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Anonymous, Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
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Constitutions of the holy apostles via Clement.
[Sec. I.—General Commandments.]
[That We Ought Not to Return Injuries, Nor Revenge Ourselves on Him that Does Us Wrong.]
[What Books of Scripture We Ought to Read.]
[That We Ought to Abstain from All the Books of Those that are Out of the Church.]
[Concerning the Subjection of a Wife to Her Husband, and that She Must Be Loving and Modest.]
[That a Woman Must Not Bathe with Men.]
[Concerning a Contentious and Brawling Woman.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[That a Bishop Must Be Well Instructed and Experienced in the Word.]
[What Ought to Be the Characters of a Bishop and of the Rest of the Clergy.]
[In What Things a Bishop is to Be Examined Before He is Ordained.]
[That a Bishop Must Not Be Given to Filthy Lucre, Nor Be a Surety Nor an Advocate.]
[What Ought to Be the Character of the Initiated.]
[Concerning a Person Falsely Accused, or a Person Convicted.]
[That a Bishop Ought Not to Receive Bribes.]
[That a Bishop Who by Wrong Judgment Spares an Offender is Himself Guilty.]
[How a Bishop Ought to Judge Offenders.]
[Instruction as to How a Bishop Ought to Behave Himself to the Penitent.]
[That We Ought to Beware How We Make Trial of Any Sinful Course.]
[That a Priest Must Neither Overlook Offences, Nor Be Rash in Punishing Them.]
[Of Repentance, the Manner of It, and Rules About It.]
[That a Bishop Must Be Unblameable, and a Pattern for Those Who are Under His Charge.]
[How the Governed are to Obey the Bishops Who are Set Over Them.]
[Amon May be an Example to Such as Sin with an High Hand.]
[That Christ Jesus Our Lord Came to Save Sinners by Repentance.]
[According to What Patterns and Dignity Every Order of the Clergy is Appointed by God.]
[What is the Dignity of a Bishop and of a Deacon.]
[After What Manner the Laity are to Be Obedient to the Deacon.]
[That the Deacon Must Not Do Anything Without the Bishop.]
[After What Manner the Bishops are to Be Honoured, and to Be Reverenced as Our Spiritual Parents.]
[That Priests are to Be Preferred Before Rulers and Kings.]
[That Both the Law and the Gospel Prescribe Offerings.]
[The Recital of the Ten Commandments, and After What Manner They Do Here Prescribe to Us.]
[That We are Not to Be Implacable to Him Who Has Once or Twice Offended.]
[That a Judge Must Not Be a Respecter of Persons.]
[After What Manner False Accusers are to Be Punished.]
[That the Deacon is to Ease the Burden of the Bishops, and to Order the Smaller Matters Himself.]
[That Contentions and Quarrels are Unbecoming Christians.]
[That the Judicatures of Christians Ought to Be Held on the Second Day of the Week.]
[What are to Be the Characters of Accusers and Witnesses.]
[That Former Offences Do Sometimes Render After Accusations Credible.]
[Against Judging Without Hearing Both Sides.]
[That Christians Ought Not to Be Contentious One with Another.]
[That Every Christian Ought to Frequent the Church Diligently Both Morning and Evening.]
[That We Must Not Prefer the Affairs of This Life to Those Which Concern the Worship of God.]
[That Christians Must Abstain from All the Impious Practices of the Heathens.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[The Age at Which Widows Should Be Chosen.]
[That We Must Avoid the Choice of Younger Widows, Because of Suspicion.]
[What Character the Widows Ought to Be Of, and How They Ought to Be Supported by the Bishop.]
[That We Ought to Be Charitable to All Sorts of Persons in Want.]
[That the Widows are to Be Very Careful of Their Behavior.]
[That Women Ought Not to Teach, Because It is Unseemly And What Women Followed Our Lord.]
[What are the Characters of Widows Falsely So Called.]
[That Women Ought Not to Baptize, Because It is Impious, and Contrary to the Doctrine of Christ.]
[The Rejection of All Uncharitable Actions.]
[How the Widows are to Pray for Those that Supply Their Necessities.]
[That It Does Not Become Us to Revile Our Neighbours, Because Cursing is Contrary to Christianity.]
[Concerning the Sacred Initiation of Holy Baptism.]
[What is the Meaning of Baptism into Christ, and on What Account Everything is There Said or Done.]
