Chapter V: Part III

GRE[122]25.[123] ¹Widows and virgins shall fast frequently and shall
pray for the church; presbyters, if they wish, and laymen may
fast likewise. ²But the bishop may fast only when all the
people fast.

26. ¹For it constantly happens that some one wishes to make an
offering—and such a one must not be denied—and then the
bishop, after breaking the bread, must in every case taste
SAH and eat it with the other believers. ²[At such an offering]
each shall take from the bishop’s hand a piece of [this] bread
before breaking his own bread. [This service has a special
ceremonial][124] for it is “a Blessing”, not “a Thanksgiving”,
as is [the service of] the Body of the Lord.[125] ³But before
drinking, each one,
LAT as many of you as are present,
SAH must take a cup and give thanks over it,
LAT and so go to your meal.

⁴But to the catechumens is given exorcised bread, and each of
them must offer the cup. ⁵No catechumen shall sit at the
Lord’s Supper.

⁶But at each act of offering, the offerer must remember his
host, for he was invited to the latter’s home for that very
purpose. ⁷But when you eat and drink, do so in an orderly
manner and not so that anyone may mock, or your host be
saddened by your unruliness, but behave so that he may pray to
be made worthy that the saints may enter his dwelling: “for
ye”, it is said, “are the salt of the earth”.

⁸If the offering should be one made to all the guests
jointly,[126] take your portion from your host [and depart].
⁹But if all are to eat then and there, do not eat to excess,
so that your host may likewise send some of what the saints
leave to whomsoever he will and [so] may rejoice in the faith.

¹⁰But while the guests are eating, let them eat silently, not
arguing, [attending to][127] such things as the bishop may
teach, but if he should ask any question, let an answer be
given him; and when he says anything, everyone in modest
praise shall keep silence until he asks again.

¹¹And even if the bishop should be absent when the faithful
meet at a supper, if a presbyter or a deacon is present they
shall eat in a similar orderly fashion, and each shall be
careful[128] to take the blessed bread from the presbyter’s or
deacon’s hand; and in the same way the catechumens shall take
the same exorcised bread.

¹²But if [only] laymen meet, let them not act presumptuously,
for a layman cannot bless the blessed bread.[129]

¹³Let each one eat in the name of the Lord; for this is
pleasing to the Lord that we should be jealous [of our good
name] even among the heathen, all sober alike.[130]

27. ¹If anyone wishes to give a meal to widows of mature
years, let him dismiss them before evening. ²But if, on
account of existing conditions,[131] he cannot [feed them in
his house], let him send them away, and they may eat of his
food at their homes in any way they please.

28. ¹As soon as first-fruits appear, all shall hasten to offer
them to the bishop. ²And he shall offer them, shall give
thanks and shall name him who offered them, saying:

³We give thee thanks, O God, and we offer thee the
first-fruits; which thou hast given us to enjoy, nourishing
them through thy word, commanding the earth to bring forth her
fruits for the gladness and the food of men and all beasts.
⁴For all these things we praise thee, O God, and for all
things wherewith thou hast blessed us, who for us adornest
every creature with divers fruits. ⁵Through thy Servant Jesus
Christ, our Lord, through whom be to thee glory, world without
end. Amen.

⁶Only certain fruits may be blessed, namely grapes, the fig,
the pomegranate, the olive, the pear, the apple, the mulberry,
the peach, the cherry, the almond, the plum. ⁷Not the pumpkin,
nor the melon, nor the cucumber, nor the onion nor garlic nor
anything else having an odour.

⁸But sometimes flowers too are offered; here the rose and the
lily may be offered, but no other.

⁹But for everything that is eaten shall they [who eat it] give
thanks to the Holy God, eating unto His glory.

29. ¹Let no one at the paschal season[132] eat before the
offering is made,[133] otherwise he shall not be credited with
the fast. ²But if any woman is with child, or if anyone is
sick and cannot fast for two days, let such a one, on account
of his need, [at least] fast on Saturday, contenting himself
with bread and water. ³But if anyone on a voyage or for any
other necessary cause should not know the day, when he has
learned the truth he shall postpone his fast until after
Pentecost. ⁴For the ancient type has passed away, and so the
[postponed] fast [of Numbers 9. 11] in the second month has
ceased, and each one ought to fast in accord with his
knowledge of the truth.[134]

30. ¹Each of the deacons, with the subdeacons, shall be alert
on the bishop’s behalf, for the bishop must be informed if any
are sick so that, if he pleases, he may visit them; for a sick
man is greatly comforted when the high priest is mindful of
him.

SAH 33.[135] ¹Let the deacons and the presbyters assemble daily at
the place which the bishop may appoint; let the deacons [in
particular] never fail to assemble unless prevented by
sickness. ²When all have met they shall instruct those who are
in the church, and then, after prayer, each shall go to his
appointed duties.

34. ¹No exorbitant charge shall be made for burial in the
cemetery, for it belongs to all the poor; only the hire of the
grave-digger and the cost of the tile [for closing the niche
in the catacombs] shall be asked. ²The wages of the caretakers
are to be paid by the bishop, lest any of those who go to that
place be burdened [with a charge].