdom. Surely it is reckoned with God that it is a good work lasting for ever. Said Peter : O brethren, we are not lords over any- one with compulsion, but we assure you from the Lord, ao we ask you to hear and keep the statutes and not to add to them or diminish from them, in the name of our Master Jesus Christ, to whom be glory unto ages of ages. Amin. And after they all finished, each one saying his word in the first section, this is that which comes next. The twenty-first: Concerning the ordination of the Bishops at the beginning of the Kiddas. The bishop shall be ordained, as we have already said. He shall be chosen from all the assembly, without fault When they have made mention of him and are satisfied with him all the people shall assemble together, and the TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 245 presbyters and the deacons, on Sunday. And all the bishops shall walk one with another joyfully, and they shall lay their hands upon him ; and the people standing up in silence together shall pray in their hearts that the Holy Spirit may descend upon him, and they shall 5’ ask one of the bishops, and while everyone stands, he shall lay his hand upon him who is ordained bishop, and shall pray over him thus. And when he has become bishop everyone shall salute him and shall kiss his mouth. And the deacons shall bring to him 10 the Oblations : then having placed his hand upon the Oblation, with all the presbyters he shall say and give thanks thus ; The Lord (be) with you. And the whole people shall say : And with thy spirit he shall be. And he shall say : Where are your hearts? And all 15 the people shall say : They are with the Lord. And he shall say : Give thanks to the Lord. And the people shall say : Worthy and it is meet thus. And he shall say what comes after this in the rule of the Kiddas. The twenty-second: Concerning the ordination of the m Presbyter. When the bishop desires to ordain the presbyter he shall lay his hand upon his head ; and all the priests touched him and (the bishop) prays over him according to the pattern which we have said concerning the bishop. 25 The twenty-third : Concerning the ordination of the Deacons. When the bishop desires to appoint a deacon, he shall choose him as we have said before. The bishop alone STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES shall lay his hand upon him. Why have we said that the bishop alone (is) he who shall lay his hand upon him? The reason of this is that he is not appointed for the priesthood, but he is one of the assistants of this work, that he should perform his commands with which he is commanded by him. And he is not ordained to be a teacher of all the clergy, but to be one who will give attention to what is proper (to be done) and will give the bishop information about it. And he is not appointed to acquire the spirit of great- ‘ ness in which the presbyters share, but to give attention, and to be worthy of the bishop s trust, and to be diligent about what is proper, because the bishop alone is he who lays his hand upon him. As for the presbyters, the bishop and all the presbyters share with him in placing their hands upon him. It is the one spirit which comes down upon him. And the presbyter is only he who acquires the position of the clergy, he has not authority ; so because of that he does not appoint clergy, JO the presbyter is only ordained, and the clergy (in general) ordain him. The twenty-fourth: Concerning the Confessors who were punished for the name of Christ, that they have the rank of the deacon and the presbyter. If the confessor has been in bonds for the name of the Lord, hand shall not be laid for the ministry which belongs to the deacon or the presbyter, for he has the honour of the presbyterate by his con- fession. If he is appointed bishop, the hand shall be ‘Akliros.’ TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 247 laid Upon him. If as confessor he was not brought before the authorities and was not punished with bonds or prison and was not put to suffering, but he only came to be ridiculed and was punished with punishment in his house, and yet he confessed, he is worthy of all s the rank (takQs) of the priesthood, the hand shall be laid upon him, and he shall be made (priest). And the bishop shall give thanks as we have said before, and it is obligatory that he should mention what we have said before, reading clearly and carefully and lo giving thanks to God ; and that according to his power each one shall pray. If anyone is able to pray fluently and (it is) a grand and elevated prayer, and he is a good man, and if he offers prayer and says the words of praise as he can, no one shall prevent him from 15 offering prayer if he is correct and right (in faith). The twenty-fifth : Concerning the appointment of the widows. When (a widow) is appointed she shall not be signed, but shall be made by the name. If her husband has 30 been dead a long time let her be appointed. If her husband has lately died she shall not be trusted, but if she had become aged let her be tested for a time, for solicitations grow old in htm who makes place for them in him. Let the widow be appointed with the word 35 alone, and let her be joined to the rest of the widows, and hand shall not be placed upon her, because she does not offer the Oblations nor have any ministry. Signing is for the clergy because of (their) ministry, ZiV. ‘the.’ STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES and for the widow (her appointment is) because of prayer, this (being the duty) of everyone. The twenty-sixth: Concerning the Virgins and the Subdeacons, and concerning the grace of healing. The Reader (agnustis) is he who is appointed by the bishop giving to him the Book, and hand shall not be laid upon him. Hand shall not be placed upon a virgin, but her inmost thought alone causes her to be a virgin. Hand shall not be placed on a subdeacon, but a name shall be put upon them that they may follow the deacons. Concerning the grace of healing. If anyone says, I have acquired a grace of healing by revelation, hand shall not be placed on him, because the deed shall make evident whether he is speaking the truth. begin to come in to the Faith ; and the occupations which it is proper they should give up who come in as new to hear the words. They shall bring them first to the teachers before all the people come in. And they shall ask for what reason they seek the FaitL Those who bring them to hear shall bear testimony to them. He shall ask about their life as to what it is if they have wives ; or are slaves. If anyone is a slave of a believer, if he permitted him, then let him hear, and if his master does not bear testimony to him, let him be sent away. If he is an idolater, let it be known if he was pleasing his master, ‘Hand,’ a. TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 249 lest scandal should occur. If anyone have a wife, or a woman have a. husband, let them be taught, the man to be contented with his wife, and the woman contented with her husband. And if any man was not living with a wife, let him be taught not to commit adultery, but to 5 be married according to the law, or remain as is becoming for him. And if anyone had a demon, then let him not hear the words of the teacher. Concerning occupations, and what there is of crafts besides the occupations. The occupations which belong 10 to those whom they cause to come to the instruc- tion. If anyone is a pander, let him desist or be sent away. And if anyone is a maker of idols or a painter, let him be taught not to make idols, and if he be not willing to desist, let him be sent away. And 15 if anyone is present at the place of amusement, let him desist or then be sent away. If anyone teaches children, it is well that he desist But if he has no other trade, let him be forgiven. He who goes to the festivals of idols, let him desist or be sent away. (IQ one is a 30 maker of potions, or teaches making potions, or teaches combating and fighting and weapons of war, let him desist or be sent away. (If) anyone is a priest of idols or guardian of idols, let him desist or be sent away. (If anyone is a) soldier of authority, let him 35 not kill, and if he is ordered to kill, let him not do it if he desisted (well) if not, let him be sent away. TAe twenty-eighth z Concerning persons in red, or him of the Faithful who becomes a soldier or star- ‘ Ut. ‘Satan.’ lAt. ‘siesta.’ ‘Abannachoi’-‘phannakot.’ STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES gazer or sorcerer, or other than that, let him be sent away. (If there be one who has) authority over the sword, or a chief of the city and clad in red, let him desist or be sent away. If a catechumen or believer wish to become a soldier, let both be sent away. Surely they both have removed far from God. An adulteress, or a man without salvation, or a man who does what it is not proper to mention, let them be sent away, because they are polluted. Verily, a sorcerer shall not be brought into the ranks of the Faithful. The star-gazer and master of the astrolabe, or soothsayer, or agitator of the multitude, or one who sells clothes from the diggers of the graves, or the maker of phylacteries, let them desist or be sent away. The twenty-ninth: Concerning the concubine, and if we have omitted anything, decide as is proper. If the concubine of the man be his slave, if she brought up her children and kept to him alone, let her hear, and if otherwise, let her be sent away. He who has a concubine, let him desist and be married according to law, and if he will not (do so) let him be sent away. If we have omitted anything, decide as is proper, because we all have the Spirit of God. The thirty: Concerning the time for hearing the words after their occupations. Let the catechumens remain three years hearing the words. If there is a scholar and with good thought, decide about him not by the time, but his work alone (is) that by which it shall be decided for him. TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 25 1 The thirty ‘first : Concerning the prayer of him who hears the words and the kiss. When the teacher has finished the instruction, let the catechumens pray by themselves and separated from the Faithful. And let the women stand in a place in ; the church by themselves, the Faithful women and the female catechumens. And when they have finished the prayer, the female catechumens shall not give the salu- tation, because their kiss is not yet pure, but let the Faithful women kiss one another ; the men shall kiss the lo men, and the women shall kiss the women, and the men shall not kiss the women. And all the women shall veil their heads with their balalin or their mantles, and not with linen only, because this is not suitable for them. The thirty-second : Concerning the laying the hand 15 upon the catechumens after the prayer. When the teacher lays the hand upon the cate- chumens, let him pray and then dismiss them. If it was one of the ecclesiastics who taught, or a layman, let him do the same. If (one) was apprehended for the ao name of the Lord, he shall not be doubtful about his testimony. If he was overpowered and slain before obtaining the pardon of his misdeeds he shall be justified, because he was baptised in his blood. The thirty-third : Concerning him who is baptised. 35 When one has been chosen, or one who is prepared for Baptism, let him be examined concerning his life, whether he lived in chastity, while they are catechumens; and whether they reverenced the widows, or visited the sick, Probably for ‘pftUiunu’ STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES or fulfilled every good thing. So if those who bring them bear testimony that they have done thus, let them hear the Gospel, from the day in which they were brought, and let the hand be laid on them every day and exorcise them. And when the day draws nigh in which they are to be baptised, let the bishop bind by oath every one of them, that he may know that they are pure. And if there was one who is not pure, let him put him aside, because he has not heard the words with faith, for it is not possible that lo an alien should ever be baptised. They shall instruct those who are to be baptised that they should go to the bath and pray on the fifth of the week. And if there was among them a menstruous woman, let her be put aside, and she shall be baptised another day. And they who wish to be baptised shall fast on Friday (jumah), and the bishop shall assemble those who are to be baptised on the day of the sabbath in one place, and shall command them all to pray and prostrate themselves. And having laid his hand upon them, let him exorcise every alien spirit, that they may flee away from them and never return to them henceforth : and when he has finished binding them by oath, let him breathe in their faces, and having signed their foreheads and their ears and their noses, let him make them stand up, and let them keep watch all their night, and let them read to them and admonish them. And he who is to be baptised shall not bring in with him any vessel (to the water), but every- one shall give thanks, and it is proper for him who is worthy to bring his Oblation (K urban). TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 253 The thirty-fourth: Concerning the ordinance of Baptism and the instruction of the Faith, and the con- fession at the baptistery, and the Kiddas, and concerning the milk and honey. At the time of cock-crow, let him pray first over the s water ; and let the water be either running through the tank or running (down) upon it And let it be thus unless there was urgent necessity. If there was urgent necessity, he shall pour in water which is found. Let them undress, and they shall begin by baptising the lo little children first. And he who can speak for himself and take oath shall speak, and for them who cannot let their parents speak, or one of the family. Afterwards they shall baptise the grown men, and the women last : and they shall unloose their hair and lay aside their 5 ornaments of gold which they wear, and let no one go down to the water having any alien thing. And at the time when they are baptised the bishop shall give thanks over the oil which he put in a vessel, and we call it oil of Eucharistia. And he shall take other oil and adjure over it, and call it oil of Exorcism. And there shall be the deacon carrying the oil of adjuration, and he shall stand on the left hand of the presbyter, and another deacon shall take the oil of thanksgiving and shall stand on the right hand, and when the presbyter 5 has taken every one of those who are to be baptised, he shall bid him revile and say : I revile thee, O Eblis, and all thy service and all thy impure works. And when he has professed this, he shall anoint with the oil of adjuration, STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES saying : Let every foul spirit remove far from them, and thus he shall give him to the bishop, naked. And the bishop is standing at the water of the baptistery, then the deacon shall walk with him to the water and say to him and instruct him : Dost thou believe in one God, the Father Almighty, and his only Son Jesus Christ our Lord and our Saviour, and his Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life to all creation, the Trinity of one coequal Godhead, one Lordship, one Kingdom, and one Faith, one Baptism in lo the universal Church, Life eternal, Amin ? And he who is to be baptised shall say also like this : Verily I believe. And thus he who baptises shall leave his hand upon him who receives (baptism) and dip him three times. And he shall declare this every time, and afterwards he shall say to him: Dost thou believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, the only Son of God the Father, that he became man by an incom- prehensible miracle from the Holy Spirit and from Mary the Virgin without seed of man, and was crucified in the time of Pilate the Pontian, and died by his own will to save us withal, and rose from the dead on the third day and released the captives and ascended into the heavens and sat down at the right hand of the Father, and he shall come to judge the living and the dead at his appear- ing and his kingdom ? Dost thou believe in the Spirit, the holy, the good, the sanctifier in the holy Church, and dost thou believe in the resurrection of the body which shall happen to everyone, and the kingdom of the heavens and eternal judgment? And he shall answer for all those things, saying : Verily I believe in this. And after that, when he comes up from the water, let the presbyter anoint him with the ointment which is of the Eucharistia, TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 255 saying: Verily I anoint thee with the holy ointment And after that they shall put on their clothes. Then they shall enter the church, and the bishop shall lay his hand on them, and pray and say : O Lord, O God, who hast made these worthy of the laver of the second birth 5 and pardon of sins, make them worthy of being filled with the Holy Spirit and send upon them thy grace that they may serve thee according to thy Will. Glory to thee, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit in the holy Church henceforth and for ever, Amin. And after that let him 10 pour into his hand some of the oil of the Eucharistia and pour it on the head of every one of them, saying : Verily anoint thee with the holy oil in the name of God the Father Almighty and Christ Jesus the only Son and the Holy Spirit. When he has signed every one of them on ‘5 his forehead, let him kiss them and say : The Lord (be) with thee. And he who was kissed also shall answer and say : The Lord (be) with thy spirit And afterwards after everyone has finished this he shall pray with all the people. It is not (right) that they ao should pray with the Faithful except after they have performed the acts which we have mentioned. When they have finished the prayer they give the salutation to one another with their mouths, and let the deacons bring in the Oblations to the bishop, and let the bishop give thanks 25 over the bread and the cup, that it may become the Body of Christ and his Blood which he shed for us all who believe in him. As for the milk and the honey mingled together, they shall cause them to drink of it because of the fulfilment of 3Q the promise which he promised to our fathers ; saying to S6 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES them : The land flowing with milk and honey means the Body of Christ and his Blood which he gave to us, by which we are nourished by him like little children, (for) they who believe were begotten of him, and he made sweet all bitterness of the heart with the sweetness of the Word With all this then let the bishop make a covenant with him who was baptised : and when the bishop has broken the bread let him give a piece of it to everyone and say : This is the heavenly bread, the Body of Christ ; lo and let him who is communicated answer and say, Amin And if there are not presbyters sufficient, let the deacons take the cup and stand in order. And they shall receive the Body of our Master Jesus Christ, and this is the milk and the honey. And he who administers the cup (shall IS say) : This is the Blood of our Master Jesus Christ, and he who is communicated shall say, Amin. If everyone is well instructed in this, he shall do all good and what is pleasing to God, and find leisure for going to the church, and do what he has learnt, and make progress in the service of God. This is what we openly teach you concerning Baptism and the Kiddas, and we have finished our instruction concerning the resurrection of the body and the rest as it was written. And if anything has been left which it is proper to mention, let the bishop mention it to him alone who is communicated, and he shall not tell this to any but the Faithful, and only after he has first been communicated. This is the holy token of ‘ Spelt first ‘tarkah,’ then ‘tarkiyah,’ evidently for ‘ tadhkirah ‘ token or certificate. TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 257 which John said that a new name was written upon it, which no one knew except him who receives the token. And these sections come after the Baptism. The thirty-Jifth : Concerning the widows and the virgins, and (in) what time should the bishop fast. s They shall do (it) as we have mentioned a number of times, and shall pray in the church. The presbyters and the deacons shall fast at any time that they desire, but the bishop cannot fast except on the day when all the people fast : and It shall be when anyone wishes to bring lo anything into the church, and he cannot be denied, then (the bishop) having broken bread shall himself taste and eat of it with the rest of the Faithful who are with him, and they shall be communicated from the hand of the bishop with a piece of bread before that every one of is them breaks the bread which is before him, for this is a Blessing and not an Oblation like the Body of the Lord. The thirty-sixth : Concerning the time at which it is proper to eat. And it is not proper for the catechumens to eat with so the Faithful. Before that any drink it is proper for everyone to take a cup and give thanks over it, and drink and eat, for thus they are pure. The catechumens shall be given the bread of Blessing and a cup. 35 Concerning that it is not proper for the catechumens to eat with the Faithful. The catechumens shall not sit at the feast of the Lord with the Faithful, and he who eats shall be mindful of STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES him who invited him at all times that he eats, for because of this he asked them to come in under his roof. Concerning that it is proper that they should eat with moderation and temperance and not to be drunken. S Ye shall eat and drink orderly, and ye shall not drink and be drunken, lest men mock you, and he who in- vited you repent himself over your dissipation, but rather he shall be praying that the holy ones may come into his house. He said : Ye are the salt of the earth. If he give to you all portions together, thou shalt take thy portion alone, and if they invited you to eat ye shall eat with moderation, not otherwise, that he who invited thee may send thy leavings to whom he wished. Are not they the leavings of