[Of What Character He Ought to Be Who is Initiated.]
[What are the Characters of a Deacon.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[Those Who Have No Children Should Adopt Orphans, and Treat Them as Their Own Children.]
[How the Bishop Ought to Provide for the Orphans.]
[Who Ought to Be Supported According to the Lord’s Constitution.]
[With What Fear Men Ought to Partake of the Lord’s Oblations.]
[Whose Oblations are to Be Received, and Whose Not to Be Received.]
[In What Things We Ought to Be Subject to the Rulers of This World.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[That We are to Avoid Intercourse with False Brethren When They Continue in Their Wickedness.]
[That It is an Horrible and Destructive Thing to Deny Christ.]
[That We Ought to Imitate Christ in Suffering, and with Zeal to Follow His Patience.]
[Concerning James the Brother of the Lord, and Stephen the First Martyr.]
[An Admonition Instructing Men to Avoid the Abominable Sin of Idolatry.]
[Of the Great Week, and on What Account They Enjoin Us to Fast on Wednesday and Friday.]
[How the Passover Ought to Be Celebrated.]
[A Constitution Concerning the Great Passover Week.]
[A Prophetic Prediction Concerning Christ Jesus.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[Who They Were that Ventured to Make Schisms, and Did Not Escape Punishment.]
[That It is Not Lawful to Rise Up Either Against the Kingly or the Priestly Office.]
[That Even Among the Jews There Arose the Doctrine of Several Heresies Hateful to God.]
[Whence the Heresies Sprang, and Who Was the Ringleader of Their Impiety.]
[Who Were the Successors of Simon’s Impiety, and What Heresies They Set Up.]
[How the Heresies Differ from Each Other, and from the Truth.]
[An Exposition of the Preaching of the Apostles.]
[For Those that Confess Christ, But are Desirous to Judaize.]
[That We Must Separate from Heretics.]
[Who Were the Preachers of the Catholic Doctrine, and Which are the Commandments Given by Them.]
[Concerning Books with False Inscriptions.]
[Matrimonial Precepts Concerning Clergymen.]
[An Exhortation Commanding to Avoid the Communion of the Impious Heretics.]
[To Those that Speak Evil of the Law.]
[Which is the Law of Nature, and Which is that Afterwards Introduced, and Why It Was Introduced.]
[That We Who Believe in Christ are Under Grace, and Not Under the Servitude of that Additional Law.]
[That the Law for Sacrifices is Additional, Which Christ When He Came Took Away.]
[That It Pleased the Lord that the Law of Righteousness Should Be Demonstrated by the Romans.]
[That We Ought to Avoid the Heretics as the Corrupters of Souls.]
[Of Some Jewish and Gentile Observances.]
[Of the Love of Boys, Adultery, and Fornication.]
[How Wives Ought to Be Subject to Their Own Husbands, and Husbands Ought to Love Their Own Wives.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[The Prohibition of Conjuring, Murder of Infants, Perjury, and False Witness.]
[The Prohibition of Malignity, Acceptation of Persons, Wrath, Malice, and Envy.]
[Concerning Augury and Enchantments.]
[The Prohibition of Murmuring, Insolence, Pride, and Arrogance.]
[Concerning Long-Suffering, Simplicity, Meekness, and Patience.]
[Concerning Him that is Double-Minded and Desponding.]
[How Masters Ought to Behave Themselves to Their Servants, and How Servants Ought to Be Subject.]
[Concerning Hypocrisy, and Obedience to the Laws, and Confession of Sins.]
[Concerning the Observance Due to Parents.]
[Concerning the Subjection Due to the King and to Rulers.]
[Concerning the Pure Conscience of Those that Pray.]
[That We Ought to Avoid the Eating of Things Offered to Idols.]
[A Constitution of Our Lord, How We Ought to Baptize, and into Whose Death.]
[Which Days of the Week We are to Fast, and Which Not, and for What Reasons.]
[What Sort of People Ought to Pray that Prayer that Was Given by the Lord.]
[A Thanksgiving at the Divine Participation.]
[A Thanksgiving About the Mystical Ointment.]
[That We Ought Not to Be Indifferent About Communicating.]
[A Constitution Concerning Oblations.]
[What Qualifications They Ought to Have Who are to Be Ordained.]
[A Prediction Concerning Futurities.]
[A Prayer Declarative of God’s Various Providence.]
[A Prayer Declarative of God’s Various Creation.]
