Didascalia Apostolorum

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DIDASCALIA. 79 the unbreakable seal of baptism be with purity and holiness. Therefore we affirm that the service of a woman, a Deaconess, is necessary and obligatory, because even our Lord and Saviour was served by the hand of women deaconesses, who were Mary the Magdalene, and Mary (Cod. S. daughter) of James, the mother of Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children, with other women. This service of Deaconesses is necessary also to thee for many things, for in the houses of the heathen, where there are believing women, a Deaconess is required, that she may go in and visit those who are sick, and serve them with whatever they need, and anoint (S. wash) those who are healed from sicknesses. Cod. S. About Deacons. Let the Deacons in their conduct resemble the Ap. Con. Bishop ; let them however work very much more than he. Let them not love filthy IIJ- xix- lucre, but let them be diligent in service. According to the number of the con- gregation of the Church let there be Deacons, that they may be able to distinguish and to comfort every one, so that to the aged women who have no strength, and to the brothers and sisters who are in sicknesses, they may prepare for every one of them the service that is fitting for him. But let a woman preferably be diligent in the service of the women, and a man, a Deacon, in the service of the men. Let him be ready to hear and to obey the command of the Bishop. In every place to which he is sent to serve or to say something to any one, let him work and labour ; for it is necessary that every one should know his office, and be diligent in fulfilling it; and be of one counsel, and of one mind, and of one soul dwelling in two bodies. Know what that service is, as our Lord and Saviour said in the Gospel, "Whosoever among Matt- xx- you wishes to be chief let him be your servant ; even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His soul a ransom for many." Thus ye ought to work also, ye Deacons, even if ye have to give your lives for your brethren, in the service that is required of you. For even our Lord and Master did not despise when He served us, as it is written in Isaiah, " To justify the righteous Is. lili. 11 who doeth a good service to many." If therefore the Lord of Heaven and of earth did service to us, bore and endured everything on our account, how much more is it required of us, that we should do thus to the brethren, that we, who are His imitators, and take the place of the Christ, should be like Him ? You will find also that it is written in the Gospel, how our Lord girt a towel about His loins, and Cf. Joan poured water into the wash-bason, while we were reclining, and drew near and x ' ' washed the feet of us all, and dried [them] with the towel; but He did this, that He might show us the love and affection of brethren, that we also should do likewise to one another. If therefore our Lord did thus, ye Deacons, do ye hesitate to do thus to those who are sick and have no strength, ye who are doers of the Truth, and preserve the likeness of the Christ ? Therefore serve in love, and do not grumble nor hesitate ; but if not, if ye have done this service for the sake of men, and not for God, ye shall receive your reward according to your service in the day of judgment. It is therefore required of you Deacons, that ye visit all those who are in want, and make known to the Bishop those who are afflicted, that ye be his soul and his mind, and that ye labour and obey him in everything.