the holy ones? and he into whose (house) ye entered shall rejoice. And he who eats shall remember him who invited him at all times that he eats ; for this reason he asked him that he should come in under the roof of his house. And the invited guests shall eat separately and without sadness. But if the bishop allow anyone to ask about a word, then he may address him. The thirty – seventh : When the bishop speaks, let everyone be silent, and if the bishop is not present, let the Blessing be taken from a presbyter or a deacon. He said : If the bishop speaks let everyone be silent till he asks them, and if a bishop is not present, but the Faithful and none beside at the feast, then let them take the Eulogia, viz. Blessing, from the presbyter if present, and if not present, from the deacon. And the cate- chumens also shall receive the bread of Exorcism, and if there were lay people, one with another let them TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 259 eat quietly ; and it is not proper for the layman to make the Eulogia, The thirty-eighth chapter : Concerning the feast of the widows. If anyone wishes at any time to invite the widows, s then let them invite all those who are aged : let him satisfy them (with food) and dismiss them before that night comes, and if it was not possible (for them to come) because of the lot which they obtained, let him give to them wine and food which they may eat in their houses lo as they will. The thirty-ninth: Concerning the first-fruits and the fruits which they bring to the bishop, and he shall name them. Everyone shall hasten to bring to the bishop the 15 first of the fruits of his crop, and the bishop also shall take them and bless them, and he shall mention the name of him who brought them to him, and shall say : We thank thee, O God, and we bring to thee the first- fruit of the fruits which thou hast given us to receive 10 of them and hast perfected them according to thy word, and commanded the earth to send up all the fruits for the joy and nourishment of men and all living creatures ; we thank thee, O God, for this and all others of them by which we are benefited, and thou hast disposed thy 25 creation with variety of fruits, through thy Son Jesus Christ our Master, by whom be glory to thee with him and the Holy Spirit to ages of ages, Amin. The Eulogia of the fruits. These are the fruits which are blessed : grapes and figs and pomegranates and y olives and peaches and apples and cherries, and he STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES does not bless Egfyptian figs or onions or leeks or cucumber nor any kind of vegetables; and let them bring in also roses, but other (flowers) they shall not bring in, and they shall thank God when they eat anything and taste it, as glory to him. The fortieth chapter : Concerning that it is not proper that any of the people should taste anything at the Pascha before the time in which it is proper for them to eat The fast shall not be reckoned as a fast if a man was lo gluttonous before the time of the fast was completed, except if anyone was sick, (for then) he cannot fast during the two days, so let him fast on the day of the sabbath because of the necessity and it shall suffice, and let him not taste of anything but bread and water. And if any- iS one was out at sea and was not knowing the day of the Pascha, let this one, if he knew it not, fast after the fifty (days), and it is not the Pascha which he keeps, but a likeness (of it), and the fast is his duty by way of compensation. ao The forty-first: Concerning that it is proper for the deacons to obey the commands of the bishops. Let every one of the deacons and subdeacons report to the bishop and inform him who is sick, that he may visit them, for the archpriest having visited them, (the rest of as the people) remembered them. The forty-second : Concerning the times at which the prayer is proper. The Faithful when they awake and rise up, before they do any business shall pray to the Lord, and after that TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 26 1 shall attend to their occupations, and if there were then the words of instruction, let them choose them and go to hear the words of instruction, which are the words of God which strengthen the souls. They shall hasten to go to the church, the place in which is the Spirit, bearing fruit 5 The forty-third : That it is proper to receive of the Eucharistia early at the time when it is allowable before that they taste anything. Let every believer make (it) good conduct to receive of the holy Mysteries before that he taste anything ; if lo there is in him faith, let him receive it ; and if anyone should give him deadly poison, it will not hurt him. The forty-fourth: Concerning that it is proper to guard carefully the Mysteries, and it is not proper to pour any from the cup. iS Everyone shall be most careful not to let any but the Faithful receive of the Mysteries, nor a mouse nor other creature, and not to let any be spilt and lost since it is the Body of Christ and his Blood, and all the Faithful shall eat of it it is not proper to neglect it 20 Concerning that it is not proper to pour any from the cup. When thou hast blessed the cup in the name of God and receivest of it, verily it is the Blood of Christ Guard strictly that none of it be poured away, lest the alien 25 spirits lick it up and thou be one who hast despised and become a blasphemer of the Blood of Christ, because thou hast despised that with which thou wast redeemed. ‘ Probably a mistake for ‘ when it is offered.’ s Corrected thus in margin. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES The forty-fifth : The deacons and the presbyters shall assemble every day to the place of the bishop. The presbyters and the deacons shall assemble every day to the place (in) which is the bishop commanding them to go to it. And let not the presbyters and deacons neglect to assemble every day, except sickness prevented them from it. When they have assembled let them teach those who are in the churches, and likewise when they have prayed let each one turn to his own business. lo The forty-sixth : Concerning the cemeteries. No one of the people shall give an unlawful com- mission (for burying) in the grave of the people in the cemeteries this work is for all the poor, but he shall give the wages of the paid man to him who digs and the guard who is in that place who has the care of it, and the bishop shall support them with what is given to the churches. The forty-seventh : Concerning the times in which it is proper for prayer and hearing the instruction and ao signing the forehead with the cross. Let every believing man and woman when they rise up on the morrow, before they do necessary (work), wash their hands and pray to God ; then they shall turn to their works. If they instruct with the words, let everyone choose to go to the place of teaching, and this shall be fixed in his heart, that that which he hears is God speaking by the mouth of the teacher, and he is abiding in the church, and he is able to remove the evil of every day. Let him who fears (God) reckon that it is great damage to him if he goes not to the place in which is the teaching, especially if he can read. If the TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 263 teacher is present let him not delay (to go to) the church, the place in which is the teaching then indeed it shall be given to the speaker to say what is profitable for everyone, and he shall hear what was not in his thought, and thou shalt gain what the Holy Spirit gives to thee s by means of him who teaches, and thus thy faith will be established upon what thou hearesL And he shall say also in that place to thee what it is proper for thee to do in thy house, and for this reason let everyone hasten to go to the church, the place in which the Holy lo Spirit rises (like the sun). And if there was a day in which there is no teaching, let everyone be in his house and let him take a holy book and read sufficiently what he knows to be good. And when thou art in thy house pray at the third hour is and praise God. And if thou art in another place and that time comes, pray in thy heart to God, because Christ in that (hour) was stripped, and he was nailed upon the wood And because of this in the old (testament) the law commands to offer the show-bread at the third hour, as 3o a type of the Body and Blood of the holy Christ ; and the Iamb was pierced, which was a type of the perfect Lamb, for Christ is the Shepherd, and he is the Bread which came from heaven. Pray at the sixth hour, because when Christ was hanged as upon the wood, that day was divided and it became darkness. Let prayer be made at that hour, a prayer of power, ye shall be like the cry which he prayed, and all the land was darkened for the unbelievers, and let them make also a great prayer at the ninth hour and 3 praises. Let him teach (that it is) the pattern of STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES how the souls of the righteous bless the true God who remembered his holy ones (and) sent to them his Son who is his Word, that he might shine upon them. Because in that hour Christ was pierced in his side, and there came out from him blood and water, and after that he caused to shine on the others during the rest of that day until night And thou, because of this also, when thou finishedst the day and thou madest the beginning of another day, and makest a type of the Resurrection, pray before thou restest thy body in thy bed. And when thou hast risen at midnight, wash thy hand in water and pray. And if thou hast a wife, pray ye two together, and if she has not yet become a believer, go aside and pray alone and return to thy bed again ; thou who art bound by marriage do not omit the prayer. Verily ye are not unclean. They who have been baptised have no need to be bathed another time, because they are clean. When thou hast breathed in thy hand and signed it with the spittle which goes forth from thy mouth thou wilt be clean all over (down) to thy feet, and this is (of) the Holy Spirit, and the drops of the water of Baptism ascend from the fountain which is the heart of the Faithful (and) purify. And those who believe are bound to pray at this hour because the elders set us the example. And verily all the ranks of the angels ministering with the souls of the righteous ones praise God at that hour, and therefore it is proper for the Faithful to pray at that hour. The Lord also said : At midnight there was a cry. Behold the TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 265 bridegroom has come. Go ye out to meet him. Then he repeated the word and said : Watch, for ye know not the day (nor) in what hour (he will come). And having risen when the cock crows, pray, for the children of Israel at the crowing of the cock denied 5 Christ, whom we know by faith, watching with hope for that day of eternal light which will shine upon us at the resurrection of the dead. This, O ye Faithful, when ye have finished mentioning and teaching it amongst yourselves, ye shall do, and no one 10 will cause you grief, nor shall ye ever fall And ye shall make continual remembrance of Christ Sign thy fore- head in fear. This is the outward sign, and it is known (that) Iblis is defeated by this, when we do it in faith : we do not make a show before men alone, but in 15 the knowledge by which thou art strong as with armour. Because the crafty (enemy) will look upon the strength of the heart alone, and having seen the inner man to be rational, and that he is signed inwardly and outwardly with the sign of the Word, he will flee away swiftly followed by the Holy Spirit, he who is in the man who makes place for him within. This is that which Moses before taught us of the lamb of the Pascha which was slain, and he commanded to smear with its blood the door-posts and the roofs, making 35 known to us the faith which is in us, for if we sign with the hand our forehead with that which was given us by the perfect Lamb, we shall be saved from him who wishes to kill us. If ye do this with thanksgiving and right faith ye will be edified, and to you shall be given y eternal life. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES This we advise you to keep, ye who have sense. If everyone who heard kept the teaching of the Apostles, nothing of the heresies would be able to lead a man astray from them. Thus many heresies increase, because those who received them were not willing to learn the secret of the Apostles, but according to their own pleasure do what they like best and not what is proper. And if we have omitted anything, O my brethren most beloved, God will reveal it to everyone who is iG worthy, and he will guide the Church for him who is worthy into the quiet harbour. These are the canons of the Church. The forty-eighth : Concerning the gifts and the offices. When anyone has obtained a gift, let him not glory over anyone. Our God and Saviour Jesus Christ gave to us this great mystery of the service of God, and he calls the Jews and the Greeks, that they should know God the Father, the only true (God), as he says himself in a place, and gves thanks for the salvation of him ao who believed : I have manifested thy Name to the men whom thou gavest me, and I have finished all that thou deliveredst to me. And he spoke to the Father con- cerning us, and says: O my holy Father, the world knoweth thee not, but these knew thee. That which is as proper he says now to us all, us and those who have become perfect, concerning the gift which he gave by his Holy Spirit : And these signs shall follow him who believed in me : they shall cast out devils in my Name, and they shall speak languages and they shall take up Ut. ‘hearts.’ Ut. ‘this is.’ UL ‘ Satans.’ TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 267 serpents in their hands, and if they drink deadly poison it shall not hurt them, and they shall lay their hands upon the sick and they shall recover. These gifts were first given to us, the Apostles, at the time when he made us worthy to preach the Gospel to all the land, in order to s give it to him who should believe by us as privilege to us who do the signs; nay more, ye too (shall do it), whoever is believing among you ; that they who were not satisfied by the words might be put to shame by the power of the miracles. For the signs are not for us the believers, but “o they are for the unbelievers, the Jews and the Greeks. And it is not for our gain when we cast out devils, but the gain is for him who is purified by the will of Christ, as the Lord teaches us in a place, explaining the work and saying : Rejoice not because the devils obey you, ‘S but rejoice because your names are written in the heavens. The casting out of devils is by his power, but as for our names being written in the heavens, this is by our will and our mind and our teaching, with assistance from him as the purifier. It is not now ao necessary that every believer should cast out devils, or raise the dead, or speak with languages, but he who is worthy of this gift shall be worthy of it for a cause, and it shall be a reason for him who believes, and produces it sc. the sign). Because they received not the declara- 25 tion of the word ; therefore he sent the working of signs, that perhaps they might be saved. In that case the unbelievers and hypocrites would not even be Jishamed though they were put to shame by the miracles. And God testified to this as he said in the Law : With 3″ tongues and lips I will speak unto this people, and even STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES SO they will not obey me, said the Lord. Nor did the Egfyptians believe when Moses worked those great miracles and those signs among them. Nor did the multitude of the Jews believe him who was greater than Moses, who was Christ, when he healed all sicknesses and infirmities amongst them. And that rod also when (it) was changed into a serpent put them not to shame, nor the hand which became white, nor the water which was made blood. Neither also lo were those others content when the blind saw and the lame ran and the dead were raised up. And that one was opposed by Yanas and Yamras, and this also was insulted by Nanas and Kayafas. Thus it is that miracles do not put everyone to shame, but the proud alone, and for their sake God is pleased (to act) as a wise physician, a steward, so that mighty works should be not of the power of man, but by his permission. We say this, lest those who obtain a gift should magnify themselves above those who have not obtained it We have spoken concerning the gift of God such as is shown by signs, because there is no man who believed in God by his holy Son, who has not received a spiritual gift For the escape from the delusion of many gods and the entrance into the faith of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit is a gift from God and a grace, all the more because we have repudiated the folly of the Jews and have believed in the will of the Father and the Son coeternal with the Father before all ages, born of the immaculate virgin without seed of man, and he followed TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 269 the course of men without the seed of men, and fulfilled all the righteousness of the Law, and by the consent of God the Father the Word endured the cross and was tgnominiously derided and died and vas buried and rose again the third day, and after he had risen from the dead 5 he stayed forty days with the Apostles, and after he had given them all his commands he ascended in their presence to him who sent him, God the Father. He who believed in this did not believe thus merely juid without reason,’ but by choice and consent he received 10 the gift which is from God. Thus also he who became free from all heresy. None of you now should judge any who has become a believer and who is not considered worthy of signs or miracles, gifts which are of God. Various are the gifts which are given by him to men, 15 and thou hast received this. This one has received the words of wisdom or knowledge, and another has received something else, and they know beforehand what is certain to come to pass, or the words of teaching, or endurance or excellence of virtue. ao Moses himself also, the man of God, wrought signs in Egypt and did not magnify himself above his brother, not even when he was called god did he not magnify himself above his prophet who was Aaron. Nor did Joshua the son of Non, who led forth the people after him, magnify 35 himself, nor was his heart exalted above Phinehas or Caleb when he made the sun stand still in the ravine of Ablum and the moon over AlQm in the battle with the AQsiyin because all the day did not suffice him for the pursuit STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES . Nor did Samuel consider David, the beloved of God, to be nothing when he did such signs, though both were prophets, the one (being) chief of the prophets and the other (being) king. And among the seven thousand pure men who did not bow their knee to Baal the idol, none of them was chosen except Elias alone and Liyush’a his disciple that they should work signs and miracles, and Elias did not mock Yabadias the steward because he feared God, and lo worked (no) signs. Nor did Elisha forget or neglect his servant when he trembled at the enemy enclosing him in. Nor did the three children deride their companions when they were saved from the furnace of fire, for they knew that it was IS not by their own power that they were saved from that evil, but by the power of God they worked those signs and escaped from the sufferings. So let not any one of you magnify himself above his brother if he is a prophet and works miracles ; and if it was given that there should (not) be an unbelieving man in any place [before ] any sign would be for nothing. That a man should be a servant of God this (is) from his good heart. If he work miracles, this is by the power of the Most High, which (really) works : [and] the former is our (concern), the latter is God’s (work), the same power which works for the works which we have just mentioned. But let not the king despise the troops and soldiers who are below him. TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 27 1 The forty-ninth chapter : Let not the chiefs despise those who are below them, nor let the chiefs despise those who are over them as chiefs : the chiefs would be nothing if they had not those over whom they rule : the kingdom would not stand if there were no troops and j soldiers. And let not the bishop exalt himself over the deacons and presbyters, nor the presbyters over the people, because the standing of the Church depends upon one another. If there were no lay people, over whom would be the bishop lo and presbyter? It is of ourselves that we all become Christians, viz. Nazarenes, but as for becoming apostles and bishops or anything else, from this time it is not by ourselves but by God who gives the gifts. This we have said up to this place, concerning those 15 who are worthy of the gifts or the Orders, and this further we add to these words.’ The fifty: Everyone who prophesies is not a servant of God, nor is everyone who casts out devils holy, for Balaam the son of FaghQr the soothsayer was 20 without goodness and prophesied ; and Kayafas, by name chief priest, and having a false name: Iblls, and the devils who are before him, said many things beforehand, and there is not in them any service of God at all. They please themselves alone in ignorance because of the wickedness 25 which they commit. It is clear that when the hypocrites prophesy they cannot conceal their hypocrisy in their prophecy, nor when the devils cast out devils ; for they do not become pure (thereby), because when they do it they ‘ Ut. ‘ him,’ Lit. ‘ make to this word.’ iS STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES lead one another astray, like conjurers for merriment, they lead astray, and those who support them go astray. The king if he becomes a hypocrite is no longer a king, henceforth he is the opposite (of a king). The fifty- first : Concerning the bishop who is con- tented with little learning, and ignorance and malice. Every bishop who is contented with little learning or is in ignorance or in malice is no bishop, but he bears a false name. He is not (a bishop) before God but (only) lo before men, like Hananiya and Simanus in Israel, and like Sadakiya and Akiyab, whom the king of Babel slew and roasted in iron pitchers, as said Jeremiah the prophet ; this he says. We do not indeed disparage the true prophets ; we know that the work in them and in the holy ones is from the Spirit of God. But we are causing to cease the hardness of heart of the covetous, and we inform them this, that God causes to cease his gift from such as these, because God resisteth the proud and giveth his grace to the humble. Silas and Gayus were two before us, but they did not magnify themselves above the Apostles, nor went out of their limits, because they loved God. And women also prophesied in the old (testament), Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron, and after her Dafura, and after them Audla and Judith, the one in (the time of) Adratarsis and the other in the time of Darius, and in the new (testament) the Mother of the Lord and Alish’a her cousin and Hannah, and also the daughters of Philip, and these did not magnify themselves above the men, but kept their limits. But TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 273 women and men when they share in these graces shall be humble. God being pleased with it said : Unto whom shall 1 look but to those who are humble and tremble at my words. First we sent out these words concerning the gifts ‘ which God gave to the men according to his ; will. As they indeed acquire for themselves the simili- tude of those who take to falsehood and are moved by alien spirits ; so God causes reprobate men to prophesy and work signs. And now the words will draw us on to come to the lo chapter which is for the definitions of the Church, that ye who have become bishops through us by the command of Christ, having learnt this arrangement from us, might do everything according to the commands of Christ, as the statute which he gave to you, and know that he who is receives from us receives from Christ and receives from God the Father, to whom (be) glory for ever, Amin. The fifty-second canon : Concerning the ordination of the Bishop and the ordinance of the Kiddas. It is seemly for a bishop to be ordained as we have a already said, and we command all the people : Choose a man, virtuous, holy in everything, and choose him (all) the people. When they have recorded their consent as to this (man), let all the people assemble, and the presbyters and bishops, and they shall assemble on as Sunday,’ and the greatest among them shall ask the presbyters and the deacons and shall say : Is this he Lit. ‘ women.’ ‘ tupos ‘ has been mistaken for ‘ tropos.’ STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES whom ye are pleased that he should be your chief? So when they have said : Yes, he shall ask them and say : Is this man worthy of this honourable position, and has he continued virtuous in everything, with goodness in God s sight, and kept the truth with man, and has he ordered well the people of his house and established his character in correctness, with nothing found against him ? And when all have answered together and said : He is thus in truth and not in hypocrisy, God the Father and Christ and ic the Holy Spirit being Judge of those things, let them ask again three times: Is this man worthy of this govern- ment ? that from the mouth of two or three every word may be established. When they have said three times : He is worthy, let them all give assent with their hands, and having done this with cheerful mind, let there be silence, and let a great one from the great bishops take two other bishops with him, and all the rest of the bishops and presbyters standing up at the altar shall pray in silence, and the deacons shall hold the holy Gospels spread open upon the head of him who is to be ordained, and all shall pray to God for him, and the bishop shall pray to God for him, and one of the bishops shall offer incense over the hand of him who is to be ordained. And the bishops shall cause him to sit upon a seat which was prepared for him, and when they have all kissed him (with) the kiss of the Lord, let them read in the holy Scriptures, and when they have finished what should be read in the Gospel, let the bishop who is signed salute all the Church and say : The grace of our Master Jesus TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 25 Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (be) with you all. And all shall say : And with thy spirit. And when he has finished what should be said, let him speak the words of consolation to the people. And when he has finished what he may teach j (them), let the deacon go up on a high place and call out and say : Let none stand here but the Faithful. And thus when the bishop has completed all the prayers which it is proper for him to make for the sick and the rest, let the deacon say to them : Kiss one another with lo a pure kiss. And the priests shall kiss the bishop, and the laymen shall kiss the laymen, and the women shall kiss the women. And the young children shall stand at the ambon, and another deacon shall stand with them, lest they should be disorderly, and other 15 deacons shall walk about watching the men and the females, lest there should be disturbance among them, and lest they should wink one to the other or make signs, or go to sleep. And the subdeacon shall stand at the doors of the women, and the deacon shall stand at the doors of the men, lest anyone should go out, and lest they should open the doors at the time of the pure Kiddas, even if there should be a believer at the door. And let the subdeacon bring water to the priests that they may wash their hands as a sign of the purity of ss the souls of those who lift them up to God. And let another deacon cry : Let no catechumen stand here, nor be any here who hears the words. He shall not partake of the Mysteries, nor any of the unbelievers, nor any of the heretics ; O women, hold your children, nor let any have 30 anything against another in his heart, and let none stand STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES here with hypocrisy, be upright with the Lord, and stand with fear and trembling. Prospherin. When this has been done let the deacon bring the bread to the bishop to the altar, and let the presbyters stand on his right and S left, like disciples standing before their teacher, and let the two deacons stand on either side of the altar holding the flabella made of some delicate material, or of peacocks’ feather or delicate silk, and they shall drive away the little flying creatures, lest any of them should fall into o the cup. And thus let the arch-priest pray over the sacrifice and make supplication that the Holy Spirit may descend upon them, and upon the bread that it may become the Body of Christ, and the cup that it may become the Blood of Christ. And when he has com- pleted the prayer which it is proper to say, let the bishop first communicate, and after him the presbyters and the deacons likewise, and the subdeacons, and after them all the people shall receive. And the bishop shall administer and say : This is the Body of Christ, and he who receives ao shall say, Am!n. Then the deacons shall administer the cup, and they shall say : This is the Blood of Christ, this is the cup of life, and he who receives shall say, Amin ; and they shall sing until all have received. And when all have received the women shall receive, and when there is an end of the singing with which they praise, the deacon shall cry out and say : We have received of the venerable Body of Christ, and let us give thanks to him who has made us worthy that we should partake of his mysteries, honourable and holy. And eating of the Body of Christ and the drinking of his TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 277 . Blood, and when he has finished what he prays, the deacon shall say : Bow your heads before the Lord that he may bless you ; and when they have finished the being blessed, let the deacon say : Go away in peace. And the little (pieces) which remain over let the deacons take s care of, lest any should be left of the Oblation, and let the priests take great care that there should not be much left, lest it should be a great judgment upon them, like the sons of Aaron and the sons of Eli whom the Holy Spirit destroyed because they despised the sacrifice of the lo Lord ; how much more those who make light of the Body of Christ and his Blood, and think that it is carnal food and not spiritual which they receive. This we command to all, O bishops and presbyters and deacons, concerning the service of the holy Mysteries, is Tke fifty-third: Concerning the ordination of the Presbyters and the Deacons, and concerning the Deaconesses and the Subdeaconesses and the women Readers. And thou, O bishop, ordain the presbyter, lay thy hand upon his head, and all the presbyters standing by and the deacons, and pray and ordain him. And the deacon also, ordain him and put thy hand upon him, and pray, and all the presbyters and deacons standing by. And concerning the deaconesses and the subdeacon- 25 esses and the women readers we have already spoken. The fifty-fourth : Concerning the confessors. The confessor shall not be ordained. This man is trustworthy by his mind, for he is worthy of great honour, for he confessed the name of God and his Son before the 30 peoples and kings. If, however, necessity requires that 8 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES he should be ordained bishop or presbyter, let him be ordained ; and if the confessor is angry with such an ordinance because of his confession, let him be excommuni- cated, for he is not only (wrong in this), but also he has denied the command of Christ, and he has become worse than an unbeliever. The fifty-fifth : Concerning the virgins and widows and exorcists. Hand shall not be laid upon a virgin, for it is not lo the commandment of the Lord. This is a sacred conflict, it is only by a secret resolve. It is not that marriage is depreciated, but that there may be leisure for the service of God. Concerning the widows. Hand shall not be laid upon a widow. When (there is) one whose husband has been dead a long time, and she has lived in chastity and nothing has been found against her and she has provided properly for the people of her house, like Judith and Hannah, let him put such into the rank of the widows ; but if it is not a long time since her husband died, she shall not be trusted, but she shall be proved by length of time. For the solicitation even grows old [with the man] if it be not held back by a strong rein. Concerning the exorcist. The exorcist shall not be ordained, because this thing is by voluntary intention, and it is by the gift of God and Christ Jesus. For when the Holy Spirit dwells in the man [and him] who obtains the grace of healing, he is declared by the grace which is in him, which enlightens men. If necessity require that he should become bishop or presbyter or deacon, the hand shall be laid upon him. TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 279 The fifty-sixtk: Concerning by how many bishops it is proper to ordain a bishop. It is proper for the bishop that he should be ordained by three bishops or two. And if it was only one bishop who laid hand upon him, let him be excommuni- s cated. And if it was done through urgent necessity by one, and it was not possible to collect an assembly because of widely extended persecution or some other cause, then let him be justified by many bishops, and they shall make it thus lawful for him, and he shall be lo made by their command. The fifty-seventh : The bishop shall bless and shall not be blessed, and he shall excommunicate him who is worthy of excommunication. The excommunication of the bishop, that it cannot be done by one bishop only. 15 And the rule of the blessing. The bishop shall bless and shall not be blessed. He shall ordain men and offer the Oblation; and the Eulogia shall be offered by the bishops and not by the presbyters. The bishop shall excommunicate every priest who is 20 worthy of excommunication : a bishop he cannot ex- communicate by himself, but only with bishops like him. The presbyter shall bless and shall not be blessed. He shall receive the Eulogia from the bishop and from his fellow-presbyter, and he also shall give to his fellow- 2 presbyter and shall lay his hand upon men, but he shall not ordain or excommunicate, or put out him who is faulty if there was one who deserved this punishment The deacon shall not bless and shall not give the Eulogia, and shall take (it) from the bishop and the pres- 30 byter. He shall not baptise or offer the Oblation, and STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES when the bishop and presbyter offer, he shall give the cup to the people. He being not priest, but servant to the priests. The fifty-eighth : It is not proper that there should be S one of the priests in a rank inferior to the rank of the deacon, that he should perform any of the works of the deacon. It is not proper that there should be one in a rank inferior to the rank of the deacon, that he should perform the work of the deacon. And the deaconesses shall not bless, nor do anything of what the presbyters and the deacons do. But they (Jit. she) shall guard the doors (and have) no other (duty). And they shall minister to the presbyters where they baptise the women, be- xs cause this is what is proper. The fifty-ninth : Concerning the first-fruits and tithes. All firstlings shall be brought to the bishop and the presbyters and the deacons for them to eat And all tithes they shall receive that they may be for the clergy ao and the virgins and the widows, and everyone who is poor shall eat thereof. The first-fruits which are the firstlings (are) for the priests alone and those who minister to them. The sixtieth: Concerning what is left over of the 5 Oblation, what is not offered at the time of the Mysteries. The Eulogiae which are left over from the Mysteries of what was not offered, let the deacons divide it among the clergy, with the oversight of the bishop and the presbyter. He shall give to the bishop four portions, and he shall give to the presbyter three portions, and the deacon two, and lastly, the subdeacons and TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 28I readers and the singers and the deaconesses he shall give to all of these one portion. This is good (and) acceptable before God. Everyone shall be honoured according to his rank, and there is no church teaching confusion but good order. S The sixty-first : Concerning him who wishes to partake of the Mysteries. Those who wish to partake of the holy Mysteries, which are of the service of God, let them be brought by the deacons to the bishop and presbyters, and they shall ask what cause induced them to come and hear the words of the Lord, and those who bring them shall bear testimony to them, and they shall ask them to report of their occupations with great earnestness. TAe sixty-second: Concerning the trades and the works, is Let them ask about their occupations and manner of life with earnestness, whether they axe slaves or free. If anyone is a slave, let him ask his master whether he bears testimony to him. If he shall not bear testimony to him, let him be sent away, until he shall make himself ao worthy that his master should bear testimony to him. If he bears testimony to him he shall be received. If he was servant of an idolater, let him be taught to please hts master, that the word of the Lord may not be blasphemed. If anyone has a wife, or a woman has a husband, let them 35 be taught to be content (with one another). If they were not married according to the law.’ If the master was a believer and he knew tliat (his slave) was com- mitting adultery and was not married to his wife, or she The passage is defectire. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES was a concubine and he was not married to her, let that master be excommunicated and expelled. If there was anyone who has a devil, let him be taught that he must be cured, and not be brought in to partake of the Mysteries until he is first purified. If he is on the point of death he shall be brought in. Whatever man there be who is absorbed in the (work of the) world, let him desist or let him be rejected. If an adulteress desires to come in, let her desist or be sent away. If there was anyone who made idols, and he wished to come in, let him desist or be sent away. A man or a woman who is (concerned) in a theatre, or a chariot-driver or an Olympic contender, or a chorus flute-player or a harp-player, or one who plays on the ‘5 pipe, or a dancer or a huckster, let him desist or be sent away. A soldier before he comes in must be taught not to oppress or accuse falsely, and he shall be content with his pay. If he is pleased (to be so), let him be brought o in. If he be not willing, then let him be sent away. One who does infamous crimes, or lies with male or female, or a magician or star-gazer, or a diviner or master of the astrolabe, or one who speaks about the hours and the choice of days, or a serpent-charmer or maker of phylacteries, or one who divines with any vessel, or interpreter of movements of limbs, or who augurs by birds of the heaven, or who watches that he may collect (signs) by the lame or the blind or by proof of birds when they cry, or who observes the Satan. TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 283 words of men that they may be marks to him these shall be proved by time, for the evil is hard to eradicate. If they desist from this occupation let them come in, and if they desist not let them be sent away. The sixty-third : Concerning the concubine of an un- s believer or believer, (and) the prohibition of many things. If the concubine of an unbeliever Is a slave and kept herself to him alone, let her come in ; if she was defiled by others, let her be sent away. If a believer has a con- cubine and she stays with him, let him desist from her if lo he is a Christian and marry her according to the law. If she is free, let him do with her according to the law, and if he is unwilling to do this, let him be sent away. If there is one who follows the customs of the heathen,’ or the fabulous words of the Jews, let him is desist or be sent away. One (who) is mad after and gazes at the theatre or gladiators or places of the lions, if he desists (let him come in), or let him be sent away. Let them who begin to be instructed be instructed three years. If a man has love and good-will and he displays 20 upright life, let him be accepted, for the matter is not concerned with time, but it is only an affair of intention and conduct. If there is a layman teaching in the words, and he is quiet in manner of life, let him teach. For they shall be all taught of God, said the prophet 25 The sixty-fourth: Concerning the washing of their hands with water, and the prayer. Every believing man or woman when they rise in the morning from sleep, before they do any kind of business, STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES let them wash their hands with water and pray. And if there should happen to be the words or conference in teaching, let them choose for themselves the words of teaching as better than work. The sixty ‘fifth : Every believing man or woman shall be (kindly) disposed to their servants. And the rest of the sabbath and Sunday. Let every believing man or woman be disposed to his servants with kindness, as we commanded at first and have taught thus in the Epistles. Let the servants be appointed to work five days, and on the sabbaths and Sundays they shall devote themselves to the Church, that they may learn the service of God, for God rested on the sabbath day when he completed all the world. IS The Sunday is the day of the resurrection of the Lord. The sixty-sixth : They shall not work (in) the week of the Pascha. And the mention of the feasts. They shall not work also in the week of the great Pascha and that which comes after it, the first solemnity, viz. the day in which the Lord was crucified, and the other the day on which he rose from the dead. And is there not need that they should learn that he died and rose from the dead ? They shall not work on the day of the solemnity of the Ascension, for the purpose of Christ was completed on it. They shall not work on the completion of the Pentecost, for it was the manifestation of the Holy Spirit who came down upon those who believed in Christ. They shall not work also on the day of the Birth of Christ, for on it was given favour to men. On that very day with Lit the one TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 285 haste when the God the Word was bom for us, Jesus Christ, of Mary the Virgin, (to be) the salvation of the world. They shall not work also on the solemnity of the Bathing, for on that day was the appearance of the Divinity of Christ, and the Father bore witness to him j in the Baptism, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him like a dove,’ which bore witness to him before those standing by, that this was the true God. They shall not work also on the day of the Apostles, for they are those who became to you teachers of the doctrine of ,o Christ, and made you worthy to partake of the gift of the Holy Spirit. They shall not work on the day of Stephen the first martyr, (and) of the other holy martyrs who loved Christ better than their own lives. The sixty-seventh : The times of the prayers. ,j When ye rise in the early morning, pray, (and pray) at the third hour, and pray at the sixth hour, and pray at the ninth hour, and pray (in) the evening and the time when the cock crows. In the early morn- ing because God causes (it) to shine upon us and 30 makes the night pass and brings us the day. The third hour, being the hour in which Pilate gave sentence upon the Lord. The sixth hour, and the Lord was crucified at that hour. And (in) the ninth hour he gave up the spirit and all the earth was shaken, and ij when his side was pierced there came forth blood and water, and when the Lord was crucified (all) creation was afraid and trembled before him at what the godless Jews did, and they could not endure to look This word is lost, but there seems no room for more than one word, the next being the relative pronoun. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES upon the Lord in his being mocked. At night ye shall give thanks because he has given you rest from toil of the day, and at the time of cock-crow because already at that hour ye are told the news of the appearing of the day that ye may turn to your works, and to the works of the light that ye may do them. The sixty-eighth : If ye cannot go to the church, the bishop shall celebrate the Kiddas in his house. It is the holy man that sanctifies the church. If ye cannot go to the church because of the un- believers, thou, O bishop, celebrate the Kiddas in thy house, that the servants of God may not be gathered together with the profane ; and the church does not sanctify the man, but it is the man who sanctifies the church. If the profane make a raid on the church, flee away from it, for they have defiled it, for as it is the holy man that sanctifies the church, so also it is defiled by the impure. If it is not possible to assemble together in the house or in the church, each one shall sing praise wherever he is by himself, and let him read and pray, if there are two or three, for the Lord said that in the place in which two or three are gathered in my name I am at once with them in their midst. The Faithful shall not pray with the catechumens in a house. It is not right that he should partake of the holy Mysteries if he has been defiled by those who do not partake. The servant of God shall not pray with a TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 287 heretic nor in his house. What fellowship has light with darkness? If a believer, man or woman, has intercourse with slaves, let them be excommunicated and go out of the church. The sixty-ninth : Concerning the days on which they S make celebration for those who slept They shall keep the third for those who slept, with psalms and prayers, because of him who rose ain on the third day. They shall keep the seventh for memorial of the living and the dead. They shall keep also the fulness lo of the month in likeness of the ancient (practice) : thus mourned the people for Moses. And thus they shall also keep the fulness of the year in likeness of their memorial. They shall give to the poor of the goods of him who died as a memorial for him. This we say con- ‘5 cerning only the servants of God. As for the profane, if everything in the world was given to the poor for him it would not profit him, because those who were enemies of God in the world, the thing is clear that they will remain to be his enemies when they go out of the world. ” There is indeed no hypocrisy with him, for the Lord is righteous and loveth the righteous, and also, ‘ Behold the man and his work.’ And if ye are invited on a day, eat orderly and in the fear of God. It may be that ye shall pray for those S who have been removed from this world. O presbyters and deacons of Christ, it is proper that ye should be watchful at all times, ye yourselves and others (also), that ye may be able to do according to the saying of the Scripture : The strong, the angry, shall not drink 3 wine, lest they should drink and forget wisdom, and STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES not be able to judge in uprightness. Because after God the almighty and his only Son, the presbyters and deacons are the authorities of the church. We say this, (but) we do not forbid them to drink (wine), .because we cannot despise what God created for the joy of men, but that they should not drink to be drunken. The Scriptures say not that he shall not drink wine, but what is said is that he shall not drink wine to be drunken, and also that thorns lo spring up in the hand of the drunkard. This is not said only to the clergy, but to all the lay Christian people, those who follow the name of our Master Jesus Christ These are they concerning whom they say : The woe, but also trouble and contentions and sorrows who IS hath ; and whose eyes are darkened ; or wars and wounds shall be to whom ? Is it not they who are assiduous in drinking wine, who ask where is the place of drink ? j The seventieth chapter : Concerning those who are persecuted for the Faith, and concerning him who flees ao from city to city because of the Faith, that they should be assisted withal for the sake of the Faith. He who flees from city to city for the sake of the remembrance of the words of the Lord, and they know that the spirit is ready and the flesh weak, (and) they flee from place to place, and they accept the spoiling of their goods that they may keep the charge of the name of Christ and not deny him. Assist them and give to them all that they have need of, and fulfil the statute of the Lord which we command Lit ‘and.’ TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 89 (you) withal Stand each one in the Order which is given him, and go not beyond the limits which are its limits for him. It is not for ourselves but for God the Lord, who says : He who receiveth you receiveth me, and he who receiveth me receiveth him who sent me, j and he who despiseth you despiseth me, and he who despiseth me despiseth him who sent me. If there are created things which have no souls (and which) keep the order which is given them, the day and the night, and the sun and the moon and the stars, and the elements lo and the changes of the seasons and the months and the weeks and the hours, and these are slaves to the necessity which was defined for them as it is said : He made for them a limit (which) they do not pass over and the sea I have made for it a limit, and I have made for it a barrier 15 and doors, and I said to it. Reach as far as this, and thou shalt not pass beyond. How much more indeed is it not proper for you to move anything which has been defined for you according to the will of God ; yet there are some who reckon this as nothing, that they confuse Orders. 20 Do not ye confuse the ordination according to which each one of you was ordained to his Order, nor take by force Orders which are not given to you and pass beyond your own in an overbearing manner that ye may possess what belongs to another, over which ye have no authority. Con- 35 cerning this they provoked God like the children of Korah and king ‘Ozya, who took by force the priesthood with- out the commandment of God. The former were burnt with fire and the latter had his forehead marked with leprosy. And these (now) make angry the Lord Jesus, P who commanded that this should be, and pained the STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES heart of the Holy Spirit and despised his testimony, and they make light in truth of the charge laid upon those who do these deeds and the carelessness which they commit in regard to the Oblations and the Eucharistia, so that they are offered by means of those by whom it is not proper (to be done). They regard the honour of the priesthood which is in the likeness of the great Chief Priesthood of Jesus Christ our King that it is a work of sport. And it is necessary that we should teach them o this : for lit. and) henceforth some of them make division (inciting others to follow) after their vanities. We speak of Moses the servant of God, to whom God spoke face to face as one who talks with his companion, who said to him, I know thee more than everyone, who talked with him face to face, (not) in signs and wonders and dreams and angels and interpretation. This (was) at the time when he commanded him the holy law, and strictly defined what was proper to be completed by the priesthood, and what was proper to be (done) by the o priests, and not the things which belonged to the levites, and he kept each one apart for what was suitable for him, and he arranged the service, that which was com- manded to the high-priest to do and was not suitable for the priests to do, and the law did not require it ; and l that with which the priests were commanded the levites were not able to approach, but each one should keep to his own service which he received and not go from it. And if anyone transgressed and went out from his Order and the service which he had received his punishment P was death. What happened to Saul makes this clear to us, especially when he thought to offer up victims TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 29I rebelliously against the prophet and high-priest Samuel he brought on himself sin and curses for ever. But the prophet was not afraid because of the anointing with which he had anointed him to become king. God has made us know of a great deed, revealing (what) happened s to Ozya, Vengeance did not wait on account of the opposition which he made, and (in) his becoming a stranger from his kingdom because of the chief priest- hood which he coveted. The seventy-first chapter: Concerning the Order of the 10 Priesthood and its limits. Ye are not ignorant of what we have defined. Ye are aware that there are some whom we have named Bishops, and others whom we have named Presbyters, and others Deacons, with prayer and laying on of hand. 15 And we have made for each an Order according to the difference of the name. There is none among us who desires the filling of our hands, that he may receive from us what he desires, like the priests of the calves made by Jeroboam, those which (were) an abomination before ao God. If there was not a law of difference of Orders, it would have sufficed to perfect all the world with one name, but since we have been taught by the Lord a series of functions we have kept apart the Bishops for the chief is priesthood, and the Presbyters for the priesthood, and the Deacons for the service, the service which comes to the two, that the works of the service may be perfected withal. It is not proper for the Deacons to offer the Oblations jo or baptise, or give the Eulogia to great or small ; nor for STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES a Presbyter to sign, t.e. ordain, anyone, because it is not proper to alter his Order. God is not (the author) of confusion, so that the vicious may not seize for them- selves with audacity what belongs to those who are (properly) chosen, and make for themselves a new law to their own destruction in their ignorance. The thing bears witness against them. They kick with their feet against the goad. Such men are not in opposition to us, but they are in opposition to the Bishop of all the earth, the Son of God, the great Priest Jesus Christ our Master. Constituted by Moses, the lover of God, were chief priests, priests, and levites, and constituted also were thirteen Apostles by the Saviour, and by the Apostles we have been constituted, Clement and James and the rest withal, not that we should describe every one of them. And we have also all of us constituted withal presbyters and deacons and readers. The first and only true Chief Priest is Christ, he who did not carry off this honour for himself, but (it was from) the Father who appointed him. He when he became Chief Priest for our sake offered up the spiritual Sacrifice to God the Father before he was crucified. And he commanded us alone to do this, and there were others with us who believed in him. But it was not given to everyone who believes in him to be priest, nor to be worthy of the Order of chief priest After that he ascended we offered by his command the holy Oblation without blood, and we have appointed bishops and presbyters and deacons, in number, seven, among them Stephen the holy martyr ; he was not less than us in the love of God, but he displayed his service of God in faith TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIC TEXT 393 and the love which he haxl for Christ Jesus our Master to such a degree that he even gave up his life for his sake, and the Jews, the murderers of the Lord, stoned him with stones and killed him. But this great man, who gushed with the Spirit, who saw the doors of the heavens 5 opened and the Lord at the right hand of the Father, we did not observe him in any place doing what was not suitable for the deacons, or that he offered Oblations, or that he laid hand upon a man, but he kept to the Order of the deacons until the end, as was 10 suitable for the Martyr of Christ to complete and keep the Order. And if there is anyone who blames Philip the deacon and Hananiya the faithful brother, the former because he baptised the eunuch and the other (because) he baptised is me, Paul, they know not what we say. We say that no one shall seize for himself the Order of Priesthood, but should obtain it from God like Melchizedeck or James, or should obtain it from the chief priest like Aaron. He obtained it from Moses. Philip and Hananiya did not ao choose for themselves that they should do that But it was Christ who chose them, the true Chief Priest of God, and there is no god like him. The Apostolic Canons were finished, and they are seventy-one Canons, but their number in the Greek is i; eighty-one’ canons, and they are those which the Apostles transmitted by the hand of Clement To God be glory continually, and upon us be his mercy for ever. Amin. ‘One is added above the line. I t; !-l I I lis r : I it TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT Editbd by PAUL DE LAGARDE in ABGYPTIACA Fkom MS. Brit. Mds., Ok. 1330: GdrriKCKK, 1SS3 THESE ARE THE KANONS OF OUR HOLY FATHERS, THE APOSTLES OF OUR LORD JESUS THE CHRIST, WHICH THEY APPOINTED FOR THE CHURCHES Hail, O our sons and our daughters, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Christ. Said Johannes and Math- thaios and Petros and Andreas, Philippos and Simon, 10 Jakobos and Nathanael, Thomas and Kyphas, Bartholo- maios and Joudas the brother of Jakobos. I. According to the commandment of our Lord Jesus the Christ our Saviour, after we had assembled together ; he commanded us, saying : Ye have not yet divided the 15 countries among you : before that ye divide them among you, so that each may take his place according to your number, Define the dignity (axioma,’ in the plural) of the Bishops, the councils lit. the places of sitting) of the Presbyters, the assiduous services (proskarteresis) so of the Deacons, the wisdom (plural) of the Readers ‘ The word for ‘ and ‘ hitherto hu been the prepontion ‘ with.’ transliterated. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES (anagnostes) and the sinlessness (plural) of the Widows ; and all the other [2] works, by which it is right to establish the foundation of the Church ; that they may know by them the type (typos) of the things which are in the heavens, and keep from all defilement, Knowing that they will give account to God in the great day of the Judgment concerning all the things which they heard (and) did not keep. And he commanded us to send these words forth in all the world (oikoumene). 2. Now (de) it pleased us to speak, each of us accord- ing as the Lord revealed to him, according to the will of God the Father, by the Holy Spirit, bearing in mind bis words, that we should order them to you by way of reminder and fraternal teaching. 3. Said Johannes : Men and brethren, we know that we shall give account for the things which we heard and which were ordered to us. Let not any of us accept the person of his neighbour, but if one see that his neighbour says things which are not profitable, let him is not good. Then (de) it pleased them that Johannes should speak first. . Said Johannes : Two ways exist, one is belonging to life and [3] the other to death. There is great difference between these two ways. The way indeed of life is this : Thou shalt love the Lord thy God who made thee with all the heart, and glorify him, he who redeemed thee from death.’ I For this is the first The numbers in brackets record the pages of the MS. 1320. TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 397 commandment (entole). But the second is this : Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The law and the prophets are depending on these two commandments (entole). . Said Maththaios : All things which thou wishest not 5 . to be done to thee, thou also do them not to another. ( Which is this, that that which thou hatest do not do to another. Thou therefore, O Petros my brother, teach them with these words. . Said Petros : Thou shalt not kill ; thou shalt not to commit adultery ; thou shalt not fornicate ; thou shalt not corrupt a youth ; thou shalt not steal ; thou shalt not be a sorcerer (pharmagos) ; thou shalt not be a diviner ; thou shalt not cause abortion, nor if she should bring forth shalt thou kill him ; thou shalt not covet anything 15 of thy neighbour ; thou shalt not bear false witness ; thou shalt not speak evil of anyone, njtherbajt thou design gvil ; thou shalt not be of double heart ; nor shalt thou be of [4] double tongue, for to be double-tongued is a snare of death ; j Thy speech shall not be vain or false ; ao Thou shalt not be lover of the larger portion, nor an extortioner, nor hypocrite (hypokrites), nor (of) evil heart, nor proud ; Thou shalt not take an evil counsel against thy neighbour ; thou shalt not hate any man, but some indeed thou shalt reprove, but on others thou shalt 35 have, pity; and for some thou shalt pray, and others thou shalt love like thy soul (psyche). . Said Andreas : My son, flee from all evil (poneron), and hate all evil. Thou shalt not be wrathful, because wrath (orge) leads to murder. For wrath is an evil 30 demon (daimonion). Be not jealous; be not contentious ; STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES be not quarrelsome ; because from these things is begotten envy. . Said Philippos : My son, be not lustful, because lust leads to fornication, drawing men into it by force. For lust is a female demon (d.), And if the demon (d) of wrath (orge) should be united with that of pleasure (hydone) they destroy those who will receive them. Now (de) the way of the evil (poneron) spirit is the sin of the soul (ps.). I And whenever he sees a little place of rest [5] and goes in, he enlarges the way, and takes with him all the other evil (p.) spirits, and goes unto that soul (ps.), and he lets not the man look up at all to see the right Let your wrath have its measure, and check it after a litde interval (diastema), and draw it back to you, lest it cast you into an evil deed. For wrath and evil pleasure (hydone), if they remain always continuing, become demons (d.), and whenever they have dominion over the man, they swell (shafe) in the soul (ps.), and it becomes under derision ; and if they should bring him into deeds of wrong they mock at him, rejoicing over the destruction of that man. . Said Simon : My son, be not a speaker of evil words nor base ; nor be of lofty eye ; for of these things comes adultery (plural). ID. Said Jakobos : My son, be not an interpreter Jit. sayer) of signs, since interpreting of signs leads to idolatry, nor an enchanter, nor an assigner of hours, nor maker of potions, nor a wizard. Neither be teacher or hearer of them ; for of all these things [6] comes idolatry. 1. Said Nathanael : My son, be not a liar ; since TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 299 lying leads to theft ; nor a lover of money lit. brass), nor a lover of vainglory ; because of all these come thefts. I My son, be not a murmurer, since murmuring draws man to blasphemy. Be not harsh, nor designer of evil ; for of all these is begotten quarrelling. ] But rather 5 be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. Further (de), be also tender-hearted, peacemaking, merciful, cleansed in thy heart from all evil. Be un- malicious (kakia), meek, good (agathos), trembling at the words which thou heardest, and keeping jhem. 10 Do not exalt thyself, nor shall thou give heed to the proud, but be more and more (auxane) with the righteous (dikaios) and the pure. All evil things which come upon thee receive as being good, recognising that nothing will happen to thee without God. 15 . Said Thomas : My son, him who told thee the words of Godand became to thee the cause of life, and gave to thee the holy seal (sphragis) which is in the Lonfll [7] Thou shah love like the apple of thine eyes. Remember him therefore by night and day, and honour him like the 10 Lord ; I For where they speak of the things of the Lord, the Lord is there : ] And (de) thou shalt seek his face daily, him and the other holy ones ; that thou mayest rest upon their words ; For he who associates with the holy will become holy. Thou shalt honour him according to thy 2 powerwTth thy sweat and with the toil of thy hands. For if the Lord made thee worthy that he should give to thee by him spiritual food (trophe) and spiritual drink and eternal life, j It is most right that thou shouldst give to Lit. the Lordship. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES him food perishable and temporal. For the labourer (ergates) is worthy of his hire. For it is written : Thou shalt not muzzle an ox threshing, Nor does any- one plant a vineyard and not eat the fruit thereof. 13. Said Kypha : Thou shalt not make divisions ; thou shalt rather reconcile them who quarrel, for peace with one another. Judge righteously without acceptance of persons, reproving him who sinned for his sin ; For riches prevail not with God, nor doth he respect rank Id (axioma), nor is beauty of any profit ; but a just (d.) judg- ment is that which is before him. Be not doubtful in thy [81 prayer, considering whether that which thou askest will happen or not. When thou art going to receive, be not stretching out thy hand, but if thou art going to give, drawing it in to thee. If thou hast anything by thy hands thou shalt give it for the ransom of thy sins. Thou shalt not hesitate (tisdaze) when thou art about to give, nor again when thou givest shalt thou murmur, knowing that God is the true rewarder. Thou shalt not turn away from the needy, but share (koinOnei) with the needy in all things. Thou shalt not say : Mine alone are these (things). For if ye are become sharers (koin5nos) with one another in the imperishable, how much more should ye not be in the perishable. 