Ethiopic Sinodos

Ethiopic Sinodos — Horner 1904 English translation of the Statutes — sourcepage 205

158 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES to eat It is not proper for the catechumens to eat with the believers. Before any taste and drink anything whatsoever, it is proper for them to take the cup and give thanks over it, and (then) drink and eat, for (then) they 5 are pure. To the catechumens let them give the bread of blessing and the cup. The commandment concerning the impropriety of the catechumens eating with the believers, and of the catechumens sitting down with the believers at the table of the Lord. And it is right for lo him who eats to remember him who invited him and gave him all the food, every time that he eats ; for this cause he asked them to come into his house : for this cause it is seemly that they should eat with caution (lit. fear) and moderation what is sufficient and not be drunken. 15 And they shall eat and drink with regularity and not drink until they are drunken ; that men may not deride them ; and that he who invited them be not pained because of their folly. But rather shall they pray that the holy ones may enter the house. For he said : Ye 20 are the salt of the earth. Behold, he gave to you the last of them all with him, that ye might take from him your portions : but eat with moderation and drink with moderation, that there may be some left ; and that that . which is left from you may be sent by him who invited 25 you to whom he will ; and he shall say that this meat and this drink are the leavings of the holy ones. And they shall rejoice at your going to them ; and they shall eat what ye leave, and he shall say this meat is the leavings of the holy ones. And they shall rejoice at 30 your coming as they eat : and further, those who are invited shall eat without conversing, but when the bishop