[A Prayer, with Thanksgiving, Declarative of God’s Providence Over the Beings He Has Made.]
[A Prayer Commemorative of the Incarnation of Christ, and His Various Providence to the Saints.]
[A Prayer for the Assistance of the Righteous.]
[How the Catechumens are to Be Instructed in the Elements.]
[The Renunciation of the Adversary, and the Dedication to the Christ of God.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Anointing with the Mystical Oil.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Mystical Water.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Mystical Ointment.]
[A Prayer for the New Fruits.]
[Who Were They that the Holy Apostles Sent and Ordained? ]
constitutions of the holy apostles.
[On Whose Account the Powers of Miracles are Performed.]
[Concerning Unworthy Bishops and Presbyters.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Bishop.]
[The Divine Liturgy, Wherein is the Bidding Prayer for the Catechumens.]
[Imposition of Hands Prayer for PenItents.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Faithful.]
[The Constitution of James the Brother of John, the Son of Zebedee.]
[The Bidding Prayer for the Faithful After the Divine Oblation.]
[The Bidding Prayer After the Participation.]
[The Form of Prayer After the Participation.]
[Concerning the Ordination of Presbyters—The Constitution of John, Who Was Beloved by the Lord.]
[Concerning the Ordination of Deacons—The Constitution of Philip.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Deacon.]
[Concerning the Deaconess—The Constitution of Bartholomew.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Deaconess.]
[Concerning the Sub-Deacons—The Constitution of Thomas. ]
[Concerning the Readers—The Constitution of Matthew.]
[Concerning the Confessors—The Constitution of James the Son of Alpheus.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitution Concerning Virgins.]
[The Constitution of Lebbæus, Who Was Surnamed Thaddæus, Concerning Widows.]
[The Same Apostle Concerning the Exorcist.]
[Simon the Canaanite Concerning the Number Necessary for the Ordination of a Bishop.]
[The Same Apostle’s Canons Concerning Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons, and the Rest of the Clergy.]
[Concerning the Blessing of Water and Oil—The Constitution of Matthias.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitution Concerning First-Fruits and Tithes.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitutions Concerning the Remaining Oblations.]
[Upon Which Days Servants are Not to Work.]
[At What Hours, and Why, We are to Pray.]
[The Constitution of James the Brother of Christ Concerning Evening Prayer.]
[The Bidding Prayer for the Evening.]
[The Thanksgiving for the Evening.]
[The Thanksgiving for the Morning.]
[The Imposition of Hands for the Morning.]
[The Form of Prayer for the First-Fruits.]
[The Bidding Prayer for Those Departed.]
[That Memorials or Mandates Do Not at All Profit the Ungodly Who are Dead.]
[Concerning the Receiving Such as are Persecuted for Christ’s Sake.]
[A Prophetic Prediction Concerning Christ Jesus.]
XX. For even now, on the tenth day of the month Gorpiæus, when they assemble together, they read the Lamentations of Jeremiah, in which it is said, “The Spirit before our face, Christ the Lord was taken in their destructions;” 160 Lam. iv. 20. Lam. iv. 20. and Baruch, in whom it is written, “This is our God; no other shall be esteemed with Him. He found out every way of knowledge, and showed it to Jacob His son, and Israel His beloved. Afterwards He was seen upon earth, and conversed with men.” 161 Bar. iii. 35–37. Bar. iii. 35–37. And when they read them, they lament and bewail, as themselves suppose, that desolation which happened by Nebuchadnezzar; but, as the truth shows, they unwillingly make a prelude to that lamentation which will overtake them. But after ten days from the ascension, which from the first Lord’s day is the fiftieth day, do ye keep a great festival: for on that day, at the third hour, the Lord Jesus sent on us the gift of the Holy Ghost, and we were filled with His energy, and we “spake with new tongues, as that Spirit did suggest to us;” 162 Acts ii. 4. Acts ii. 4. and we preached both to Jews and Gentiles, that He is the Christ of God, who is “determined by Him to be the Judge of quick and dead.” 163 Acts x. 42. Acts x. 42. To Him did Moses bear witness, and said: “The Lord received fire from the Lord, and rained it down.” 164 Gen. xix. 24. Gen. xix. 24. Him did Jacob see as a man, and said: “I have seen God face to face, and my soul is preserved.” 165 Gen. xxxii. 30 Gen. xxxii. 30 Him did Abraham entertain, and acknowledge to be the Judge, and his Lord. 166 Gen. xviii. 25, 27 Gen. xviii. 