14. Said Bartholomaios : I entreat you, my brethren, ‘ while there is time (kairos), and still (aitei) being with i you those to whom ye can do good, Cease not to give of i any possession that ye have ; for the day of the Lord draws near, that which will cause all visible things to be dissolved, and the wicked (poneros) will perish therein, j For the Lord cometh and his reward with him. I Be law- TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 3OI givers to yourselves : Be teachers of yourselves as God has taught you. j [9] Thou shalt keep the things which thou hast received, and not take from them, nor add to them. . Said Petros : Men and brethren, as for all the rest 5 of the doctrine the holy Scriptures suffice to teach you, but let us indeed say to them the things which have been commanded to us. Then it pleased them all for Petros to speak. . Said Petros: If there is a place in which are 10 but few believing men, and the multitude is not yet large (enough) to enable them to take vote (psyphisma) for the bishop, to the number twelve men, let them write to the neighbouring Churches, where there are many believers established ; that three chosen men may come from that 15 place ; And let them prove (dokimaze) carefully him who is worthy of this degree (bathmos). Whether he be one of good report among the heathen (ethnos), sinless, without wrath, lover of the poor, prudent, sober, not a drunkard, not a fornicator, not a lover of the larger portion, not a 20 railer, not an accepter of persons, nor any of the like. It is a good thing if he has no wife. But if he has married one wife, having his children, let him stay with her. (Let him) have a share of (meteche) all learning, being able to interpret well the Scriptures. [10] If he 25 knows not how to write, being meek, let him abound in love toward all men, lest haply the bishop should fall under condemnation in a matter, and become guilty at all . Said Johannes : The bishop who will be ordained 30 (kathista), if he should attend to knowledge and patience STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES (hypomone) (with) love of God (and of) them who are with him, let him then (de) appoint (kathista) two presbyters after having proved (dokimaze) them. 8. And they all answered : Not two, but three : there are four and twenty presbyters, twelve on the right hand and twelve on the left hand. Said Johannes : Well have you reminded me, O brethren : for those on the right hand having taken the vials (phiale) from the angels offer them to the Lord, while (de) those on the left hand are lo having power over the multitude of angels. But it is right for the presbyters to be adorned (kosmei) with the charac- ter of old age, retiring from intercourse with woman, doers of good in brotherly love, and not accepting the person of men, sharing (koinonei) with the bishop in the Mysteries, assisting him in all things, gathering the multitude to- gether that they may love [i i] their shepherd. Then (de) the presbyters who are on the right hand shall provide for those who work at the altar (thysiasterion), that they may honour them who are worthy of all honour, and rebuke (epitima) them who are worthy of being rebuked (ep.). But the presbyters who are on the left hand shall provide for the multitude that they may be quiet, and that there may be no disturbance, ( [and] They having learnt to be in all subjection (hypotake). Further (de), whenever they as correct anyone, and he answers with audacity (authates), those who are within the sanctuary (thysiasterion) shall be of one heart and of one mind (gnome), and take vengeance on such an one according to his desert : and all the rest will fear, lest they should seek to please (ariske), and (the sinner) should consume as a cancer (gaggraina), and they all should be led away captive (aikhmalotize). TRANSLATION OP THE SAIDIC TEXT 303 . Said Jakobos: They shall appoint a Reader (anagnostes) after proving (dolcimaze) him with a great proof (dokimazia), whether he bridles his tongue, being not a drunkard, nor a scoffer in his speech, but of respect- able appearance, obedient, being first to assemble on the S Lord’s day (kyriake). As minister (diaknonei), knowing that it is right for him to fulfil the work of preacher ; For it is right that he who filleth the [12] ears of others with his instructions should be all the more a doer (of the word) faithful before God. . Said Maththaios : Let the Deacons be ordained (kathista) after three (persons) have borne witness to their life (bios) ; for it is written : ‘ By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand.” Let them be made after having been proved (dok.) in all service 15 (diakonia) ; being witnessed to by all the people (laos) ; having lived with one wife, rearing their children well, pure, prudent, meek, sober, quiet (esykhios), not insolent, who murmur not, not double-tongued, not wrathful, For wrath (orge) is the ruin of wise men also ; Marked as quotation. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES walk unruly: And some indeed [13] instructing and some rebuking (epeitima), but others exhorting. Further (de), let them cast out them who despise (kataphronei) and are railers, knowing that all men who gainsay, or are revilers, oppose the Christ . Said Kephas : Let them ordain (k.) three Widows, two to continue (proskarterei) together in prayer for all who are in trials (peirasmos), and to ask for revelations concerning that which they require : While (de) the other (is) to be appointed to wait upon the women who are tried (piraze) in sickness, ministering (diakonei) well, being sober (nephe), telling the presbyters of the things which happen, not a lover of shameful gain, not a drunkard, that she may be able to be sober (n.) so as to minister (dia.) at night : and if another woman wishes to apply herself to do good works, let her do according to the good will of her heart For (kai gar) these are the good (agathon) things which the Lord foreordained. 22. Said Andreas : Let the Deacons be doers (ergates) of good works, coming by day and night in all places, and not exalting themselves over the poor, nor respecting the person of the rich ; they shall know who is afflicted, and give to him of the abundance, compelling those who have power to do good works, [14] to gather them in for them, I Taking heed to the words of our Master (sah) : ministered (dia.) without sin get for themselves much boldness (parresia). 23. Said Philippos: Let the Layman (laeikos) hearken to the precepts (prostagma) which they deliver to the TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 305 laity, being in subjection to those who are occupied at the altar (thysiasterion). Let each one please God in the place which was defined for him, not liking to be at enmity with one another, not being jealous of the place defined for each (other) ; but let each continue in the s calling in which he was called by God. Let not any- one seek to make his neighbour stumble in his course in which he runs ; for neither do the angels anything beyond the commandment of the Lord. . Said Andreas : It is a good thing to set apart Hi. lo define) women to be made deacons (diakonos). . SaidPetros: We have already defined this ; butcon- cerning the Oblations (prosphora) of the Body and the Blood of the Lord we shall declare the thing with certainty. . Said Johannes: Ye have forgotten, O brethren, 15 on the day when our Master (sah) took the bread and the cup (poterion) he blessed them, saying : ‘ This is my Body and my Blood.’ Ye have seen that he gave not a place to the women to assist [15] with them.’ Martha answered : Concerning Maria because he saw her laugh- so ing. Said Maria ; Not because (of that) I laughed ; for he said to us in his teaching : ‘ The weak will be healed by the strong.’ . Said Kyphas : Some say that it is right for women to pray standing up, and not to throw themselves upon 3; the earth. . Said Jakobos : Where shall we be able to set apart women for a ministry (dia.), except this ministry (dia.) of this kind only, that they should help the needy ? STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES . Said Philippos : Brethren, concerning the giving. He who does a work gathers in a good treasure for himself; but he who gathers in a good treasure for himself is he who gathers for himself the kingdom of the heavens. They will reckon him as a workman (ergates) of God abiding for ever. . Said Petros : Brethren, we are not having author- ity (exousia) over anyone by compulsion (anagke), but as we have been commanded by God. I entreat you to keep the commandments (entole) of God without taking anything from them nor adding to them, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Christ, whose is the glory for ever. Hamen. ‘ CONCERNING THE BISHOPS . The bishop shall be ordained (kheirodonei) according to the word which we said before, having been [ 1 6] chosen from all the multitude, and (de) being without sin. When he has been named (onomaze) and they are pleased with him, the whole people (laos) shall assemble themselves together, and the presbyters with the deacons on the Lord’s day (kyriake), with the consent (syneudokei) of all the bishops, who have laid their hand upon him. The presbyters also stand by, waiting, And they all hold their peace together, and pray in their heart that the Holy Spirit may come upon him. And they request (axiou) one of the bishops, while beginning of the second book. TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT JO? all Stand up, that he should lay his hands upon him who is to be made bishop, and pray over htm. And (de) when he is made bishop, let everyone give pefkce (eirene) to him with their mouth, saluting (aspaze) him. I Let the deacons then (de) offer to him the Ob- s lation (prosphora). And (de) having put his hand upon the Oblation (pr.) with the presbyters let him say in giving thanks (eukharistou) : The Lord with you all (o kyrtos meta panton ymon). And all the people (1.) say : With thy spirit (meta to pnatos sou). And he says : Lift lo up your hearts (ano ymon tas kartias). And the people (1.) say ; We have them with the Lord (eukhomen pros ton kn). And he says again : Let us give thanks to the Lord (eukharistesomen ton kn). And all the people (1.) say: Meet and right (axion kai dikaion). i; And let him pray also thus and say [17] the things which come after these according to the custom of the holy Oblation. CONCERNING THE PRESBYTERS ” . Further (de), when the bishop will ordain (kh.) the presbyter he shall lay his hands upon his head, all the presbyters touching him. And let him pray over him according to the form which we said for the bishop. a; CONCERNING THE DEACONS . Further (de), when the bishop will ordain (kathista) a deacon, who has been chosen according as we said 30 before, the bishop shall lay his hands upon him. Why STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES then have we said that the bishop alone is to place his hands upon the deacon ? The reason (aitia) of the thing is this, that he is not to be ordained (khi.) for a priesthood, but for a service (hyperesia) of the bishop, to do the things which he shall command him. Neither is he to be ordained (kath.) to be fellow-councillor (synboulos) of all the clergy (kleros), but to take care of the sick, and to inform the bishop about them. Neither is he to be ordained (kath.) to receive the spirit of geat- lo ness, in which the presbyters share (m.), But to be worthy (axios) for the bishop to entrust to him the things which it is right (for him to entrust). For this cause the bishop alone is to ordain (kh.) the deacon, But (as for) the pres- byter, the bishop [i8] sharing with him (in the gift), they (the presbyters) lay hand upon him, because the same spirit comes upon him (the presbyter) (as on them). For the presbyter receives only. He has no authority (exousia) to give orders (kleros). For this cause he is not to ordain (kath.) the clergy (klerikos). He only seals (sphragize) the presbyter, while the bishop is to ordain (kh.) him. CONCERNING THE CONFESSORS . The confessor then (de), if he has been in chains for the name of the Lord, they shall not lay hand upon him for a ministry (diakonia) or presbyterate : for he has the honour (time) of the presbyterate by his confession. But if he is to be ordained (kath.) bishop, then hand shall be laid upon him. But if he is a confessor who was not brought before an authority (exousia), nor was punished with chains, nor shut up in prison, nor con- TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 309 demned (katakrtne) with any sentence (katadike), but in a casual way he was only insulted for the name of our Lord, and he was punished with a punishment of house, though (de) he confessed, hand is to be laid upon him (for) every office (kleros) of which he is worthy. Now s (de) the bishop shall give thanks (eukhartstou) according to things which we said before. It is not altogether (ou pantos) necessary for him to recite the same words which we said before, as if learning [19] to say them by heart in his thanksgiving (eu.) to God ; but according 10 to the ability of each one he is to pray. If indeed he is able to pray sufficiently well (hikanos) with a grand prayer (proseukhe), then it is good : But if also he should pray and recite a prayer (pr.) in (due) measure, no one may forbid him, only (monon) let him pray being sound is in orthodoxy. CONCERNING THE READER (anagnostEs) . The reader (a.) shall be appointed (kath.) by the bishop giving to him the book of the Apostle, and praying over him, but he shall not lay hand upon him. CONCERNING THE SUBDEACON (hypodiakonos) 2S . They shall not lay hand upon a subdeacon (hypod.), but they shall mention his name (onomaze) that he may follow the deacon. IO STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES CONCERNING THE WIDOWS . Further (de), when a widow is appointed (kath.) she shall not be ordained (khirodonei), but she shall be S chosen by the name. And (de) if her husband has died a long time before, then let her be appointed (kath.). But if she has not tarried long since her husband died, trust her not. But (even) if she has become old let them prove (dokimaze) her by time (khronos). For o often the passions even grow old with him who gives place for them in himself. Let them appoint (kath.) the widow by (mention of) the word only, and enrol lit. bind) her with [20] the rest, but hand shall not be laid upon her ; because she does not offer the Oblation (pr.) nor conduct the public worship (litourgia). And (de) ordination (khirodonia) belongs to Hi. is with) the clergy (kleros) for the sake of public worship (lit), But the widow indeed is appointed (kath.) for the prayer, and (de) that is the (duty) of all persons. CONCERNING THE VIRGINS . Hand shall not be laid upon a virgin, but her purpose (prohairesis) alone is that which makes her a virgin. CONCERNING THE GRACE OF HEALING . Further (de), whenever anyone says : I received gifts of healing by a revelation, hand shall not be laid upon him : for the deed itself shall make him manifest if he speaks the truth. TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 3II CONCERNING NEW MEN WHO WILL COME IN TO THE FAITH (pistis) . Let those then (de) who shall be brought in to the new faith (pistis), to hear the word, be first brought in s unto the teachers, before the people (1.) enter. And they shall inquire the cause (aitia) of the thing, namely, for the sake of what thing they come in to the faith. And let those who bring them bear witness to them, Whether they are able to hear the word. Let them lo inquire then (de) about their life (bios), of what sort it is ; either if he has a wife ; or whether he is a servant of a believer, and his master allowed him (to come), then let him hear. If his master should not bear witness to him, that he is good, let him be rejected. If his master 15 is a heathen (ethnikos), then instruct him [21 J to please his master, that there may be no scandal (phlasphymia). If, however (de), there is one who has a wife, or again (entof) a woman who has a husband, let the man be instructed to be contented with his wife, and the .woman ao to be contented with her husband. But if there is one who did not live with a wife, let him be instructed not to fornicate, but either to marry a wife according to the law, or to remain (as he is) according to the law. But if there is one who hath a devil (daimonion), he shall not as hear the word of instruction until be is cleansed. CONCERNING THE OCCUPATIONS AND THE CRAFTS (epistymei) . They shall also (de) inquire about the occupations STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES and works of those whom they bring to set them (kathista) (in the faith), as to what they are. If one is a pander, who is a supporter of harlots, either let him leave off or let him be rejected. If there is a maker of images or a painter (zographos), let them be instructed not to make an idol (eidolon), either let them leave off or let them be rejected. If one is an actor (theatrikos) or again (entof) who makes representations (oupydexis, for apodeixis) in the theatre (thyadron), either let him lo leave off or let him be rejected. If he teaches little ones, it is good indeed for him to leave off: if he has no trade (tekhne), then let him be forgfiven. A charioteer (eneiokhos) similarly (homaios), who contends (agonize) or who goes to the games (agon), either [22J let him leave off or let him be rejected One who is a gladiator (monomakhos), or again (ent) who teaches gladiators to fight, or a hunter (kynekos) who is occupied with hunting (kynekion), or a pubh’c official (dymosios) who is occupied with gladiatorial shows (monomakhion), either let him leave off or let him be rejected. One who is a priest of the idols (eidolon), or again (ent) being a keeper of the idols (eidolon), either let him leave off or let him be re- jected. I A soldier who is in authority (exousia), cause him not to kill men : if he should be commanded (to do it) cause him not to hasten to the work, nor cause him to swear ; and (de) being unwilling (to comply), let him be rejected. One who has power (exousia) over the sword, or a magistrate (arkhon) of a city, who is clad in purple, either let him leave off or let him be rejected. If a cate- chumen or a believer wishes to become a soldier, let them TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 3I3 be rejected ; because they have despised (kataphronei) God. I A harlot or a dissolute man, or one who castrated himself, or indeed (ent.) any other who does things which it is not right to say, let them be rejected, for they are polluted. Nor shall they bring a magician (magos) for j examination (krisis). The charmer, or the astrologer (astrologos), or the diviner, or the interpreter of dreams, or the troubler of multitudes, or they lit. singular) who spoil fringes of tunics, who are the clippers (psellistes), or who make phylacteries (phylakterion), ,o either let them leave off” or let them be rejected. A concubine of one, [23] if she is his sernt, if indeed she reared her children, and comes near him alone, then let her hear (instruction) : if not, let her be rejected A man who has a concubine, let him leave off and let him ,j marry a wife according to the law : but if he is not willing, then let him be rejected. If, therefore, we have left behind any other work, the works (themselves) will instruct your mind lit. sight), for we all have the Spirit of God. ao CONCERNING THE TIME (khronos) OF THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD AFTER THE (GIVING UP OF THE) OCCUPA- TIONS AND THE CRAFTS (epistimoi) S , Let the catechumens spend three years hearing the word. But if one is zealous (spondaios) and persever- ing (proskarterei) well in the work, they do not decide by (krine) the time (kh.); but the character (tropos) 30 alone shall decide (krine) him. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES CONCERNING THE PRAYING OF THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD . Whenever the teacher leaves off his teaching (kathegei), let the catechumens pray by themselves, separate from the believers : And let the women stand as they pray in a place in the church quite by themselves, whether female believers or female catechumens. And (de) when they finish praying, let them not give peace (eirene), for their kiss is not yet pure. Let the believers then (de) only [24] salute (aspaze) one another, men with men, and women with women : but let not man salute (aspaze) woman. Moreover (de), let all the women have their heads covered with a robe (pallin), but (not) in any article (eidos) of linen only, for this is not a veil (kalyma). CONCERNING THE MANNER OF LAYING HAND ON THE CATECHUMENS 44. When the instructor after the prayer lays hand upon the catechumens, let him pray and dismiss them. Whether he is an ecclesiastic who gives (instruction) or a layman (1.), let him do (it) thus. If a catechumen should be seized for the name of the Lord, let him not be doubtful concerning the testimony; for if it should happen that they offer violence and put him to death before his sins have been forgiven, he will be justified ; for he was baptised in his own blood. TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT CONCERNING THOSE WHO WILL BE BAPTISED – Further (de), when they have chosen those who are set apart to be baptised, their life (bios) having been 5 examined, whether they have lived seriously (semnos) as catechumens ; whether they have honoured the widows ; whether they have visited the sick, whether they have completed every good work ; And when those who brought them have borne witness to them, that they did 10 thus, then let them hear the gospel euaggelion) ; more- over (de), from the time that [25] they will be separated (from the rest) let hand be laid on them daily, in exorcis- ing (exorgize) them. And (de) when the day draws near on which they will be baptised, let the bishop exorcise 15 (exorgize) each one of them, that he may know whether they are pure. And (de) if there is one who is not good (kalos) or pure (katharos), let him be put on one side; because he did not hear the word in faith (pistis) : for it is never possible for the alien to be concealed. Then (de) m let those who are set apart to be baptised be instructed to bathe and make themselves free (from the alien), and wash themselves on the fifth day of the week (sabbaton). And (de) if a woman is in the manner of women, let her be put on one side, and let her be baptised on another 15 day. I Let them who will be baptised fast on the prepara- tion (paraskeue) of the sabbath (sabbaton). And (de) on the sabbath (sabbaton), when they who will be baptised have assembled in one place by the direction (gnome) of the bishop, let them all be commanded to pray and bend 30 their knees. And when he has laid his hand upon them, l6 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES let him exorcise (exorgize) all alien spirits to flee away from them, and not to return to them henceforward And when he has done exorcising (exorgize), let him breathe in their face, j And when he has sealed (sphragize) their foreheads and [26] their ears and their noses, let him raise them up. j And let them spend all the night in vigil, reading to them and instructing (kathege) them. Moreover (de), let not those who will be baptised bring any other vessel except only that which each one will bring for the Eucharist (eukharestia) : for it is right for him who was worthy, to bring his Oblation (prosphora) then. CONCERNING THE TRADITION (paradosis) OF THE HOLY BAPTISM . At the hour, then (de), when the cock will crow, let them first pray over the water. Let the water be flowing along into the tank (kolymbethra) or descending upon it. And (de) let it be thus if there is no scarcity (anagke) : But if there is scarcity (anagke) continuous and sudden, then use (khro) the water which ye shall find. And (de) let them undress themselves. And ye shall first baptise the little ones. Moreover (de), all who can speak for themselves, let them speak ; But for them who cannot speak, let their parents speak for them, or any other belonging to their family (genos). And afterwards ye baptise the adult men, but last the women, who have all loosed their hair, and laid aside the gold and silver ornaments which they were wearing: [27] let not any take any alien thing (eidos) down to the water with them. TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 317 And (de) at the hour which is determined for baptising, let the bishop give thanks (eukharistei) over the oil, and put it into a vessel (skeos), and call it the oil of the thanksgiving (eukharestia) ; and take also other oil, and exorcise it (exorgize upon it), and call it the oil s of exorcism (exorgismos). And a deacon shall carry the oil of exorcism (ex.) and stand on the left hand of the presbyter : And another deacon shall take the oil of the thanksgiving (eu.) and stand on the right hand of the presbyter. And when the presbyter has taken lo hold of each one of those who will be baptised, let him command him to renounce (apotasse), saying : I renounce (ap.) thee, Satanas, and all thy service and all thy works. And when he has renounced (ap.) all these, let him anoint him with the oil of exorcism (ex.), saying: is Let all spirits remove far from thee. And thus let him give him to the bishop naked, or (to) the presbyter who stands at the water for baptising. Likewise also (homaios de) let the deacon go with him into the water, and let him say to him, helping him to say it : I believe m the only true God, the Father, the almighty (pantocrator) and his only (monogenes) Son Jesus the Christ, our Lord [28] and our Saviour, and his Holy Spirit, giver of life to the universe, the Trinity of the same substance (trias en homoousion), one Godhead, one Lordship, one King- 35 dom, one Faith, one Baptism, in the Catholic (katholike) apostolic holy Church, life eternal. Amen. And (de) he who receives, let him also say according to all these things : I believe thus. And he who gives (the baptism) shall put his hand upon the head of him who receives, 3a and dip him three times, professing (homologei) these l8 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES things every time, And afterwards again let him say: Thou believest our Lord Jesus the Christ, the only lit. one) Son of God the Father, that he became man by a miracle for our sake, in an incomprehensible unity, in his Holy Spirit, from Maria the holy virgin, without seed (sperma) of man : And that he was crucified (strou) for us in time of Pontios Pilatos ; he died voluntarily for our salvation withal, he rose in the third day, he released those who were bound, he ascended into the heavens, he sat on the lo right hand of his good (ag.) Father in the height, And he comes again to judge the living and the dead according to his appearing and his kingdom : And thou believest the holy, good (ag.), and life-giving Spirit, purifying the uni- verse, in the holy Church. [Again let him say : I believe. And let them go up from the water, and let the presbyter anoint him with oil of the thanksgiving (eu.), saying : I anoint thee with an unction in holy oil in the name of Jesus the Christ. Thus having anointed each one of the rest he clothes them. And let them go into the church. Let the bishop lay his hand upon them with great earnestness lit. desire), saying : Lord God, according as thou hast made these worthy of receiving the forgive- ness of their sins unto the future life, make them worthy of being filled with thy Holy Spirit, and send down upon them thy grace, that they may serve thee according to thy will, because thine is the glory. Father and Son and Holy Spirit in the holy Church, now and always and for ever and ever. And he shall pour some oil of the MS. of Tattam. TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 319 thanksgiving (eu.) upon his hand and lay hand upon his head, saying : I anoint thee with an unction in holy oil by God the Father, the almighty (pantokrator), and Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit. And he shall seal (sphragizin) upon his forehead, kissing him, and he shall 5 say : The Lord (be) with thee. And he who has been sealed shall answer : And with thy spirit (ke meta tou pneumatos sou). Thus all the rest severally shall do. And let all the people pray together, and all those who receive baptism shall be praying. Let them give (A. lo say) peace with their mouth. Let the deacons bring the Oblation (prosphora) to the bishop, and he shall give thanks over bread because that (it is) the form of the Flesh (sarx) of the Christ ; and a cup of wine because it is the Blood of the Christ, which will be shed for all 15 who believe him ; and milk and honey mingled in fulfil- ment of the promises of the fathers, because he said : I will give to you a land Bowing with milk and honey.] [31] This is the Flesh (sarx) of the Christ, which he gave to us to nourish us with it like children, namely, so we who believe him ; j It will cause the bitterness of the heart to be dissolved by the sweetness of the word (logos). All these things shall the bishop recount (logos) to him who shall be baptised. And when the bishop therefore has now broken the bread, let him give a 15 piece (klasma) to each one of them, saying : This is the bread of heaven, the Body of the Christ Jesus. Let him also who receives answer : Hamen. [ Further, if there is no [more] priest, let the deacons take hold of the cup ‘ There is some doubt as to the reading of this sentence. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES (poterion) and stand in right order (eutaxia) and give to them the Blood of the Christ Jesus our Lord ; and he who has the milk and the honey. Let him who gives the cup (poterion) say : This is the Blood of Jesus the Christ our Lord. And he who receives also shall answer : Hamen. When these things have been done, let each one hasten (spoudaze) to do all that is good, and to please God, and to live (politeue) rightly, devoting himself to the Church, doing the things which he has lo learnt, advancing (prokoptei) in the service of God Now (de) we have delivered these things to you in brief concerning the holy Baptism and the holy Oblation, Since they have already instructed (kathei) you [32] concerning the resurrection of the flesh (sarx) and all other things according as it is written. But if there is any other thing which it is right to be told, let the bishop say it quietly to those who shall be baptised ; and (de) let not the unbelievers know (it), except first they are baptised. This is the white stone (psyphos) of which Johannes said, that there is a new name written on it, which no one knows except him who will receive the stone (psyphos). CONCERNING THE FAST (nEstia) . Let the widows and the virgins fast (nesteue) often, and let them pray in the church. Likewise (hdmaios) the presbyters and the laymen let them fast (n.) at the time when they wish. But it is impossible for the bishop to fast (n.) except on the day when all the people (1.) will fast (n.). For it will happen, that some one wishes TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 321 to take some (food) to the church, and it is impossible for him to be denied (arna) : and (de) having broken the bread he shall certainly (pantos) taste the bread; and (de) eating it with other believers with Him, Let them take from the hand of the bishop one piece of a s loaf ((‘A bread) before that each breaks his own bread. For this is a blessing, and it is not a thanksgiving (euch.) like the Body of the Lord. CONCERNING THE TIME OF EATING [33] 48- And (de) it is right for all before they drink to take a cup and give thanks (eukharistou) over it, and drink and eat, being purified in that way. And (de) let them give to the catechumens bread of exorcism (ex.) and a cup. 15 CONCERNING THAT IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR THE CATECHUMENS TO EAT WITH THE BELIEVERS . Let not the catchumens sit down at the supper 30 (dipnon) of the Lord with the believers. Moreover (de), let him who eats remember him who invited him, at every time they are eating ; for for this cause he begged them to come in under his roof CONCERNING THAT IT IS RIGHT TO EAT ” DISCREETLY (epistEmei) AND MODER- ATELY . But when ye eat and drink becomingly, drink not so as to be drunken, that men may not mock you, and 30 he who invited you be grieved (lypei) by your dissolute- STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES ness. But rather (entof) that he may pray that the holy ones should come in unto him, for He said : Ye are the salt of the earth. If to all of you should be given portions (meris) at once, then thou wilt take up thy portion alone. But if also ye shall be invited to eat, ye shall eat only what is sufficient ; that he who invited thee may send the things which ye leave [34] to whom he will, as the leavings of the holy ones ; and that he may rejoice at your coming in unto him. And (de) let them who are invited eat quietly, not contentiously ; but when the bishop permits (protrepe) anyone to ask for a word, let him answer him. And when the bishop speaks, let all hold their peace in modesty, until he asks them (to speak) again. If, however (de), the bishop is not there, IS but only believers at the supper (dipnon), let them take the Eulogia from the hand of the presbyter, if he is there ; But if not, let them take from the hand of a deacon. Likewise (homaios) the catechumen shall take the bread of exorcism (ex.). But the laymen (1.) being with one another without the clergy (klerikos), let them eat discreetly (epistemei) ; but the layman (1.) cannot give the Eulogia. CONCERNING THAT IT IS RIGHT TO EAT WITH GIVING OF THANKS 1 . Further (de), let each one eat with giving of thanks in the name of God : for this is proper for godliness, that we all should be sober (nephe) and that the heathen (ethnos) may envy us. TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT CONCERNING THE SUPPER (dipnon) OF THE WIDOWS . When anyone wishes at any time to invite the S widows, all who are aged, let him cause them to eat, and dismiss them before it is evening. [35] And if they cannot come, because of the lot (kleros) which they have drawn (klerou), then let him give to them wine, and something to eat, and they shall eat in their house, as 10 they wish. CONCERNING THE FRUITS WHICH IT IS RIGHT TO BRING (prosvnagke) TO THE BISHOP ‘S . Let all hasten to bring to the bishop at all limes the first fruits (aparkhe) of the fruits of the first growth (genema). And (de) let the bishop also take them with giving of thanks, and bless them, and name (onomaze) the 30 name of him who brings them to him, saying : ‘ We give ‘ thanks (eukharistou) to thee. Lord God, and we offer to ‘ thee the first fruits (aparkhe) of the fruits which thou hast ‘ given to us to partake of them, having perfected them by ‘ thy word ; And thou hast commanded the earth to send as ‘ (trophe) of the race (genos) of men and all creatures. ‘ We bless thee, God, for these and all other things with ‘ which thou hast benefited (euergetei) us, having gar- ‘nished (kosmei) all creation with various fruits: by thy 30 ‘holy Son Jesus the Christ, our Lord, through whom STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES THE BLESSING (eulogia) OF THE FRUITS . These are the fruits which shall be blessed : [36] the grapes, the fig, the pomegranate, the olive, the pear, (papidion), the apple, the peach (persikon), the cherry (kerasion), the almond (amekdalon). But neither the garlic nor the leek, nor the onion, nor the gourd (pepon), nor the apple-gourd (melopepdn), nor the cucumber, nor any other vegetables (lakhanon) shall be blessed. But it will happen that flowers (anthos) are offered (pros- pherei) : let them bring the roses and the lily (krinon), but let not others be brought And (de) for all things which will be eaten they shall give thanks to God, and taste them to his glory. CONCERNING THAT IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR ANY MAN TO TASTE ANYTHING IN THE PASKHA BEFORE THE HOUR IN WHICH IT IS RIGHT TO EAT . The fast (nestia) shall not be reckoned to such a one, if he be greedy before the hour at which the fast (n.) is completed. But if anyone is sick and cannot fast (nesteue) for the two days, then let him fast (n.) on the day of the sabbath (sabbaton) of necessity (anagke), and be contented moreover (de) with bread and salt and TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT water. I And if anyone is on a voyage, or again (entof) he was ignorant of the day of the Paskha, when he should know of it, let him perform his fast (n.) after Pentekoste. For it is not a Paskha which we observe ; for that which is for a type (typos) passed by. For this cause we said 5 not, in the second month, but that when he knows the truth he shall [37] come to the fast (n.). CONCERNING THAT IT IS RIGHT FOR THE DEACONS TO ATTEND (pros- ‘ KARTEREi) UPON THE BISHOP . Further (de), let each one of the deacons and the subdeacons attend (pr.) upon the bishop, and tell him of all who are sick ; that if it seem good (dokei) to the 15 bishop he may visit them. For let the sick be consoled when they see the chief priest visiting them, and that they are remembered. CONCERNING THE HOUR AT WHICH IT ao IS RIGHT TO PRAY . Further (de), let all believers at the hour when they wake, before they begin any work, pray to the Lord, and thus let them go to their works. And (de) if there should as be the word of instruction (kathegesis), let them choose rather for themselves to go and hear the word of God, for the confirming of their soul. And (de) let them hasten to go to the church where the Spirit breaks forth.’ STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES CONCERNING THAT IT IS RIGHT TO RECEIVE OF THE EUCHARESTIA EARLY AT THE TIME WHEN IT WILL BE OFFERED UP, BEFORE TASTING ANY FOOD . Further (de), let every believer hasten (spoudaze) to receive of the Eucharestia before that he have tasted any food ; For if there are believers there, who receive it, if anyone should give to him a deadly potion it will not [38] overpower him. CONCERNING THAT IT IS RIGHT TO WATCH DILIGENTLY OVER THE EUCHARESTIA . Let all take care diligently for an unbeliever not to eat of the Eucharestia, nor a mouse, nor any other creature, or that not any of it should fall and be lost : it is the Body of the Christ, he lit. this) of whom all believers receive, and it is not right to despise (kata- phronei) it. CONCERNING THAT IT IS NOT RIGHT TO SPILL ANY FROM THE CUP (poterion) . For having blessed the cup (poterion) in the name of God, and having received of it as (hos) being the Blood of the Christ, give great heed to thyself, spill not from it, lest an alien (allotrion) spirit lick it up ; lest God TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 327 be angry with thee, seeing that (hos) thou hast despised (kataphronei) and become guilty (aicios) of the Blood of the Christ, in despising the price with which thou hast been bought [ Further (de), let the deacons and the presbyters assemble daily at the place where the bishop s shall command them (to come) ; [ And let not the deacons indeed neglect (amelei) to assemble at all times, unless sickness prevents (kolye) them. And (de) when all have assembled, let them give information to those who are in the churdi, and likewise having prayed, let each lo one go to the works which are determined for him. CONCERNING THE BURIAL PLACES [39] 61. Let not men overcharge (barei) for burying men is in the cemetery (koimeterion) ; for it is the property of all the poor ; or else (plen) let them give the wages of the workman (ergates) to him who digs, and the price of the earthen vessels (keramos). But those who are at that place who take care of it) let the bishop support, lest any ao of those who go to that place (topos) should be burdened (with a charge). CONCERNING THE TIME AT WHICH IT IS RIGHT TO PRAY n . Further (de), let all believers, men and women, when they rise early (from) sleeping, before they touch any work, wash their hands and pray to God ; and so let them go to their works. Further (de), if there should y be an instruction (kathegsis) of the word of God, let STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES everyone choose for himself to go to that place, Reckon- ing this in his heart, that it is God whom he hears speaking in him who gives instruction (kathei) : for having prayed in the church he will be able to avoid (parelthe) the evil of the day. Let the pious man reckon that it is a great loss, if he should not go to the place in which they instruct (kathegei); especially (malista) if he can read: or if the teacher should come, let none of you be deficient in coming to the church where they give the teaching. Then it shall be given to him who speaks to utter things which are profitable to all ; and thou wilt hear things which thou thinkest not; [40] and thou wilt be profited (ophelei) by the things which the Holy Spirit will give to thee from him who instructs (kathegei) : Thus thy faith will be established upon the things which thou hast heard. And (de) it will be told to thee also in that place the things which it is right for thee to do in thy house. For this cause then let each one hasten (spoudaze) to go to the church, the place in which the Holy Spirit breaks forth. If there is a day in which there is no instruction (kathegesis), let each one in his house take a holy book, and read sufficiently in it what seems (dokei) to him profitable. And if indeed thou art in thy house, pray at the third hour and bless God. If however (men) thou art in another place and thou comest by chance to that time (kairos), pray in thy heart to God. For in this hour the Christ was seen nailed to the wood. For this cause also in the old (palaia testament) the law commanded to offer the shew (prothesis) bread at every hour, as type of the Body and the Blood of the Christ ; TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 329 and the slaughter of the senseless (alogon) lamb, which was a type of the perfect (teleion) Lamb ; for the Christ is the shepherd ; he also is the Bread which came from heaven. Pray also likewise (hom.) at the sixth hour; for the Christ having been nailed to the wood of the 5 cross, that day divided, and a great darkness happened, wherefore (hoste) let them pray at that hour with [41] a prevailing prayer, likening themselves to the voice of him who prayed, (and) caused all creation (ktesis) to become dark for the unbelieving Jews. And 10 (de) let them also make a great prayer and a great bless- ing at the ninth hour, that thou mayest know how the soul (ps.) of the righteous ones blesses the Lord the true God, he lit. this) who remembered the holy ones, (and) sent his Son to them, who is his Word, to shine upon 15 them. I For in that hour was the side of the Christ pierced with a spear (logke) (and) blood and water came out, and afterwards the rest of the day shone until evening. For this cause also, when thou goest to sleep, thou shah begin (arkhisthai) another day and make the w type of the Resurrection. Pray also before thou restest thyself upon the bed in thy sleeping place ; and having risen up at midnight upon thy bed, wash thyself and pray ; and (de) thou shalt wash thyself in pure water. Further (de) also, if thou hast a wife, pray with one an- v, other together. But if she has not yet become a believer, withdraw (anakhOrei) thyself to a place and pray alone, and return again to thy place. And (de) thou who art bound by the marriage, be not unready to pray ; for ye Lit. ‘ sheep ‘ thus ain. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES are not unclean. For they who have been washed have no need to be washed again, because they are pure and they are clean (katharos). [42] Further (de), when thou breathest into thy hand, and sealest (sphragize) thyself with the spittle which thou wilt bring forth from thy mouth, thou art purified all over unto thy feet : for this is the gift (d5ron) of the Holy Spirit, And the drops of the water are (those) of Baptism coming up from a fountain (pyge), which is the heart of the believer, puri- fying him who believed. But it is also necessary (anagkaion) for us to pray at that hour, for even the presbyters themselves delivered this work unto us, and they instructed us lit. our sight) in this way; because in that hour all creation is quiet for blessing God. The stars and the trees and the waters are as those who stand up : I all the host (stratia) of the angels offer worship (litourgei) and the souls (ps.) of the righteous sing hymns (hymneue) to God the almighty (pantokrator) at that hour. For this cause it is right for those who believe to pray at that hour. And (de) the Lord also said thus, bearing this testimony, saying : At midnight, lo, there was a voice, Lo, the bridegroom came, come ye forth to meet him. And he spake further also, saying : For this cause then watch, because ye know not the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh. Likewise (horn.) having risen up [43] at the hour when the cock will crow, pray, because the children of Israel denied (arna) the Christ at that hour, him Jit. this) whom we have known, we who believe him, looking out by faith with a hope of the day of eternal light, that which will shine upon us for ever in the resurrection of the dead. So (de) all ye TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 33I believers, if ye perform these things and remember them, teaching one another, and instructing the cate- chumens to do them, nothing will tempt (piraze) you, nor will ye ever fall, remembering the Christ at all times. And (de) make proof (peira) at every hour of sealing (sphr.) 5 thy forehead in fear (of God) ; for this is the sign which is known and is manifest : by this the devil is ruined. If thou makest it in fjiith thou not only manifestest thy- self before men, but in the knowledge with which thou art confident like a shield (theron) : since the adversary 10 (antikimenos), the devil, only sees the power of the heart, and if he should see the inner man that he is sensible (logikos), sealing (sphragize) himself within and without with the seal (sphragis) of the Word (logos) of God, then he flies, pursued by the Holy Spirit, he [44] who is is in the man who makes place for him within him. This also is what Moses the prophet taught us before by the Paskha, and the Iamb which was slaughtered, he commanded that they should smear the blood on the lintel and the two door-posts, telling us of the faith 20 which is in us now, this which was given to us by the perfect (t) Lamb. Wherewith when we seal (sphragize) our foreheads with our hand, we shall be saved from those who wish to kill us. And when ye receive these things in thanksgiving and right faith ye will be edified and aj eternal life will be granted to (kharize) you. These things are those which we counsel you to keep, you who have sense lit. heart). For if all should follow the tradition (paradosis) of the Apostles, these things which they have heard, and keep them, no heretics (hairetikos) 30 will prevail to lead them astray (plana), nor any man at STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES all I For thus the numerous heresies (hairesis) increased (auxane), because that they who were leaders (prohista) would not learti the purpose (prohairesis) of the Apostles ; but according to their own pleasures (hydone) do what they like, not what was proper (prepei). If, then, we left out anything, our beloved, God will reveal them to those who are worthy, steering (keberna) the Church which is [45] worthy of mooring in the quiet haven. ‘CONCERNING THE GIFTS (kharisma) AND THE ORDINATIONS (khirodonia), FOR NO ONE TO BOAST OF HIMSELF ABOUT THEM ‘5 63. Our God and our Saviour Jesus the Christ delivered to us the great mystery of godliness, and called the Jews and all the Greeks (hellen), that they might know the true God, the only Father ; according as the Lord himself saith in a place, giving thanks for the salvation of those who believed on him : I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest to me, I have finished the work which thou gavest to me to do ‘ : And again speaking unto his Father concerning us, he says : known thee, and these also have known thee It is now proper (prepei) for us that he should speak to us all who have been made perfect (telios) concerning the gifts (kharisma) which he gave to us by his Holy Spirit : TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 33j will cast out demons (daimonion) in my name, they will speak languages, they will take up serpents in their hands, and if they should drink a deadly potion, it will not hurt them, they will lay their hands upon the sick and they shall have rest’ These gifts (kharisma) then were first s given to us the Apostles [46] at the time when we were appointed to preach the Gospel to all creation (ktesis), for us to give them to those who should believe through us, not as a profit for us indeed who exercise them, but rather for you. We are they who belong to God, but (the gifts) 10 are for a profit to you for the unbelievers who are among us, that those whom the word was not able to persuade (peithe) the power of the signs might put to shame. For the signs are not for us the believers, but they are for the unbelievers Of the Jews and the Greeks (hellen), 15 For neither is it any gain to us, if we cast out demons (dai- monion), but the gain is for those who have been purified by the energy of the Christ Jesus our Lord, According as our God himself instructs (paideue) us in a place, making the thing plain to us, saying : ‘ Rejoice not in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice rather (entoO because your names are written in the heavens.’ Since the casting out demons (d.) does not belong to our power, but the having our names written in the heavens belongs to our will and our diligence (spoude), being assisted by 25 him as is plain, j It is not then necessary (anagkaion) now that every believer should cast out demons (d.), or raise the dead, or speak languages ; but he who will be worthy of this grace will be worthy of it [47] certainly (pantos) Marked as quotatioai in MS. STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES for a useful reason (aitia) in regard to the salvation of the unbelievers who are put to shame through it ; for since they were unwilling to receive the declaration of the word, therefore the energy of the signs was sent to them, if haply they might be saved : for the ungodly are not even ashamed, though put to shame by the wonders. And God himself bears witness to this, as he saith in the Law : people (L), and they will not hear me even thus, saith the lo Lord.’ I For neither did the Egyptians believe God when Moyses the prophet did those great signs and those wonders among them. Nor again did the multitude of the Jews believe him who was greater than Moyses, namely the Christ, when he healed all the sick of all the infirmities which were in them. Neither again did the rod put to shame those (men) when it was changed into a serpent which became a living soul (psyche) in the hand of his servant Moyses ; or the hand which became white (with leprosy), and the water which became blood Nor these also were the blind, who saw, able to persuade (peithe), nor the lame who walked, nor the dead who were raised. And he indeed was resisted by Jannes and Jambres, while (de) the Lord [48] also by Annas and Kaiphas. Thus then the signs do not put all to shame, but only those of good disposition (eugnomon), and for their sake also God like a wise steward is willing that mighty works lit. powers) should be done, not by the strength of men, but by his own will. These things then we say, that those who have received these gifts (kh.) TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 335 and graces of this kind should not exalt themselves over those who have not received them : we are speaking of the gifts (kh.) of God which are (accompanied) by signs, Since there is no man who believed God through his holy Son, who did not receive a spiritual grace (kharis) or gift s (kharisma) from him : j For the freedom from the ungodli- ness (asebia) of the service of many gods, And the entrance into the faith of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, is a gift (kh.) of God ; especially because we have cast away from us the veil of the Jews ; and we have lo believed that, by the will of the Father and (of) the only (monogenes) Son who is with his good (ag.) Father before all ages (aiOn) and (of) the Holy Spirit the Life- giver, he (the Son) in the end of these days was born of the immaculate virgin Maria without seed (sperma) of 15 man, [49] And that he lived (politeue) among men without sin, having fulfilled all the righteousness of the law, I And that by the permission (synkhoresis) of the Father, God the Word (logos) endured (hypomine) the cross, despising the shame, And that he died, and that 20 he was buried, and that he rose from the dead on the third day, And that after he had risen he spent forty days with the Apostles, And after his commanding them with all commands he was taken up (analanbane) in their presence unto him who sent him, God the Father. So 15 (de) he who believed this, believed not thus as a matter of course (haplos), nor irrationally either, but rather by a calling and a persuasion, having received the gift (kh.) from God the Father. J Thus again he who is free from all heresy (hairesis), received the same gift (kh.) Nay, 30 let not anyone then among you by any means judge STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES one of those who became believers, that he was not worthy to do signs and wonders. For various are the graces of God which are given to men by him, And thou hast received this, and (de) another another : and one (it may be) has received a word of wisdom, or knowledge, or discrimination (diakresis) of the spirit, or knowing beforehand what will happen, or a [50] word of teaching, or patience, or continence (egkratia). For Moyses him- self even, the man of God, who did the signs in Egt, was not haughty over his brethren ; Nor when he was called god was he haughty over his prophet AarOn. But neither again did Jesou of Naue, who led the people (1.) after him, exalt himself over Phinees nor over Khaleb, when he stayed the sun over GabaOn and the moon over the valley of Elom in the battle (polymos) with the Jebusites (ieboussaios), because the day only did not suffice for the victory. Nor again when Samouel did all those signs did he count David, the lover of God, to be nothing ; and yet they were both prophets, the one indeed a chief priest and (de) the other a king. And again among the seven thousand holy men who were left in Israel who kept themselves from bowing the knee to Bahal or any other, [for] only Elias (helias) and Elisha (elissaios) his disciple, who lived among them, did signs and wonders. But neither did Elias deride Abdias the steward, who feared God, doing signs and wonders ; Nor did Elisha his disciple despise his [51] youth trembling at the surrounding enemies. For neither was the wise Daniel proud when he was twice saved from the mouth of the lions, Nor again did the three holy children scorn their companions when they were saved TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 337 from the burning fiery furnace ; For they knew that they were saved from all those evils not by their own power, but by the power of God they were doing the signs and wonders (and) escaping from those troubles. Wherefore (oukoun) let no one among you exalt himself over his s brother, though he be a prophet, or do signs and wonders : for if it was given that there should not be any unbelievers anywhere, how would the working (energia) of the signs be of any use ? For the man indeed to become godly belongs to his good heart, But for him to do signs lo and wonders belongs to the power of God being efficacious (energia) : And (of) these the former indeed belongs to us, but the second belongs to God who works (energei). Because, moreover (de), of the reasons which we have said before, let not the king by any means “S despise the officers (stratoigos) who are under him, Nor let the rulers those over whom they rule ; for the rulers would be nothing, if there were not those over whom they rule ;] and the kingdom [52] could not stand, if there were not officers (strategos). But v neither let the bishop exalt himself over deacon or presbyter, Nor let the presbyter exalt himself over the people (1.) ; for the establishment of our social state comes from one another ; For if there was no laity (1.), over whom would the bishop be bishop ? or 35 the presbyter ? And it belongs indeed to ourselves for all to become Christians, but for becoming Apostles or bishops or any other belongs not to us henceforward, but it belongs to God, who gives those graces. Lo, these things indeed we have said hitherto concerning those 30 who have become worthy of graces and dignities STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES (axiOma), but this other word we shall add to it, that all who prophesy are not godly, nor are all who cast out demons (d.) holy. For Balaham the son of Baior the diviner, being godless, prophesies ; And Kaiphas also, called Chief Priest, the name which he had being false. Further, the devil and also the demons (d.) under him foretold many things, though for all that there is no sign at all (holos) of godliness in them ; for they per- suade (peithe) themselves in their ignorance concerning lo the evil which [53] they wish to do. The thing is plain, that if the ungodly prophesy, they will not be able to conceal their prophecy by their ungodliness (asebes) ; Nor if demons (d.) cast out demons (d.) will they be able to become holy, By the former lit. these) being subject (hypokhorei) to the latter lit. these) : for they deceive (apata) one another like men who, feigning anxieties for the sake of merriment, are led astray (and) lead astray others among those who will support them. And (de) the king, if he should be ungodly (asebes) is hence- forth not a king but a tyrant ; and (oude) the bishop contented with ignorance or malice (kakia) is not a bishop, but the name which he had is false, and he was not appointed by God but by men, as Ananias and Samaias in Israel, And as Zedekias also and Achia, who were false prophets in [the] Babylon ; and as Balaham the diviner, who was punished (dimorei) be- cause he made all Israel to sin in Beelphegor ; and as the sons also of Skeva, after trying to cast out demons (d.), they fled in shame, having been wounded (plyge) by TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 339 those (demons) ; And as all the kings of Israel and Judah (louda), who were punished (dimSrei) with every punish- ment (dimOria). The thing therefore is plain that [54] even the bishops and presbyters, who are of false name, will not be able to escape from the just judgment of s God ; I For it will be said to them again (as before) : Ye priests also who profane my holy name, I will give you to slaughter as Zedekias and Achias, whom the king of [thej Babylon slew, As Jeremias the prophet saith. For we are not disparaging the prophecies of the true 10 prophets, for we know that the holy men of God are moved (energei) by the Holy Spirit, but rather are we taking away boastful pride, and we are showing them that God is wont to take away his grace from such persons. For God resists the proud, but he gives ij grace to the humble. Silas indeed then and Agabos became prophets in our time, and they did not exalt themselves over the Apostles, nor go beyond their measure, and yet they were the beloved of God. Further (de) also, even women prophesied in the old (testament), 30 and Mariham the sister of Moyses and AarOn, And (de) afterwards DebbOra, and after them OUa and Joudith, the one indeed in time of J5sias, the other in time of Tarios. And (de) in the new (testament) also the Mother of the Lord prophesied, [55] and Elisabet her 35 kinswoman, and Anna the daughter of Phanouel, j And in our time the daughters of Philip : and these dtd not exalt themselves over the men, but kept (within) their measure. Wherefore (oukoun) if it be a woman indeed (de) or a man has partaken of such graces, let him be 30 humble, that God may have pleasure in him. For he said : STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES Upon whom shall I look, except him who is humble and meek and those who tremble at my words ? In the first (part) of this discourse (logos) we have declared concerning the gifts (kharisma) which God is wont to give to men according to his holy will, And how he rebuked the form of those who set to work to speak lies, being moved by the alien spirits ; And that God is often wont to cause wicked ones (poneros) to prophesy, and do signs and wonders. Now, then, the word leads us on to enter lo upon the chief matter (kephalaion) of the ordinance of the Church, that ye who have been ordained bishops by us with the commandment of the Christ, when ye know this order (taxis) through us, may do every thing accord- ing to the commandment (entole) which was delivered to you, I Knowing that he who hears us is hearing the Christ, and he who hears the Christ is hearing God the Father, (to) whom (be) the glory for ever. [56J Hamen. CONCERNING THE BISHOPS . It is right then that the bishop should be ordained (khirodonei) as we have all in common previously commanded, being in the first place a chosen man, holy, choice in every thing, all the people (1.) having chosen him : further (de), when he has been named and found acceptable, let all the people (1.) with the presbyters and the honoured bishops assemble on the Lord’s day, (kyriake), And let the eldest who is among them ask ‘tropos,’ meaning ‘character.’ TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 341 of the presbyters and all the people (1.) whether this man is he whom ye asked (aitei) to be yoiir ruler (arkhon). And when they shall have said: Yea, this is (he) in truth, I Let him ask them again, whether ye all bear witness of him that he is worthy of this great leadership S (hegemon), honourable and holy. And when they have established (katorthou) his piety (eusebes) which he has toward God : j And that he observed righteousness (dikaion) toward all men, and that he conducted (oikonomei) his house well, and that his whole life (bios) ” is sound, in no way reproachable, as also that of his household And when they have all borne witness together, that such it is according to truth, and not according to an acceptance of person, God the Father and his only (monogenes) Son Jesus the Christ and the ‘S Holy [57] Spirit being judge (krites) of such things, Let them ask them again the third time, whether he is worthy of so great a kind of ministry (litourgia) ; that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand, j And when they shall have said the third time ao that he is worthy, let them take from them all their votes (synthyma), And when they have given it readily, let there be a silence and stillness (esychia), and let one of the great bishops take with him two other bishops, while all the other bishops stand near the altar (thysias- 5 terion), praying in silence with the presbyters, (and) while all the deacons hold the holy Gospel spread open over the head of him who is ordained (khirodonei), Let the bishop pray to God for him ; And when he has finished praying for him, let one of the bishops place the 30 Oblation (thysia) upon the hands of him who is ordained STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES (kh.), and let the other bishops set him upon the seat (thronos) which is proper (prepei) for him. And when they have saluted (aspaze) him with the salutation (as- pasmos) which is in the Lord, let them read in the holy Gospels. I And when they have finished reading the Gospel, let the bishop who has been ordained (kh.) salute (a.) all the church, saying: The [58J grace (kharis) of our Lord Jesus the Christ, and the love (agape) of God the Father, and the fellowship (koinOnia) of the Holy Spirit (be) with you all. And let all of them answer: With thy spirit also. And when he has finished saying this, let him also speak lit say) to the people (1.) with words of exhortation : then (de) having finished his instruction, let the deacon mount upon a high place and proclaim (kyrisze) : Let no unbeliever remain in this place. And thus when the bishop has finished all the prayers which it is right for him to make, whether for the sick and also the rest, Let the deacon say to them all : Salute (a.) one another with a holy kiss, j And let the clergy (klerikos) salute (a.) the bishop, and let the laymen (1.) salute (a.) one another, and let the women also salute (a.) the women. Let the children stand near the bema ; And let another deacon stand by them, that they may not make a noise (spatala) with one another, and let other deacons walk about watching (paraterei) the men and the women, that there may not be any disturb- ance among them, And that one should not beckon to another or whisper or go to sleep. Let a subdeacon stand at the door of the men, and let other deacons stand at the door of the women, that none [59] may go out, and that they may not open the doors at the time of the holy TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 343 Oblation (prosphora), even if it is a believer who is at the door. I Then (de) let the subdeacon bring water, and let the priests wash their hands, for a sign of purity of their souls (ps.), lifted up to God the almighty (pantokratOr). And let another deacon cry out : Let no catechumen s remain in this place. Let not any of those who only hear the word, but who do not communicate (koinOnei) of the holy Mysteries, stand in this place. Let not any of the unbelievers remain. Let not any of the heretics (hairetikos) stand in this place with us to-day. Mothers lo hold your children. Let no one have a quarrel in his heart with another. Let none stand in this place in playing the hypocrite (hypokrine) or with hypocrisy (hypokresis). Be all of you sincere lit. straight) toward the Lord God: let us stand in fear of God and is trembling. TO OFFER (pbospherin) . Further (de), when these things have been done, let the deacons bring the gifts (doron) to the bishop at the holy altar of godliness, The sabbath (s.) indeed because the Lord rested on it from finishing all the creation, And (de) the Lord’s day (k.) because it is the day of the resurrection of the Lord. And (de) let them not work also in the week (hebdomas) [70] of the great Paskha, and that ‘S which comes after it, which is the festival : the one indeed because the Lord was crucified in it, And (de) the other because he rose from the dead in it ; For it is needful (khria) that they should know by the instruction who died and rose. And (de) let them not work also on the Ascension, because the dispensation (oikonomia) of the Lord was finished on that day. Nor let them work on the Pentekoste, because of the coming (parrousia) of the Holy Spirit, which (if. the coming) came upon us the Apostles and all