[The Constitution of Lebbæus, Who Was Surnamed Thaddæus, Concerning Widows.]
XXV. And I Lebbæus, 149 The two V. mss. have the following note: “Thaddæus, also called Lebbæus, and who was surnamed Judas the Zealot, preached the truth to the Edessenes and the people of Mesopotamia when Abgarus ruled over Edessa, and has been buried in Berytus of Phoenicia.” surnamed Thaddæus, make this constitution in regard to widows: A widow is not ordained; yet if she has lost her husband a great while, and has lived soberly and unblameably, and has taken extraordinary care of her family, as Judith 150 Judith xvi. 21, 23 and Anna 151 Luke ii. 36, etc. — those women of great reputation—let her be chosen into the order of widows. But if she has lately lost her yokefellow, let her not be believed, but let her youth be judged of by the time; for the affections do sometimes grow aged with men, if they be not restrained by a better bridle .
[25] Κἀγὼ Λεββαῖος ὁ ἐπικληθεὶς Θαδδαῖος τάδε περὶ χηρῶν διατάσσομαι. Χήρα οὐ χειροτονεῖται, ἀλλ' εἰ μὲν ἐκ πολλοῦ ἀπέβαλεν τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ σωφρόνως καὶ ἀκαταγνώστως ἔζησεν καὶ τῶν οἰκείων ἄριστα ἐπεμελήθη, ὡς Ἰουδὶθ καὶ Ἄννα αἱ σεμνόταται, κατατασσέσθω εἰς τὸ χηρικόν. Εἰ δὲ νεωστὶ ἀπέβαλεν τὸν ὁμόζυγον, μὴ πιστευέσθω, ἀλλὰ χρόνῳ νεότης κρινέσθω: τὰ γὰρ πάθη ἔσθ' ὅτε καὶ συγγηρᾷ ἀνθρώποις, μὴ ὑπὸ κρείττονος χαλινοῦ εἰργόμενα.