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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.]
[Upon What Account Israel, Falsely So Named, is Rejected by God, Demonstrated from the Prophetic Predictions.]
V. For those are most certainly to be avoided who blaspheme God. The greatest part of the ungodly, indeed, are ignorant of God; but these men, as fighters against God, are possessed with a wilful evil disposition, as with a disease. For from the wickedness of these heretics “pollution is gone out upon all the earth,” 27 Matt. xxvi. 15. Matt. xxvi. 15. Matt. xxvi. 15. as says the prophet Jeremiah. For the wicked synagogue is now cast off by the Lord God, and His house is rejected by Him, as He somewhere speaks: “I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine inheritance.” 28 The words from “And they took” to “house of the potter” are wanting in one V. ms. The other reads “field” of the potter, instead of “house.” The words from “And they took” to “house of the potter” are wanting in one V. ms. The other reads “field” of the potter, instead of “house.” The words from “And they took” to “house of the potter” are wanting in one V. ms. The other reads “field” of the potter, instead of “house.” And again, says Isaiah: “I will neglect my vineyard, and it shall not be pruned nor digged, and thorns shall spring up upon it, as upon a desert; and I will command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.” 29 Matt. xxvii. 9, 10. Matt. xxvii. 9, 10. Matt. xxvii. 9, 10. He has therefore “left His people as a tent in a vineyard, and as a garner in a fig or olive yard, and as a besieged city.” 30 John xvi. 32; Matt. xxvi. 31. John xvi. 32; Matt. xxvi. 31. John xvi. 32; Matt. xxvi. 31. He has taken away from them the Holy Spirit, and the prophetic rain, and has replenished His Church with spiritual grace, as the “river of Egypt in the time of first-fruits;” 31 Luke xxii. 34. Luke xxii. 34. Luke xxii. 34. and has advanced the same “as an house upon an hill, or as an high mountain; as a mountain fruitful for milk and fatness, wherein it has pleased God to dwell. For the Lord will inhabit therein to the end.” 32 John xviii. 1. John xviii. 1. John xviii. 1. And He says in Jeremiah: “Our sanctuary is an exalted throne of glory.” 33 Matt. xxvi. 30. Matt. xxvi. 30. Matt. xxvi. 30. And He says in Isaiah: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord shall be glorious, and the house of the Lord shall be upon the top of the mountains, and shall be advanced above the hills.” 34 “Not far,” the reading of the V. mss. The others read: “And being separated from us, He prayed earnestly.” “Not far,” the reading of the V. mss. The others read: “And being separated from us, He prayed earnestly.” “Not far,” the reading of the V. mss. The others read: “And being separated from us, He prayed earnestly.” Since, therefore, He has forsaken His people, He has also left His temple desolate, and rent the veil of the temple, and took from them the Holy Spirit; for says He, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” 35 I.uke xxii. 42; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. I.uke xxii. 42; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. I.uke xxii. 42; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. And He has bestowed upon you, the converted of the Gentiles, spiritual grace, as He says by Joel: “And it shall come to pass after these things, saith God, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons shall prophesy, and your daughters shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” 36 Luke xxii. 47; Matt. xxvi. 47. Luke xxii. 47; Matt. xxvi. 47. Luke xxii. 47; Matt. xxvi. 47. For God has taken away all the power and efficacy of His word, and such like visitations, from that people, and has transferred it to you, the converted of the Gentiles. For on this account the devil himself is very angry at the holy Church of God: he is removed to you, and has raised against you adversities, seditions, and reproaches, schisms, and heresies. For he had before subdued that people to himself, by their slaying of Christ. But you who have left his vanities he tempts in different ways, as he did the blessed Job. 37 Ps. xxii. 12, 16. Ps. xxii. 12, 16. Ps. xxii. 12, 16. For indeed he opposed that great high priest Joshua the son of Josedek; 38 Luke xxiii. 14; John xviii. 38. Luke xxiii. 14; John xviii. 38. Luke xxiii. 14; John xviii. 38. and he oftentimes sought to sift us, that our faith might fail. 39 Luke xxiii. 2. Luke xxiii. 2. Luke xxiii. 2. But our Lord and Master, having brought him to trial, said unto him: “The Lord rebuke thee, O devil; and the Lord, who hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee. Is not this plucked out of the fire as a brand?” 40 Luke xxiii. 21. Luke xxiii. 21. Luke xxiii. 21. And who said then to those that stood by the high priest, “Take away his ragged garments from him;” and added, “Behold, I have taken thine iniquities away from thee;” He will say now, as He said formerly of us when we were assembled together, “I have prayed that your faith may not fail.” 41 Ps. xxvii. 12. Ps. xxvii. 12. Ps. xxvii. 12.
