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Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
Anonymous Syrian compiler
Book 3 · Section 2 About this work A large church-order compilation presented in apostolic voices, combining earlier sources with instruction on ethics, worship, ministry, discipline, liturgy, widows, ordination, and ecclesial administration across eight books.
Author Anonymous Syrian compiler
Traditional attribution The Apostles, transmitted through Clement of Rome
Date Late 4th century, incorporating earlier material
Origin Syria (often proposed)
Genre Church Order The compilation incorporates earlier documents and should not be dated or attributed as a single uniform composition.
Sec. II.—On Deacons and Deaconesses, the Rest of the Clergy, and on Baptism. Let not therefore either a bishop , or
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a
presbyter
,
or
a
deacon
,
or
any
one
else
of
the
sacerdotal
catalogue
,
defile
his
tongue
with
calumny
,
lest
he
inherit
a
curse
instead
of
a
blessing
;
and
let
it
also
be
the
bishop’s
business
and
care
that
no
lay
person
utter
any
curse
:
for
he
ought
to
take
care
of
all
,
—
of
the
clergy
,
of
the
virgins
,
of
the
widows
,
of
the
laity
.
For
which
reason
,
O
bishop
,
do
thou
ordain
thy
fellow
-
workers
,
the
labourers
for
life
and
for
righteousness
,
such
deacons
as
are
pleasing
to
God
,
such
whom
thou
provest
to
be
worthy
among
all
the
people
,
and
such
as
shall
be
ready
for
the
necessities
of
their
ministration
.
Ordain
also
a
deaconess
who
is
faithful
and
holy
,
for
the
ministrations
towards
women
.
For
sometimes
he
cannot
send
a
deacon
,
who
is
a
man
,
to
the
women
,
on
account
of
unbelievers
.
Thou
shalt
therefore
send
a
woman
,
a
deaconess
,
on
account
of
the
imaginations
of
the
bad
.
For
we
stand
in
need
of
a
woman
,
a
deaconess
,
for
many
necessities
;
and
first
in
the
baptism
of
women
,
the
deacon
shall
anoint
only
their
forehead
with
the
holy
oil
,
and
after
him
the
deaconess
shall
anoint
them
:
for
there
is
no
necessity
that
the
women
should
be
seen
by
the
men
;
but
only
in
the
laying
on
of
hands
the
bishop
shall
anoint
her
head
,
as
the
priests
and
kings
were
formerly
anointed
,
not
because
those
which
are
now
baptized
are
ordained
priests
,
but
as
being
Christians
,
or
anointed
,
from
Christ
the
Anointed
,
“
a
royal
priesthood
,
and
an
holy
nation
,
the
Church
of
God
,
the
pillar
and
ground
of
the
marriage
-
chamber
,
”
who
formerly
were
not
a
people
,
but
now
are
beloved
and
chosen
,
upon
whom
is
called
His
new
name
as
Isaiah
the
prophet
witnesses
,
saying
:
“
And
they
shall
call
the
people
by
His
new
name
,
which
the
Lord
shall
name
for
them
.
”
Concerning the Sacred Initiation of Holy Baptism.
Section 16 XVI . Thou therefore , O bishop , according to that type , shalt anoint the head of those that are to be baptized , whether they be men or women , with the holy oil , for a type of the spiritual baptism . After that , either thou , O bishop , or a presbyter that is under thee , shall in the solemn form name over them the Father , and Son , and Holy Spirit , and shall dip them in the water ; and let a deacon receive the man , and a deaconess the woman , that so the conferring of this inviolable seal may take place with a becoming decency . And after that , let the bishop anoint those that are baptized with ointment .
What is the Meaning of Baptism into Christ, and on What Account Everything is There Said or Done.
Section 17 XVII . This baptism , therefore , is given into the death of Jesus : the water is instead of the burial , and the oil instead of the Holy Ghost ; the seal instead of the cross ; the ointment is the confirmation of the confession ; the mention of the Father as of the Author and Sender ; the joint mention of the Holy Ghost as of the witness ; the descent into the water the dying together with Christ ; the ascent out of the water the rising again with Him . The Father is the God over all ; Christ is the only - begotten God , the beloved Son , the Lord of glory ; the Holy Ghost is the Comforter , who is sent by Christ , land taught by Him , and proclaims Him .
