Ethiopic Sinodos

Ethiopic Sinodos — Horner 1904 English translation of the Statutes — sourcepage 243

196 STATUTES OF THE APOSTLES have no plax:e (for them) the lover of brothers or of sisters,^ having risen, will leave place for them. If (there are) youths, while the elder men remain sitting, having risen up, they shall leave their places. Thou, 5 deacon, hast thou observed among those who sit a young man or a virgin, having risen up, cause to sit down that man or that woman who left (a place), then having made her rise up outside the church, cause her to stand at the door, that others may learn a lesson and leave place for 10 their elders. Desire to make large churches {lit. houses). And if a poor man or woman either of the district or of the (other) districts should come in and there is no place for them, thou, presbyter, make place for such with all 15 thy heart, even if thou wilt sit on the ground, that there should not be respecting the person of man but of God. And if then we have omitted anything, our brethren, God will reveal (it) to those who are worthy, while he 90 steers the holy Church into quiet and a harbour. And this word shall not be hidden concerning the gifts • which God gave to the youths as they wished, and as they acquire the similitude of those who dwell in falsehood, and are moved because of alien spirits. And God appointed 25 impious men to be such as either prophesied or did signs. And now the word will guide us to that which is better for the ordinance of the Church : that ye indeed, the bishops whom we ordained and sent from ourselves by the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ — if ye know ^ Reading the Tariant of ^, etc. ^ Lit * women.'