[An Exact Description of a Church and the Clergy, and What Things in Particular Every One is to Do in the Solemn Assemblies of the Clergy and Laity For Religious Worship. ]

LVII. But be thou, O bishop, holy, unblameable, no striker, not soon angry, not cruel; but a builder up, a converter, apt to teach, forbearing of evil, of a gentle mind, meek, long-suffering, ready to exhort, ready to comfort, as a man of God.

When thou callest an assembly of the Church as one that is the commander of a great ship, appoint the assemblies to be made with all possible skill, charging the deacons as mariners to prepare places for the brethren as for passengers, with all due care and decency. And first, let the building be long, with its head to the east, with its vestries on both sides at the east end, and so it will be like a ship. In the middle let the bishop’s throne be placed, and on each side of him let the presbytery sit down; and let the deacons stand near at hand, in close and small girt garments, for they are like the mariners and managers of the ship: with regard to these, let the laity sit on the other side, with all quietness and good order. And let the women sit by themselves, they also keeping silence. In the middle, let the reader stand upon some high place: let him read the books of Moses, of Joshua the son of Nun, of the Judges, and of the Kings and of the Chronicles, and those written after the return from the captivity; and besides these, the books of Job and of Solomon, and of the sixteen prophets. But when there have been two lessons severally read, let some other person sing the hymns of David, and let the people join at the conclusions of the verses. Afterwards let our Acts be read, and the Epistles of Paul our fellow-worker, which he sent to the churches under the conduct of the Holy Spirit; and afterwards let a deacon or a presbyter read the Gospels, both those which I Matthew and John have delivered to you, and those which the fellow-workers of Paul received and left to you, Luke and Mark. And while the Gospel is read, let all the presbyters and deacons, and all the people, stand up in great silence; for it is written: “Be silent, and hear, O Israel.”  250  Deut. xxvii. 9. And again: “But do thou stand there, and hear.”  251  Deut. v. 31. In the next place, let the presbyters one by one, not all together, exhort the people, and the bishop in the last place, as being the commander. Let the porters stand at the entries of the men, and observe them. Let the deaconesses also stand at those of the women, like shipmen. For the same description and pattern was both in the tabernacle of the testimony and in the temple of God.  252  Deut. xxiii. 1. “And in the temple of God” is omitted in one V. ms. But if any one be found sitting out of his place, let him be rebuked by the deacon, as a manager of the foreship, and be removed into the place proper for him; for the Church is not only like a ship, but also like a sheepfold. For as the shepherds place all the brute creatures distinctly, I mean goats and sheep, according to their kind and age, and still every one runs together, like to his like; so is it to be in the Church. Let the young persons sit by themselves, if there be a place for them; if not, let them stand upright. But let those that are already stricken in years sit in order. For the children which stand, let their fathers and mothers take them to them. Let the younger women also sit by themselves, if there be a place for them; but if there be not, let them stand behind the women. Let those women which are married, and have children, be placed by themselves; but let the virgins, and the widows, and the elder women, stand or sit before all the rest; and let the deacon be the disposer of the places, that every one of those that comes in may go to his proper place, and may not sit at the entrance. In like manner, let the deacon oversee the people, that nobody may whisper, nor slumber, nor laugh, nor nod; for all ought in the church to stand wisely, and soberly, and attentively, having their attention fixed upon the word of the Lord. After this, let all rise up with one consent, and looking towards the east, after the catechumens and penitents are gone out, pray to God eastward, who ascended up to the heaven of heavens to the east; remembering also the ancient situation of paradise in the east, from whence the first man, when he had yielded to the persuasion of the serpent, and disobeyed the command of God, was expelled. As to the deacons, after the prayer is over, let some of them attend upon the oblation of the Eucharist, ministering to the Lord’s body with fear. Let others of them watch the multitude, and keep them silent. But let that deacon who is at the high priest’s hand say to the people, Let no one have any quarrel against another; let no one come in hypocrisy. Then let the men give the men, and the women give the women, the Lord’s kiss. But let no one do it with deceit, as Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss. After this let the deacon pray for the whole Church, for the whole world, and the several parts of it, and the fruits of it; for the priests and the rulers, for the high priest and the king, and the peace of the universe. After this let the high priest pray for peace upon the people, and bless them, as Moses commanded the priests to bless the people, in these words: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make His face to shine upon thee,  253  One V. ms. inserts, “and pity thee: the Lord lift His countenance upon thee.” and give thee peace.”  254  Num. vi. 24, etc. Let the bishop pray for the people, and say: “Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance, which Thou hast obtained with the precious blood of Thy Christ, and hast called a royal priesthood, and an holy nation.”  255  Ps. xxviii. 9; Acts xx. 28; 1 Pet. i. 19, ii. 9. After this let the sacrifice follow, the people standing, and praying silently; and when the oblation has been made, let every rank by itself partake of the Lord’s body and precious blood in order, and approach with reverence and holy fear, as to the body of their king. Let the women approach with their heads covered, as is becoming the order of women; but let the door be watched, lest any unbeliever, or one not yet initiated, come in.  256  [Note all this as bearing upon the ceremonial of the Latin Mass, which reverses these primitive precepts in divers points.]