Of What Character He Ought to Be Who is Initiated.
Section 18 XVIII . But let him that is to be baptized be free from all iniquity ; one that has left off to work sin , the friend of God , the enemy of the devil , the heir of God the Father , the fellow - heir of His Son ; one that has renounced Satan , and the demons , and Satan’s deceits ; chaste , pure , holy , beloved of God , the son of God , praying as a son to his father , and saying , as from the common congregation of the faithful , thus : “ Our Father , which art in heaven , hallowed be Thy name ; Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done on earth , as it is in heaven ; give us this day our daily bread ; and forgive us our debts , as we forgive our debtors ; and lead us not into temptation , but deliver us from the evil one : for Thine is the kingdom , and the power , and the glory , for ever . Amen . ”
What are the Characters of a Deacon.
Section 19 XIX . Let the deacons be in all things unspotted , as the bishop himself is to be , only more active ; in number according to the largeness of the Church , that they may minister to the infirm as workmen that are not ashamed . And let the deaconess be diligent in taking care of the women ; but both of them ready to carry messages , to travel about , to minister , and to serve , as spake Isaiah concerning the Lord , saying : “ To justify the righteous , who serves many faithfully . ” Let every one therefore know his proper place , and discharge it diligently with one consent , with one mind , as knowing the reward of their ministration ; but let them not be ashamed to minister to those that are in want , as even our “ Lord Jesus Christ came not to be ministered unto , but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many . ” So therefore ought they also to do , and not to scruple it , if they should be obliged to lay down their life for a brother . For the Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ did not scruple to “ lay down His life , ” as Himself says , “ for His friends . ” If , therefore , the Lord of heaven and earth underwent all His sufferings for us , how then do you make a difficulty to minister to such as are in want , who ought to imitate Him who underwent servitude , and want , and stripes , and the cross for us ? We ought therefore also to serve the brethren , in imitation of Christ . For says He : “ He that will be great among you , let him be your minister ; and he that will be first among you , let him be your servant . ” For so did He really , and not in word only , fulfil the prediction of , “ serving many faithfully . ” For “ when He had taken a towel , He girded Himself . Afterward He puts water into a bason ; and as we were sitting at meat , He came and washed the feet of us all , and wiped them with the towel . ” By doing this He demonstrated to us His kindness and brotherly affection , that so we also might do the same to one another . If , therefore , our Lord and Master so humbled Himself , how can you , the labourers of the truth , and administrators of piety , be ashamed to do the same to such of the brethren as are weak and infirm ? Minister therefore with a kind mind , not murmuring nor mutinying ; for ye do not do it on the account of man , but on the account of God , and shall receive from Him the reward of your ministry in the day of your visitation . It is your duty who are deacons to visit all those who stand in need of visitation . And tell your bishop of all those that are in affliction ; for you ought to be like his soul and senses — active and attentive in all things to him as to your bishop , and father and master .
That a Bishop Ought to Be Ordained by Three or by Two Bishops, But Not by One; For that Would Be Invalid.
Section 20 XX . We command that a bishop be ordained by three bishops , or at least by two ; but it is not lawful that he be set over you by one ; for the testimony of two or three witnesses is more firm and secure . But a presbyter and a deacon are to be ordained by one bishop and the rest of the clergy . Nor must either a presbyter or a deacon ordain from the laity into the clergy ; but the presbyter is only to teach , to offer , to baptize , to bless the people , and the deacon is to minister to the bishop , and to the presbyters , that is , to do the office of a ministering deacon , but not to meddle with the other offices .
Notes 1 [Compare Jas. v. 14.]
2 1 Pet. ii. 9; 1 Tim. iii. 15.
3 The words from “upon whom” to the end of the chapter are omitted in one V. ms.
4 Isa. lxii. 2
5 Vid Rom. vi. 3
6 Matt. vi. 9, etc.
7 Isa. liii. 11, LXX.
8 Matt. xx. 28.
9 John xv. 13.
10 Matt. xx. 26, 27.
11 Isa. liii. 11.
12 John xiii. 4, 5.
13 The portions in italics are not in one V. ms.
14
The portions in italics are not in one V. ms.