25, 27 Him did Moses see in the bush; 167 Ex. iii. 2 Ex. iii. 2 concerning Him did he speak in Deuteronomy: “A Prophet will the Lord your God raise up unto you out of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall be, that every soul that will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among his people.” 168 Deut. xviii. 15. Deut. xviii. 15. Him did Joshua the son of Nun see, as the captain of the Lord’s host, in armour, for their assistance against Jericho; to whom he fell down, and worshipped, as a servant does to his master. 169 Josh. v. 14. Josh. v. 14. Him Samuel knew as the “Anointed of God,” 170 1 Sam. xii. 3. 1 Sam. xii. 3. and thence named the priests and the kings the anointed. Him David knew, and sung an hymn concerning Him, “A song concerning the Beloved;” 171 Ps. xlv. Ps. xlv. and adds in his person, and says, “Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Thou who art mighty in Thy beauty and renown: go on, and prosper, and reign, for the sake of truth, and meekness, and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall guide Thee after a wonderful manner. Thy darts are sharpened, O Thou that art mighty; the people shall fall under Thee in the heart of the king’s enemies. Wherefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Concerning Him also spake Solomon, as in His person: “The Lord created me the beginning of His ways, for His works: before the world He founded me, in the beginning before He made the earth, before the fountains of waters came, before the mountains were fastened; He begat me before all the hills.” 172 Prov. viii. 22–25. Prov. viii. 22–25. And again: “Wisdom built herself an house.” 173 Prov. ix. 1. Prov. ix. 1. Concerning Him also Isaiah said: “A Branch shall come out of the root of Jesse, and a Flower shall spring out of his root.” And, “There shall be a root of Jesse; and He that is to rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles trust.” 174 Isa. xi. 1, 10. Isa. xi. 1, 10. And Zechariah says: 175 One V. ms. inserts: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.” One V. ms. inserts: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.” “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, just, and having salvation; meek, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.” 176 Zech ix. 9 Zech ix. 9 Him Daniel describes as “the Son of man coming to the Father,” 177 Dan. vii. 13 Dan. vii. 13 and receiving all judgment and honour from Him; and as “the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, and becoming a great mountain, and filling the whole earth,” 178 Dan. ii. 34 Dan. ii. 34 dashing to pieces the many governments of the smaller countries, and the polytheism of gods, but preaching the one God, and ordaining the monarchy of the Romans. Concerning Him also did Jeremiah prophesy, saying: “The Spirit before His face, Christ the Lord, was taken in their snares: of whom we said, Under His shadow we shall live among the Gentiles.” 179 Lam. iv. 20 Lam. iv. 20 Ezekiel also, and the following prophets, affirm everywhere that He is the Christ, the Lord, the King, the Judge, the Lawgiver, the Angel of the Father, the only-begotten God. Him therefore do we also preach to you, and declare Him to be God the Word, who ministered to His God and Father for the creation of the universe. By believing in Him you shall live, but by disbelieving you shall be punished. For “he that is disobedient to the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” 180 John iii. 36. John iii. 36. Therefore, after you have kept the festival of Pentecost, keep one week more festival, and after that fast; for it is reasonable to rejoice for the gift of God, and to fast after that relaxation: for both Moses and Elijah fasted forty days, and Daniel for “three weeks of days did not eat desirable bread, and flesh and wine did not enter into his mouth.” 181 Ex. xxxiv. 28; 1 Kings xix. 8; Dan. x. 2, 3. Ex. xxxiv. 28; 1 Kings xix. 8; Dan. x. 2, 3. And blessed Hannah, when she asked for Samuel, said: “I have not drunk wine nor strong drink, and I pour out my soul before the Lord.” 182 1 Sam. i. 15. And the Ninevites, when they fasted three days and three nights, 183 Jonah iii. 5. escaped the execution of wrath. And Esther, and Mordecai, and Judith, 184 Esth. iv. 16; Judith viii. 6 by fasting, escaped the insurrection of the ungodly Holofernes and Haman. And David says: “My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh faileth for want of oil.” 185 Ps. cix. 24 Do you therefore fast, and ask your petitions of God. We enjoin you to fast every fourth day of the week, and every day of the preparation, and the surplusage of your fast bestow upon the needy; every Sabbath-day excepting one, and every Lord’s day, hold your solemn assemblies, and rejoice: for he will be guilty of sin who fasts on the Lord’s day, being the day of the resurrection, or during the time of Pentecost, or, in general, who is sad on a festival day to the Lord. For on them we ought to rejoice, and not to mourn.