[57] Σὺ δέ, ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ἔσο ἅγιος, ἄμωμος, μὴ πλήκτης, μὴ ὀργίλος, μὴ ἀπηνής, ἀλλ' οἰκοδόμος, ἐπιστροφεύς, διδακτικός, ἀνεξίκακος, ἠπιόθυμος, πρᾶος, μακρόθυμος, παραινετικός, παρακλητικὸς ὡς Θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος. Ὅταν δὲ συναθροίζῃς τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἐκκλησίαν, ὡς κυβερνήτης νηὸς μεγάλης μετ' ἐπιστήμης πάσης κέλευε ποιεῖσθαι τὰς συνόδους, παραγγέλλων τοῖς διακόνοις ὡσανεὶ ναύταις τοὺς τόπους ἐκτάσσειν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καθάπερ ἐπιβάταις μετὰ πάσης ἐπιμελείας καὶ σεμνότητος. Καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ὁ οἶκος ἔστω ἐπιμήκης, κατὰ ἀνατολὰς τετραμμένος, ἐξ ἑκατέρων τῶν μερῶν ἔχων τὰ παστοφόρια πρὸς ἀνατολήν, ὅστις ἔοικεν νηΐ. Κείσθω δὲ μέσος ὁ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου θρόνος, παρ' ἑκάτερα δὲ αὐτοῦ καθεζέσθω τὸ πρεσβυτέριον, καὶ οἱ διάκονοι παριστάσθωσαν εὐσταλεῖς τῆς πλείονος ἐσθῆτος: ἐοίκασι γὰρ ναύταις καὶ τοιχάρχοις. Προνοίᾳ δὲ τούτων εἰς τὸ ἕτερον μέρος οἱ λαϊκοὶ καθεζέσθωσαν μετὰ πάσης εὐταξιὰς καὶ ἡσυχίας, καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες κεχωρισμένως καὶ αὐταὶ καθεζέσθωσαν σιώπην ἄγουσαι. Μέσος δὲ ὁ ἀναγνώστης ἐφ' ὑψηλοῦ τινος ἑστὼς ἀναγινωσκέτω τὰ Μωϋσέως καὶ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναυή, τὰ τῶν Κριτῶν γαὶ τῶν Βασιλειῶν, τὰ τῶν Παραλειπομένων καὶ τὰ τῆς Ἐπανόδου, πρὸς τούτοις τὰ τοῦ Ἰὼβ καὶ τὰ Σολομῶντος καὶ τὰ τῶν Ἑξκαίδεκα προφητῶν. Ἀνὰ δύο δὲ γενομένων ἀναγνωσμάτων, ἕτερός τις τοῦ Δαυὶδ ψαλλέτω τοὺς ὕμνους, καὶ ὁ λαὸς τὰ ἀκροστίχια ὑποψαλλέτω. Μετὰ τοῦτο αἱ Πράξεις αἱ ἡμέτεραι ἀναγινωσκέσθωσαν καὶ αἱ ἐπιστολαὶ Παύλου τοῦ συνεργοῦ ἡμῶν, ἃς ἀπέστειλε ταῖς Ἐκκλησίαις καθ' ὑφήγησιν τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος: καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πρεσβύτερος ἢ διάκονος ἀναγινωσκέτω τὰ Εὐαγγέλια, ἃ ἐγὼ Ματθαῖος καὶ Ἰωάννης παρεδώκαμεν ὑμῖν καὶ οἱ συνεργοὶ Παύλου παρειληφότες κατέλειψαν ὑμῖν Λουκᾶς καὶ Μάρκος. Καὶ ὅταν ἀναγινωσκόμενον ᾖ τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον, πάντες οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ οἱ διάκονοι καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς στηκέτωσαν μετὰ πολλῆς ἡσυχίας: γέγραπται γάρ: »Σιώπα καὶ ἄκουε Ἰσραήλ«, καὶ πάλιν: »Σὺ δὲ αὐτοῦ στῆθι καὶ ἀκούσῃ.