[5] Φευκτέοι γάρ εἰσιν ὡς ἀληθῶς οἱ βλασφημοῦντες Θεόν: οἱ μὲν γὰρ πλεῖστοι τῶν ἀσεβῶν ἄγνοιαν ἔχουσιν Θεοῦ, οὗτοι δὲ κακόνοιαν ὡς θεομάχοι νοσοῦσιν: ἐκ γὰρ τῆς κακίας τῶν αἱρεσιωτῶν ἐξῆλθεν μόλυσμα ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, ὥς φησιν Ἱερεμίας ὁ προφήτης. Ἀποβληθείσης γὰρ τῆς συναγωγῆς τῆς πονηρᾶς ὑπὸ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τοῦ οἴκου ἀπορριφέντος ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, καθώς πού φησιν: «Ἐγκαταλέλοιπα τὸν οἶκόν μου, ἀφῆκα τὴν κληρονομίαν μου.» Καὶ πάλιν: «Ἀνήσω τὸν ἀμπελῶνά μου, καὶ οὐ μὴ τμηθῇ οὐδ' οὐ μὴ σκαφῇ, καὶ ἀναβήσεται εἰς αὐτὸν ὡς εἰς χέρσον ἄκανθα, καὶ ταῖς νεφέλαις ἐντελοῦμαι τοῦ μὴ βρέξαι εἰς αὐτὸν ὑετόν.» Ἐγκαταλιπὼν οὖν τὸν λαὸν ὡς σκηνὴν ἐν ἀμπελῶνι καὶ ὡς ὀπωροφυλάκιον ἐν σικυηλάτῳ, ὡς πόλιν πολιορκουμένην, περιελὼν δὲ ἀπ' αὐτῶν καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καὶ τὸν προφητικὸν ὑετόν, ἐπλήρωσεν τὴν αὐτοῦ Ἐκκλησίαν πνευματικῆς χάριτος ὡς ποταμὸν Αἰγύπτου ἐν ἡμέραις νέων, καὶ ὑπερύψωσεν αὐτὴν ὡς οἶκον ἐπ' ὄρους ἢ ὡς ὄρος ὑπερφερές, ὡς ὄρος τετυρωμένον καὶ ὄρος πῖον, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεὸς κατοικεῖν ἐν αὐτῷ: καὶ γὰρ ὁ Κύριος κατασκηνώσει εἰς τέλος. Καὶ ἐν τῷ Ἱερεμίᾳ λέγει: «Θρόνος δόξης ὑψωμένος ἁγίασμα ἡμῶν.» Καὶ ἐν Ἡσαΐᾳ λέγει: «Ἔσται ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις ἐμφανὲς τὸ ὄρος Κυρίου, καὶ ὁ οἶκος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπ' ἄκρων τῶν ὀρέων, καὶ ὑψωθήσεται ὑπεράνω τῶν βουνῶν.» Ἐπεὶ οὖν καὶ τὸν λαὸν ἐγκατέλιπεν, καὶ τὸν ναὸν ἀφῆκεν ἔρημον, σχίσας τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ καὶ λαβὼν ἀπ' αὐτῶν τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον: «Ἰδοὺ γάρ, φησίν, ἀφίεται ὑμῖν ὁ οἶκος ὑμῶν ἔρημος», καὶ δοὺς ἐφ' ὑμᾶς τοὺς ἐξ ἐθνῶν τὴν πνευματικὴν χάριν, ὡς λέγει διὰ Ἰωὴλ τοῦ προφήτου: «Καὶ ἔσται μετὰ ταῦτα, λέγει ὁ Θεός, καὶ ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματός μου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν, καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται, καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑμῶν ἐνύπνια ἐνυπνιασθήσονται», πᾶσαν γὰρ δύναμιν λόγου καὶ ἐνέργειαν καὶ τὴν τοιάνδε ἐπισκοπὴν ἀπάρας ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ, εἰς ὑμᾶς τοὺς ἐξ ἐθνῶν ἔθετο. Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο ζηλώσας καὶ ὁ διάβολος τὴν ἁγίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἐκκλησίαν μετέστη εἰς ὑμᾶς, ἐπεγείρας ὑμῖν θλίψεις, διωγμούς, ἀκαταστασίας, βλασφημίας, σχίσματα, αἱρέσεις: ἐκεῖνον γὰρ τὸν λαὸν διὰ τῆς χριστοκτονίας εἰς ἑαυτὸν ὑπηγάγετο, ὑμᾶς δὲ ἀποστάντας αὐτοῦ τῆς ματαιότητος ἄλλοτε ἄλλως πειράζει, ὡς καὶ τὸν μακάριον Ἰώβ. Καὶ γὰρ τῷ μεγάλῳ ἀρχιερεῖ Ἰησοῦ τῷ τοῦ Ἰωσεδὲκ ἀντέκειτο, καὶ ἡμᾶς πολλάκις ἐξῃτήσατο ἐξυδαρωθῆναι, ὅπως ἐκλείπῃ ἡ πίστις ἡμῶν. Ἀλλ' ὁ ἡμέτερος Κύριος καὶ διδάσκαλος, ἐν δίκῃ καταστήσας αὐτόν, ἔλεγεν αὐτῷ: «Ἐπιτιμήσαι ἐν σοὶ Κύριος, διάβολε, καὶ ἐπιτιμήσαι Κύριος ἐν σοὶ ὁ ἐκλεξάμενος τὴν Ἱερουσαλήμ: οὐκ ἰδοὺ τοῦτο ἐξεσπασμένον ὡς δαλός;» Καὶ ὁ εἰπὼν τότε τοῖς παρεστῶσιν τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ: «Περιέλετε τὰ ἱμάτια τὰ ῥυπαρὰ ἀπ' αὐτοῦ», καὶ ἐπειπών: «Ἰδοὺ ἀφῄρηκα τὰς ἀνομίας σου ἀπὸ σοῦ», οὗτος ἐρεῖ καὶ νῦν, ὡς καὶ πάλαι συνηθροισμένων ἡμῶν ἔλεγεν περὶ ἡμῶν, ὅτι «Ἐδεήθην, ἵνα μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν.»