[20] Μετὰ δὲ ὀκτὼ ἡμέρας ἔστω ὑμῖν πάλιν ἑορτὴ τιμία αὐτὴ ἡ ὀγδόη, ἐν ᾗ δυσπιστοῦντα ἐμὲ Θωμᾶν ἐπὶ τῇ ἀναστάσει ἐπληροφόρησεν, δείξας μοι τοὺς τύπους τῶν ἥλων καὶ τῆς λόγχης ἐν τῇ πλευρᾷ τὴν τρῶσιν. Καὶ πάλιν ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης κυριακῆς ἀριθμήσαντες τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας, ἀπὸ κυριακῆς ἄχρι πέμπτης ἑορτάσατε τὴν ἑορτὴν τῆς ἀναλήψεως τοῦ Κυρίου, καθ' ἣν πληρώσας πᾶσαν οἰκονομίαν καὶ διάταξιν ἀνῆλθεν πρὸς τὸν ἀποστείλαντα αὐτὸν Θεὸν καὶ Πατέρα, καθίσας ἐκ δεξιῶν τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ περιμένων, ἕως ἂν τεθῶσιν οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ. Ὃς καὶ ἐλεύσεται ἐπὶ συντελείᾳ τοῦ αἰῶνος μετὰ δυνάμεως καὶ δόξης πολλῆς, κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκροὺς καὶ ἀποδοῦναι ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ: καὶ τότε ὄψονται τὸν ἀγαπητὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὃν ἐξεκέντησαν, καὶ ἐπιγνόντες αὐτὸν κόψονται ἐφ' ἑαυτοῖς φυλὴ κατὰ φυλὴν, καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν κατ' ἰδίαν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ νῦν δεκάτῃ τοῦ Γορπιαίου μηνὸς συναθροιζόμενοι τοὺς Θρήνους Ἱερεμίου ἀναγινώσκουσιν, ἐν οἷς εἴρηται: «Πνεῦμα πρὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν Χριστὸς Κύριος συνελήφθη ἐν ταῖς διαφθοραῖς αὐτῶν», καὶ τὸν Βαρούχ, ἐν ᾧ γέγραπται: «Οὗτος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, οὐ λογισθήσεται ἕτερος πρὸς αὐτόν: ἐξεῦρεν πᾶσαν ὁδὸν ἐπιστήμης, καὶ ἔδειξεν αὐτὴν Ἰακὼβ τῷ παιδὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Ἰσραὴλ τῷ ἠγαπημένῳ ὑπ' αὐτοῦ: μετὰ ταῦτα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὤφθη καὶ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις συνανεστράφη.» Καὶ ὅταν ἀναγνῶσιν, κόπτονται καὶ θρηνοῦσιν, ὡς μὲν αὐτοὶ νομίζουσιν, τὴν ἐρημίαν τὴν ὑπὸ Ναβουχοδονόσορ γενομένην, ὡς δὲ ἡ ἀλήθεια ἔχει, προοίμια ποιοῦνται ἄκοντες τοῦ μέλλοντος αὐτοὺς καταλαμβάνειν πένθους. Μετὰ δὲ δέκα ἡμέρας τῆς ἀναλήψεως, ἥτις ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης κυριακῆς πεντηκοστὴ γίνεται, ἑορτὴ μεγάλη ὑμῖν ἔστω: ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ ὥρᾳ τρίτῃ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς ἡμᾶς ὁ Κύριος Ἰησοῦς τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, καὶ ἐπλήσθημεν αὐτοῦ τῆς ἐνεργείας καὶ γλώσσαις καιναῖς ἐλαλήσαμεν, καθὼς ἐκεῖνο ὑπήχει ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐκηρύξαμεν Ἰουδαίοις τε καὶ ἔθνεσιν, αὐτὸν εἶναι τὸν Χριστὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν ὡρισμένον ὑπ' αὐτοῦ κριτὴν ζώντων καὶ νεκρῶν. Τοῦτον