who believe in the Christ Let them as not also work on the Birthday of the Christ, because of the grace (kharis) which was suddenly given to men on that day, by God the Word (logos) of the Father being bom of the holy TheodOkos, Maria the virgin, for the salvation of all the race (genos) of men. And (de) let 30 them not work also on the festival of the washing, for STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES that was the day when the Godhead of the Christ was manifested; the Father bore witness to him at the baptism, And the Holy Spirit came upon him in likeness of dove, and he was manifested who bore witness to S those who stood by that this is the true God and the Son of God in truth. Let them not work on the days of the Apostles ; for they were those who became instructors for you unto the Christ, and they caused you to be worthy to partake (metekhe) [71] in the free gift (dOraia) of the Holy Spirit. Let them not work on the day of Stephanos the martyr and chief deacon, and the other holy martyrs, who loved the Christ more than their own lives. I Further (de), when ye rise at the hour of morn- ing, pray. Pray also at the third hour, and the sixth, and the ninth, and at evening, and the hour when the cock will crow. The hour indeed of the light because the Lord enlightened us, he caused the night to pass away, he brought to us also the light of the day. And (de) the third because Pilatos gave sentence (apophasis) ao upon the Lord at that hour. And (de) the sixth because the Christ was crucified (strou) at that hour, and his side having been pierced blood and water came out. And (de) the ninth also because when the Lord was crucified (st.) all the earth shook, trembling at the audacity (tolmeria) of the godless Jews ; it lit. they) could not bear to see its (their) Lord derided : but at evening ye shall give thanks, because he gave to you the night for rest from the labours of the day. And (de) at the hour when the cock will crow ye shall pray, because (then) is pro- claimed to you the coming (parrousia) of day, in which ye shall go to the works of light which ye will do. If TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 355 ye cjinnot go to the church because of the unbelievers, Thou, then (de), O bishop, [72] shalt make the synaxis (plural) in thy house, that the godly may not assemble with the impious (asebes) : for it is not the place (topos) which sanctifies the man, but it is the mui who sanctifies the place (topos). If the impious (asebes) take possession of the place (topos), flee from it, because they polluted it. I For as the holy men sanctify the place (topos), so also those who are not holy pollute it If it is impossible to assemble together either in the house or 10 in the church, let each sing (psallei) by himself, let him read, let him pray, or otherwise when there are with one another two or (e) three. For he said : Where two or three assemble in my name I am with them in their midst, j Let not the believer pray in the houses of the 15 catechumens ; for it is not right (dikaion) that he who communicates (koinOnei) of the holy Mysteries should touch those who do not communicate (koi.), j Nor let the godly pray in the house of the heretics (hraitikos). For what is the communion (koinonia) of the light with the 20 darkness, or what is the part (meris) of the Christ with Belear. If a believing man or woman should live with a servant, either let them be separated or let them be rejected from the Church. CONCERNING WHAT ARE THE DAYS WHICH IT IS RIGHT TO OBSERVE (ii. do) FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP . Let them observe the third for those who have 30 fallen asleep with psalms (psalmos) and prayers, because S6 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES of him who rose [7 3] from the dead after three days. And let them observe their seventh, commemorating those who are alive with those who have fallen asleep. And (de) let them also observe their month, on the S ancient (arkhaion) pattern (typos), for thus the people (L) mourned for M6yss. And let them observe their year for a sign of their remembrance, giving to the poor from the goods of him who died, in memory of him. But these things we are saying concerning the godly only : but as for the ungodly, even if thou gavest all the things in the world to the poor for them thou wouldst not do them any benefit (ophelei). For to them to whom God is enemy in this world, he will still be enemy after they have gone from this world ; for there is no iniquity with him. The Lord is righteous, he loved righteousness, and also : Behold the man and his work. Further (de), if you should be invited on their days, eat in comely fashion and fear of God, as (hos) having power to intercede (presbeue) for those who have ao departed from this world : being presbyters and deacons of the Christ, Ye ought therefore to be sober (nephe) always by yourselves and with others, that ye may be able to instruct these ignorant ones. For the Scripture says : These great ones are wrathful : let them not drink wine lest they drink and become forgetful of wisdom, and be unable to judge (krine) the right. ‘ [74] Wherefore (oukoun) after God the almighty (pantokrator) and his beloved Son Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit the bishops and the presbyters are the great ones of the TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 357 Church. I But in saying these things we are not forbidding (koly) them to drink, for we have no power to despise what God has made for the cheerfulness of men ; but we are commanding them not to drink and be drunken. For the Scripture did not say that they were not to drink s wine at all, but what does it say ? ‘ Drink not wine,’ it says, ‘ to be drunken.’ ‘ And again : ‘ Thorns grow up in the hand of the drunkard ‘ : and (de) we are not saying it for the clergy (klerikos) alone, but for the lay (L) Christians also, they over whom has been pronounced lo the name of the Christ Jesus our Lord. For these words were also said for them : ‘ To whom shall be woe ? And to whom confusion? and to whom condemnation? and to whom evil babbling and gratuitous contentions? or whose eyes are bloodshot? Is it not they who wait long iS at wine, and seek where there may be places of drink ? ‘ ‘ CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE PERSE- CUTED (diokei) BECAUSE OF THE FAITH, AND THOSE WHO FLEE TOGETHER ” FROM CITY TO CITY BECAUSE OF THE FAITH, SO THAT THEY MAY HELP (boEthei) THEM TOGETHER . Receive those who are persecuted (d.) for the 5 faith, and pursued from city to city, because of [75] the remembrance of the words of the Lord, knowing indeed that the spirit indeed is ready, but the flesh is weak (asthenes). For this cause they flee, and they suffer ‘ Marked as quotation in MS. S8 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES the spoiling of their goods, that they might keep for them the name of the Christ, not having denied him. Help (b.) them and give to them according to their need (khria), and fulfil the commandment (entole) of the Lord. . This then (de) we prescribe (paraggeile) to you all in common, that each one should remain in the order (daxis) which was delivered to him, and tha ye should not transgress the measure and limit which was limited to you ; for they are not ours, but they are (the limits) of God : I For the Lord said : He who hears you is hear- ing me, and he who despiseth (athetei) you is despising me ; and (de) he who despiseth me is despising him who sent me.’ For if things without life (apsychon) which he made keep their order (taxis) perfect namely the night and the day, the sun and the moon, the stars, the elements (stoikhion), the changes (trope), namely the variation of the times, the months, the weeks (hebdOmas), the hours, are subservient to the need (kh.) whereunto he limited them, according to what he said : He says also concerning the sea : I have set for it a limit, and (de) I have given bars to it and gates (pyle), and (de) I have said to it : Thus far shalt thou reach, and ye shall not pass it. If the elements (st.) [76] transgress not the limits which God the creator (dymiourgos) of the universe defined (horize) for them, much more (poly mall5n) is it right for you yourselves not to dare (tolma) to move any of those TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 359 things which God defined (horize) for you according to his holy will. Since many have reckoned this to be nothing, namely to confuse the orders (taxis), and to dare (t.) to change the ordination (khirodonia) with which they were ordained, grasping for themselves dignities s (axioma) which were not given to them, And allowing (epeitrepe) themselves tyrannically (dyrannos) to grant (kharize) to others the things over which they have no authority (exousia) ; For this cause they provoke God like the sons of Kore and Osias the king, who grasped ” for themselves the chief priesthood without (the will of) God : I For this cause those indeed were burned with fire, and (de) he also was defiled in his forehead. They make the Christ Jesus indignant, he who commanded that these things should be so ; and they grieve (lupei) 15 the Holy Spirit, despising (athetei) his witness. We are knowing therefore now truly the danger which is imminent upon those who do such works, and the neglect (amelia) which comes upon the sacrifices (thysia) and the eucharists, When they are offered by those who have no right to do so, who think that the honour of the [77] chief priesthood, which resembles the great and) true Chief Priest Jesus the Christ our King, is a thing of sport. ] For this cause necessity (anakge) constrained us to give you this advice synbouleue), for henceforth some as turned away after their vanity. Further (de), we say that Moyses the servant of God, to whom God spoke face to face as one speaks to his friend, who said to him : I know thee above (para) all men, Who spoke to him mouth to mouth, by his likeness and not by a resem- 30 blance, not in signs and in dreams, or (by) angels, or (in) o STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES enigmas (ainigma), This one indeed, at the time when he commanded the law of the Lord, defined (hd.) what things indeed it was right to be done by the priests, I And (de) what also were the works of the levites, having separated that which was proper (prepei) for each and suitable for his service (litourgia). And those things which the chief priests were commanded to do, it was against the law for the priests to go to them. To those which were defined (ho.) for the priests, the lo levites approach not But each was keeping himself from overstepping the service which he received ( When anyone took upon him (epeicheirei) to overstep the commission (paradosis) which was delivered to him, death was the punishment (epeitimia) : and (de) this is made very plain by what happened to Saul. [78] For having thought to offer sacrifice (thysia) apart from the prophet and chief priest Samouel, he brought upon himself a great sin and an everlasting curse. But not even did the prophet spare him because of the unction ao with which he was anointed. God also showed to us by a great work, evident in the things which happened to Ozias : he delayed not in taking vengeance on him for the lawlessness (paranomia) which he committed, having put him out of the kingship also, because of the chief priesthood which he coveted (epithymei). And (de) it will be also (that) ye are not ignorant of the things which have been defined For ye know that some indeed we have called Bishop, and (de) others. Presbyter, and others, Deacon, with prayer and imposition of hand, TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 361 having taught them the difference of the works by the difference of the names. For it is not indeed our wont that he who is willing to fill our hands should be able to receive from us what he wished for, after the fashion of the priests of the calves, whom Jeroboam made, those S who were despicable and reprobate before God and men. j For if there was no law and difference of order (taxis) it would have sufficed to perform the whole (ministration) in one name. But having been taught by the Lord a succession (akoulouthia) of the works, For the bishops ” indeed we assigned the chief priesthood, And (de) the presbyters also [79] the things which belong to the priesthood, I And (de) again the deacons the service (diakonia) which is done for them both sc. bishop and priest) ; that the (meaner) works of the ministry might 15 be performed in a sacred (manner). For neither is it right for the deacons to offer sacrifice (thysia), or baptise, or to give the Eulogia to small or great, Nor for the presbyters to ordain (khirodonei). For it is not right (dikaion) to transfer the orders (daxis), For God is not (the author) of confusion, so that those of inferior order should grasp for themselves in a tyrannical (manner) (d.) the things which belong to their superiors, fashioning (plasse) for themselves a new law unto their own destruction, being ignorant that it is harder for them to S kick against the pricks than this. 1 For such men oppose not us the bishops, but they are opposing the great bishop of the universe and the great Ghief Priest, our Lord Jesus the Christ, the Son of God and truly God. For Chief Priests and priests and levites were appointed (kathista) 3 by Moyses the prophet and the lover of God Again, STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES the twelve Apostles also were appointed by God our Saviour. And (de) by the Apostles we were appointed, I Klemes and Jakobos, and many others with us, not to mention each of all (the rest). We also ourselves all S in common appointed presbyters and deacons and sub- deacons and [80] readers (anagnostes). The first, then, now is the true Chief Priest, the lawgiver (nomothetes), the Christ, he who did not grasp for himself the honour, but it was the Father who appointed (k.) him. He having become Chief Priest for us, and having offered the spiritual sacrifice (thysia) to God his Father before he was crucified (strou), commanded us alone to do these things. I Although there were others with us who be- lieved him : but certainly (pantos) it does not belong to all who believed him to become priest, nor to be worthy of the dignity (axioma) of the Chief Priesthood. After he was taken up (analambane), we, according to the grace which he gave to us, and according to his command, offered a living, holy, bloodless sacrifice (thysia), j We (ean) appointed bishops and presbyters and deacons, their number being seven. Among whom was Stephanos the blessed (makarios) martyr, being not inferior to us in the love which he had toward God : but he displayed his godliness by the faith and the love (agape) which he had toward the Christ Jesus our Lord so thoroughly, that he gave up his life (psyche) for him, When the Jews, the murderers of the Lord, stoned (and) killed him. I But nevertheless (homos) this man of such great- ness, fervent with the Holy Spirit, this so great arch- deacon, [81] Who saw the gates of the heavens open, and Jesus the Lord standing at the right hand of God TRANSLATION OF THE SAIDIC TEXT 363 his Father, was not shown forth in any place as making use (khro) of that which was not proper for the diaconate and those who are in it, (such as) to offer sacrifice (thysia), or lay hand upon any ; but he was keeping to the order (daxis) of the diaconate until the end. j For this is what f was proper (prepei) for the holy martyr of the Christ to fulfil his course, keeping his right order (eutaxia). If some, then, of you find fault with Philip the deacon and Ananias the believing brother, because the one indeed baptised the eunuch, And (de) the other baptised me, lo even Paul, they are ignorant of what we say. For we have said, that no one grasps for himself the dignity (ax.) of the priesthood, but he receives it from God, like Melkhizedek and Jakob the Patriarch, or he receives it from the chief priest like Aaron, who received it from i; Moyses. Wherefore (oukoun) Philip and Ananias were not those who chose for themselves to do those things of their own accord, but it was the Christ who commissioned them, the true Chief Priest, God unto whom no other god can be compared. ao Finished are the Canons (kanon) of the holy fathers the Apostles. Chapters (kephalaion) 78. Ego Zakarias boethei amn. COLLATION OF BRIT. MUS. 793 a. BRIT. MUS. 794b.; BRIT. MU 796-c ; BERLIN 396- d.; BERLIN 398 6.; VATICAN 2v.; LUDOLrS PRINTED TEXT L For short notke of t)u MSS,, sa Iniroduttiott, Page 127, line 2, one God] om. L. 5, All hail lit. rejoice ye), our sons] orn. b. 7, Statute i] and, b. ; om. L. V. Ludolf names these Canons (teezaz) Statuta, but the word ‘azaza’ means ‘command,’ and it has been translated ‘ command ‘ or ‘ bid ‘ when occurring in the text And Petros] b. has ‘and’ before Matewos, om. before Petros, Sem’on, Endreyas, Yehuda; L. has ‘ and ‘ before Matewos. Petros] trs. before ‘ Yuhanes,’ d. II, of our LordJ’Jesus Christ,’d.; ‘and our Saviour Jesus Christ,’ continuing, ‘ by his knowledge : and when we were assembled together, he commanded,’ b. 14, to us] a. b. c. V. ; cm. L. d. e. so that every one of you may take his (om. c.) place] to every one of you a place, b. 16, Take] the Ethiopic here renders the pointed Arabic, which, being unpointed, can mean ‘ define ‘ ; c. renders the Arabic ‘ verily.’ Bishops] STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES bishop, c. 17, Presbyters] and deacons,’ L. v. Deacons] deacon, L. v. Page 128, line 3, keep from all wickedness] keep the fast and (from) all wickedness, b. 8, to him] om, L. be glory] om. L. b. d. e. v. 11, brethren] fathers, d , 2] second, a. 17, who says what] who, b. 18, caused] again, e. 19, to speak] om. d. Said] pref. ‘Statute third,’ d. 20, separate] om. b. v. one for life] trs. one for death,’ etc., b. c. 21, is this] om. b. , and thy creator with all thy heart] om. b. ; who created thee with, etc., L. c. d. e. v. 23, because] a. e. ; who, L. b. c. d. v. 27, my] om. L. b. c. d. e. v. i 3] b. c. e. V. ; third, L. a. ; fourth, d. 30, do I] find, b. c. d, e. v. ; agreeing with Arabic. Page 129, line 2, my brother] om. d. 5, 4] b. c. e V. ; fourth, L. a. ; fifth, d. life] om. L. b. c. d. e. 8, soothsayer] speaker of evil, c. 14, speaker] doer, b. think about doing evil] think evil to do, b. 18, and thou shalt not be false] om. b. c. 19, a hypocrite nor] om. v. 22, but reprove him] om. b. c. 23, and to others be merciful] om. b. 24, much] d. e. v. ; trs, after ‘ thyself,’ a. ; om. b. c. 26, 5] b. c. e. ; fifth, L. a. ; sixth, d. 28, because, 2] om. b. 30, or a lover of fighting] om. b. c. depraves and] om. b. c. d. e. v. and causes to inherit] om. c. Page 130, line i, 6] b. c. e. v. ; sixth, L. a.; seventh, d. 7, finds, etc.] a. d. ; finds where he may enter a little, L. b. c. e. v. 9, they enter] he enters, L. v. into that soul] into him and into that soul, b. 10, and it is impossible for him] om. b. c. d. e. v. 11, at all] trs. after the man,’ b. c. d. e. Make] a. b. ; om. L. c, d. e. v. COLLATION OF THE ETHIOPIC TEXT 367 2, at which] om. b. that ye may cool] a. d. ; pref. ‘and,’ L. b. c. e. v. 13, anger after] a. ; om. L. b. a d. e. V. Satan] he, L. b. c. d. e. v. cast] cause to rush, c. 14, deed] a. d. e. ; snare, L. b. c. v. 15, (men) cool] a. b. c ; ye cool, L. ; he cools, d. e. 16. their anger] your anger, L. ; e. altered the sufiix. 1 7, their souls] the soul, e. 18, them] him, v. sin and] om. v. they deride them] they deride hira, L. c. d. e. .v. ; and they deride him, b. 19, over the ruin] over him at the ruin, b. their] his, L. b. v. 21, 7] b. c e. v. ; seventh, L. a. ; eighth, d. 25, 8] b. c. e. v. ; eighth, L. a. ; ninth, d. 26, augur lit. divines by a bird), because all this] by a bird which flies, for this, c. 28, a chooser of hours …. days] a. ; a chooser of days, L. ; of men, choosers of hours, etc., b. c. d. e. ; of men, choosers of hours, v., omitting ‘days.’ 31, all this is for thee] – in all this is, L. b. c d. e. ; om. for thee,’ v. Page 131, line i, 9] a. b. c e. v. ; ninth, L. ; tenth, d. , all this is sin, and leads] a. ; in all this is that which leads, L. b. c d. (e.) v. 6, 10] a. b. c. e. ; 11, d.; L. V. continue the ninth. 7, leads a man] tends, c , or oppressive] om. L. etc 12, And be good …. keep] humble and good, and keep, L. c. d. e. v. ; Because the humble shall inherit the kingdom of heaven, and keep, b. 17, to God] om. L. etc 20, 11] 12, d. ; tenth, L. v. spoke] speaks, L. etc 22, love] honour, b. 24, most high] om. h. etc 35, God, ] the deity, L. etc 26, visit those] visit him and those, V. 28, like them] om. i- etc honour them] a. c ; honour him, L. b. d. e. v. 30 sustain them] cause STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES him to eat, c ; om. L. b. d. e. v. 31, from them] from him, L. etc. Page 132, line i, proper] pref. very L. etc give them] give him, L., etc 4, in the threshing floor] when thou threshest, c 7, 12] 13, d, ; 1 1, L. v, O my son] om. L. etc 8, among men] om. L. etc 10, a rich man in case of his being a sinner] a sinner for his sin, L. etc. 12, with a writing] probably an error of the Ethiopic translator. 1 3, with thee all shall be equal, etc.] with him act equally, etc., b. ; with him it is the same, etc., L. c d. (e.) ; with thee it is the same, etc, v. , to thee then] om. L. c d. e. ; om. then, b. v. 16, Nor, etc.] Nor shalt thou be doubtful (as) one who thinkest when thou openest and stretchest forth thy hands, c 17, for that which thou wilt then gain] om. L. etc 18, when thou] and when, etc, v. 19, give it, and seek] he gave to thee, and seek, c ; and be gave to thee, and that thou might seek, b. d. e. ; that which he gave to thee, and that thou might seek, L. ; and thou gavest and thou seekest, v. 21, when thou gfivest, etc] when thou givest and that thou may receive and know, L. b. d. e. v. ; when thou givest, and thou shalt not be doubtful, and know, c 24, everything . . . . anything] everything whatsoever. Nor shalt thou say, L. etc 27, incorruptible …. corruptible] trs. d. 30, 13] 14, d. ; 12, L. v. 31, good] om. b. V. Page 133, line i, all] them, L. etc 4, doers] teachers, doers, d 5, and teachers of yourselves] om. c 7, nor diminish from it] om. L. And said Petros]