« Καὶ ἑξῆς παρακαλείτωσαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τὸν λαόν, ὁ καθεῖς αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ μὴ ἅπαντες, καὶ τελευταῖος πάντων ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ὃς ἔοικε κυβερνήτῃ. Στηκέτωσαν δὲ οἱ μὲν πυλωροὶ εἰς τὰς εἰσόδους τῶν ἀνδρῶν φυλάσσοντες αὐτάς, αἱ δὲ διάκονοι εἰς τὰς τῶν γυναικῶν, δίκην ναυστολόγων: καὶ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ὁ αὐτὸς παρηκολούθει τύπος. Εἰ δέ τις εὑρεθῇ παρὰ τόπον καθεζόμενος, ἐπιπλησσέσθω ὑπὸ τοῦ διακόνου ὡς πρωρέως καὶ εἰς τὸν καθήκοντα αὐτῷ τόπον μεταγέσθω. Οὐ μόνον γὰρ νηΐ, ἀλλὰ καὶ μάνδρῃ ὡμοίωται ἡ Ἐκκλησία. Ὡς γὰρ οἱ ποιμένες ἕκαστον τῶν ἀλόγων, αἰγῶν φημι καὶ προβάτων, κατὰ συγγένειαν καὶ ἡλικίαν ἱστῶσιν, καὶ ἕκαστον αὐτῶν τὸ ὅμοιον τῷ ὁμοίῳ συντρέχει, οὕτω καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ οἱ μὲν νεώτεροι ἰδίᾳ καθεζέσθωσαν, ἐὰν ᾖ τόπος, εἰ δὲ μή, στηκέτωσαν ὀρθοί: οἱ δὲ τῇ ἡλικίᾳ ἤδη προβεβηκότες καθεζέσθωσαν ἐν τάξει, τὰ δὲ παιδία ἑστῶτα προσλαμβανέσθωσαν αὐτῶν οἱ πατέρες καὶ αἱ μητέρες: αἱ δὲ νεώτεραι πάλιν ἰδίᾳ, ἐὰν ᾖ τόπος, εἰ δὲ μήγε, ὄπισθεν τῶν γυναικῶν ἱστάσθωσαν: αἱ δὲ ἤδη γεγαμηκυῖαι καὶ τὰ τέκνα ἔχουσαι ἰδίᾳ ἱστάσθωσαν: αἱ παρθένοι δὲ καὶ αἱ χῆραι καὶ αἱ πρεσβύτιδες πρῶται πασῶν στηκέτωσαν ἢ καθεζέσθωσαν. Ἔστω δὲ τῶν τόπων προνοῶν ὁ διάκονος, ἵν' ἕκαστος τῶν εἰσερχομένων εἰς τὸν ἴδιον τόπον ὁρμᾷ καὶ μὴ παρὰ τὸ ἰντρόϊτον καθέζωνται. Ὁμοίως ὁ διάκονος ἐπισκοπείτω τὸν λαόν, ὅπως μήτις ψιθυρίσῃ ἢ νυστάξῃ ἢ γελάσῃ ἢ νεύσῃ: χρὴ γὰρ ἐν Ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐπιστημόνως καὶ νηφαλέως καὶ ἐγρηγορότως ἑστάναι, ἐκτεταμένην ἔχοντα τὴν ἀκοὴν εἰς τὸν τοῦ Κυρίου λόγον. Καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο συμφώνως ἅπαντες ἐξαναστάντες καὶ ἐπ' ἀνατολὰς κατανοήσαντες, μετὰ τὴν τῶν κατηχουμένων καὶ τὴν τῶν μετανοούντων ἔξοδον προσευχέσθωσαν τῷ Θεῷ τῷ ἐπιβεβηκότι ἐπὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατὰ ἀνατολάς, ὑπομιμνησκόμενοι καὶ τῆς ἀρχαίας νομῆς τοῦ κατὰ ἀνατολὰς παραδείσου, ὅθεν ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος, ἀθετήσας