Μωϋσῆς μαρτυρῶν ἔλεγεν: «Ἔλαβεν Κύριος παρὰ Κυρίου πῦρ καὶ ἔβρεξεν.» Τοῦτον εἶδεν Ἰακὼβ ὡς ἄνθρωπον καὶ εἶπεν: «Εἶδον Θεὸν πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον, καὶ ἐσώθη μου ἡ ψυχή.» Τοῦτον Ἀβραὰμ ξενοδοχήσας κριτὴν ὡμολόγει καὶ ἑαυτοῦ Κύριον. Τοῦτον Μωϋσῆς ἐπὶ τῆς βάτου τεθέαται: περὶ τούτου ἐν Δευτερονομίῳ ἔλεγεν: «Προφήτην ὑμῖν ἀναστήσει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν ὡς ἐμέ: αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε κατὰ πάντα, ὅσα ἂν λαλήσῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς: ἔσται δὲ πᾶσα ψυχή, ἥτις ἂν μὴ ἀκούσῃ τοῦ προφήτου ἐκείνου, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς.» Τοῦτον εἶδεν Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ναυῆ στρατιάρχην τῆς δυνάμεως Κυρίου καθωπλισμένον, σύμμαχον εἰς Ἱεριχώ, ᾧ καὶ πεσὼν προσεκύνησεν, ὡς δοῦλος δεσπότῃ. Τοῦτον Σαμουὴλ εἰδὼς Χριστὸν Θεοῦ τοὺς ἱερεῖς καὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς χριστοὺς ὠνόμαζεν. Τοῦτον Δαυὶδ εἰδὼς ἔψαλλεν τὴν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ᾠδὴν λέγων: «Ὠιδὴ ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ.» Καὶ ἐπιφέρων εἰς πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἔφασκεν: «Περίζωσαι τὴν ῥομφαίαν σου ἐπὶ τὸν μηρόν σου, δυνατέ, τῇ ὡραιότητί σου καὶ τῷ κάλλει σου, καὶ ἔντεινον καὶ κατευοδοῦ καὶ βασίλευε ἕνεκεν ἀληθείας καὶ πραότητος καὶ δικαιοσύνης, καὶ ὁδηγήσει σε θαυμαστῶς ἡ δεξιά σου: τὰ βέλη σου ἠκονημένα, δυνατέ, ἐν καρδίᾳ τῶν ἐχθρῶν τοῦ βασιλέως λαοὶ ὑποκάτω σου πεσοῦνται: διὰ τοῦτο ἔχρισέν σε, ὁ Θεός, ὁ Θεός σου ἔλαιον ἀγαλλιάσεως παρὰ τοὺς μετόχους σου.» Περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ Σολομὼν ἔλεγεν ὡς ἐκ προσώπου αὐτοῦ: «Κύριος ἔκτισέν με ἀρχὴν ὁδῶν αὐτοῦ εἰς ἔργα αὐτοῦ, πρὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος ἐθεμελίωσέν με, ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸ τοῦ τὴν γῆν ποιῆσαι, πρὸ τοῦ προελθεῖν τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων, πρὸ τοῦ ὄρη ἑδρασθῆναι, πρὸ δὲ πάντων βουνῶν γεννᾷ με.» Καὶ πάλιν: «Ἡ σοφία ᾠκοδόμησεν ἑαυτῇ οἶκον.» Περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Ἡσαΐας ἔλεγεν: «Ἐξελεύσεται ῥάβδος ἐκ τῆς ῥίζης Ἰεσσαί, καὶ ἄνθος ἐκ τῆς ῥίζης ἀναβήσεται.» Καὶ: «Ἔσται ἡ ῥίζα τοῦ Ἰεσσαὶ καὶ ὁ ἀνιστάμενος ἄρχειν ἐθνῶν, ἐπ' αὐτῷ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν.» Ζαχαρίας δέ: «Ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται σοι δίκαιος καὶ σῴζων, αὐτὸς πρᾶος καὶ ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἐπὶ ὄνον καὶ πῶλον υἱὸν ὑποζυγίου.» Τοῦτον Δανιὴλ Υἱὸν ἀνθρώπου εἶναι λέγει ἐρχόμενον πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα, καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν κρίσιν καὶ τὴν τιμὴν παρ' ἐκείνου ὑποδεχόμενον, καὶ λίθον ἀπὸ ὄρους ἄνευ χειρῶν τμηθέντα καὶ γενόμενον εἰς ὄρος μέγα καὶ πληρώσαντα πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, συντρίβοντα πολυαρχίαν τοπαρχιῶν καὶ πολυθεΐαν ἀθέων, κηρύσσοντα δὲ τὸν ἕνα Θεὸν καὶ χειροτονοῦντα τὴν τῶν Ῥωμαίων μοναρχίαν. Περὶ τούτου καὶ Ἱερεμίας προφητεύων ἔλεγεν: «Πνεῦμα πρὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν Χριστὸς Κύριος συνελήφθη ἐν ταῖς διαφθοραῖς αὐτῶν, οὗ εἴπομεν: ἐν τῇ σκιᾷ αὐτοῦ ζησόμεθα ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν.» Καὶ Ἰεζεκιὴλ δὲ καὶ οἱ καθεξῆς προφῆται πανταχοῦ, τοῦτον εἶναι Χριστὸν Κύριον, βασιλέα, κριτήν, νομοθέτην, ἄγγελον τοῦ Πατρός, μονογενῆ Θεόν. Τοῦτον οὖν καὶ ἡμεῖς κηρύσσομεν ὑμῖν καὶ εὐαγγελιζόμεθα Θεὸν Λόγον, ὑπηρετούμενον τῷ Θεῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ Πατρὶ εἰς τὴν τῶν ὅλων δημιουργίαν: τούτῳ πιστεύοντες ζήσεσθε, ἀπιστοῦντες δὲ κολασθήσεσθε. «Ὁ γὰρ ἀπειθῶν τῷ Υἱῷ οὐκ ὄψεται τὴν ζωήν, ἀλλ' ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἐπ' αὐτόν.» Μετὰ οὖν τὸ ἑορτάσαι ὑμᾶς τὴν πεντηκοστὴν ἑορτάσατε μίαν ἑβδομάδα, καὶ μετ' ἐκείνην νηστεύσατε μίαν: δίκαιον γὰρ καὶ εὐφρανθῆναι ἐπὶ τῇ ἐκ Θεοῦ δωρεᾷ καὶ νηστεῦσαι μετὰ τὴν ἄνεσιν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας ἐνήστευσαν τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας, καὶ Δανιὴλ τρεῖς ἑβδομάδας ἡμερῶν ἄρτον ἐπιθυμιῶν οὐκ ἔφαγεν, καὶ κρέας καὶ οἶνος οὐκ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἡ μακαρία Ἄννα αἰτουμένη τὸν Σαμουὴλ λέγει: «Οἶνον καὶ σίκερα οὐ πέπωκα, καὶ ἐκχεῶ τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐνώπιον Κυρίου.» Καὶ Νινευῖται, νηστεύσαντες τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας, τῆς ὀργῆς τὴν πεῖραν ἀπέφυγον, καὶ Ἐσθὴρ καὶ Μαρδοχαῖος καὶ Ἰουδὶθ τὴν τῶν ἀσεβῶν ἐπανάστασιν νηστεύσαντες ἀπέφυγον Ὀλοφέρνου καὶ Ἀμάν. Καὶ Δαυὶδ λέγει: «Τὰ γόνατά μου ἠσθένησαν ἀπὸ νηστείας, καὶ ἡ σάρξ μου ἠλλοιώθη δι' ἔλαιον.» Καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν νηστεύοντες αἰτεῖσθε παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν. Μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἑβδομάδα τῆς νηστείας πᾶσαν τετράδα καὶ πᾶσαν παρασκευὴν προστάσσομεν ὑμῖν νηστεύειν, καὶ τὴν περισσείαν ὑμῶν τῆς νηστείας πένησιν ἐπιχορηγεῖν. Πᾶν μέντοι σάββατον ἄνευ τοῦ ἑνὸς καὶ πᾶσαν κυριακὴν ἐπιτελοῦντες συνόδους εὐφραίνεσθε: ἔνοχος γὰρ ἁμαρτίας ἔσται ὁ τὴν κυριακὴν νηστεύων, ἡμέραν ἀναστάσεως οὖσαν, ἢ τὴν πεντηκοστὴν ἢ ὅλως ἡμέραν ἑορτῆς Κυρίου κατηφῶν: εὐφρανθῆναι γὰρ δεῖ ἐν αὐταῖς, ἀλλ' οὐ πενθῆσαι.