τὴν ἐντολὴν ὄφεως συμβουλίᾳ πεισθείς, ἀπεβλήθη. Οἱ δὲ διάκονοι μετὰ τὴν προσευχὴν οἱ μὲν τῇ προσφορᾷ τῆς εὐχαριστίας σχολαζέτωσαν ὑπηρετούμενοι τῷ τοῦ Κυρίου σώματι μετὰ φόβου, οἱ δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους διασκοπείτωσαν καὶ ἡσυχίαν αὐτοῖς ἐμποιείτωσαν. Λεγέτω δὲ ὁ παρεστὼς τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ διάκονος τῷ λαῷ: »Μή τις κατά τινος, μή τις ἐν ὑποκρίσει«. Εἶτα καὶ ἀσπαζέσθωσαν ἀλλήλους οἱ ἄνδρες καὶ ἀλλήλας αἱ γυναῖκες τὸ ἐν Κυρίῳ φίλημα, ἀλλὰ μή τις δολίως, ὡς ὁ Ἰούδας τὸν Κύριον φιλήματι παρέδωκεν. Καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο προσευχέσθω ὁ διάκονος ὑπὲρ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας πάσης καὶ παντὸς τοῦ κόσμου καὶ τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ μερῶν καὶ ἐκφορίων, ὑπὲρ τῶν ἱερέων καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων, ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῆς καθόλου εἰρήνης. Καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐπευχόμενος τῷ λαῷ εἰρήνην εὐλογείτω τοῦτον, ὡς καὶ Μωϋσῆς ἐνετείλατο τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν εὐλογεῖν τὸν λαὸν τούτοις τοῖς ῥήμασιν: »Εὐλογήσαι σε Κύριος καὶ φυλάξαι σε, ἐπιφάναι Κύριος τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ ἐλεήσαι σε, ἐπάραι Κύριος τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ δῴη σοι εἰρήνην.« Ἐπευχέσθω οὖν καὶ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος καὶ λεγέτω: »Σῶσον Κύριε, τὸν λαόν σου, καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, ἣν ἐκτήσω καὶ περιεποιήσω τῷ τιμίῳ αἵματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ σου καὶ ἐκάλεσας βασίλειον ἱεράτευμα καὶ ἔθνος ἅγιον.« Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα γινέσθω ἡ θυσία, ἑστῶτος παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ προσευχομένου ἡσύχως: καὶ ὅταν προσενεχθῇ, μεταλαμβανέτω ἑκάστη τάξις καθ' ἑαυτὴν τοῦ κυριακοῦ σώματος καὶ τοῦ τιμίου αἵματος, ἐν τάξει μετὰ αἰδοῦς καὶ εὐλαβείας ὡς βασιλέως προσερχόμενοι σώματι, καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες κατακεκαλυμμέναι τὴν κεφαλήν, ὡς ἁρμόζει γυναικῶν τάξει, προσερχέσθωσαν. Φυλαττέσθωσαν δὲ αἱ θύραι, μή τις ἄπιστος ἢ ἀμύητος, εἰσέλθοι.